Wicker Park Advisory Council

Minutes – WPAC – March 9, 2023 Meeting

Meeting Minutes – March 9, 2023 – Wicker Park Advisory Council 6:30pm – 7:45pm Wicker Park Field House – Read and Approved 4/13/2023

 

Meeting Attendance: Keith Jones (Wicker Park Supervisor), Raquel Maldonado (Area 1 Manager), Maria Stone (Chicago Park District Community Relations), Melanie Schmidt (Wicker Park Physical Instructor), Mike Payette, Susan Fontana, Amy Shirk, John Shirk, Adam Housley, Mary Tamminga, Leah Root, Denise Browning, Mike Runkle, Jeff Brown, Alice Howe, Kristin Drutchas, Grant Drutchas, Aria Bernardi, Elaine Coorens

 

  1. John Shirk and Adam Housley introduced all who were in attendance and read this note.

NOTE: At the January 12th Meeting, We agreed to deviate from the By-laws and change the schedule from nominate board positions and vote in January to Nominate in January & February and Vote in March.  Due to the impact of Covid-19 on in-person meetings – we want to give people time to nominate individuals to roles on the board and meet the 2-meeting attendance to be elected.

 

  1. The Minutes of February 9, 2023 WPAC Meeting were read, discussed and accepted unanimously as written. The minutes were given to the Park Staff to be posted in the Field House.

 

  1. The Election of officers for a 2-year term as described in the By-Laws:

The names of those who had attended two meetings were read and it was stated that they were eligible to vote.   Ballots were then handed to those qualified to vote. The ballots included these nominated people: John Shirk – President, Grant Drutchas – Vice-President, Mike Runkle – Secretary, Elaine Coorens – Treasurer.  Park District staff monitored the voting: Keith Jones (Wicker Park Supervisor), Raquel Maldonado (Area 1 Manager), Maria Stone (Chicago Park District Community Relations).  The votes were counted by the Park District staff and it was announced that the nominated individuals were now officially the elected President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  Mike Payette moved to motioned to approve; Grant Drutchas, seconded; motion carried

 

  1. New President’s Vision for the Wicker Park Advisory Council. John Shirk, the newly elected president, delivered his vision for the Wicker Park Advisory Council. See attached Document below.  Following this, John Shirk introduced Alice Howe (SSA Programming- including on Wicker Park Farmer’s Market.). Alice Howe shared how lack of restrooms at the Farmer’s Market was detremental to both the vendors and shoppers, but also for area businesses.  May vendors arrive at 5am after a long drive from out of state, and will of course need to use a restroom during the day.  As a work-around, she arranged for La Colombe coffee shop (located under Damen Blue Line stop) to allow for access to their restroom.  She reported that Sunday is the busiest day of the week during FM season (2,000- 3,000 visitors to the park) and in her opinion, makes no sense for restrooms to be closed during these peak days/ hours.

 

  1. Park Supervisor’s Report: Keith Jones gave the Park Supervisor’s Report.
  • Programs Spring programming Online registration begins March 14th Programs are viewable at chicagoparkdistrict.com Programs sent to the PAC and partners All ages for programming, including partnership classes with Kids Create Studio on Saturday’s
  • Day off school workshop – Kids Create Studio – March 29th– 9am-12pm, Ages 3-9. (sign up on their website)
  • Archery for the Park Kids – taught by the Supervisor – for ages 10-12. Ongoing- Winter
  • Seasonal sport teams and pics- on the board in the lobby of Wicker Park & TV video.
  • Winter sports – 2ball competition- kids. Staff helping out at gymnastics competition
  • Seasonal jobs posted online (Ages 16+ years are eligible.)
  • Boxing Show- tentatively planned for July 6 @ Wicker Park. 2022- huge turnout.  (Humboldt Park is the nearest Boxing Center)
  • All Girls Boxing Show – 7pm start time – Outside.
  • PAC partnered events – trades requests and Activity Request Forms all submitted.
  • Tentatively have team members scheduled for Mulch Day & the Plant Sale.
  • Drawing & Yoga off July 3/4? Both will take the holiday off.
  • ARF forms turned in as well as Special Event requests (PAC requesting park supplies)
  1. Park District update on Playground Soft surface repair?

The Park District reported that the soft surface will be repaired when the weather warms up.

 

  1. The Group reviewed All Trades Orders and the Details listed in the Activity Request Forms (ARF Forms).
  • Keith Jones and Raquel Maldonado gave their permission to apply for the Chicago Parks Foundation’s Connecting Communities Award. Farah Tunks, Central Region Administrator gave her permission previously via email.
  • Raquel Maldonado said that when the Trades orders for the Plant Sale and Boo-Palooza are confirmed, she will notify us. The Trades orders were submitted in January. She had no confirmations yet.

 

  1. Events/Fundraising Committees Update: Status of Permits, Events, Grants and Sponsorships. See attached below.

 

  1. Report – Election Day Coffee & WPAC & Park District Promotions on 2/28

Mary Tamminga, Susan Fontana, Elaine Coorens gave a report. The volunteers had an excellent time speaking with the 900 people who voted in the Park. Voters voiced their opinions on Playground Revamp/Repairs, Free Open Gym hours for Basketball during inclement weather and the winter months; Field house longer hours and open on the weekends (pre-pandemic hours of 9-9-week days and 9-5 weekends both Saturdays and Sundays); Park Safety, more visible security; Dog Park revamp survey input; Compliments on the Park Gardens.

 

  1. Dog Park Renovation Survey

Kristin Drutchas reported that the Survey had over 400 respondents and that the designer and the committee reviewed the survey results and are currently redesigning the dog park in response to the comments received in the survey.  She is working with other volunteers to create a fundraising campaign.  Designs will be submitted to the Park District in April.

 

  1. New Business:
  • Alice Howe, WPB SSA#33 Requested that the field house be open on weekends so that the thousands who come to the Park on Weekends to enjoy the park – and- those who attend/or are vendors at the Farmers Market have restroom facilities. (see #4 above)
  • Aria Bernardi, local resident, asked if there was a place on the CPD or WPAC website where she may find a calendar of upcoming volunteer opportunities- not simply a “one-at-a-time” QR code for isolated events.
  • Alice Howe suggested that WPAC consider adding a “Tree Lighting Ceremony” to WPAC events; Leah Root agreed this was a good idea.

 

MEETING ADJOURNED: 7:45PM

 

 

 

 

 

President’s Vision for the Wicker Park Advisory Council

 

I am excited about the future of the Wicker Park Advisory Council. We have the great potential to grow and expand our service to the Wicker Park neighborhood and the Chicago Park District. But in order to explain my vision for the next two years we need to turn back the clock and look at the past few years. Before the global pandemic brought things to a grinding halt, Wicker Park was already a busy park with a full schedule of WPAC events. The Create Series was a major success bringing thousands of people to the park. The park district approved overtime to have the field house open on weekends to service the crowds of  families who flocked to the farmers market, playground, and concert series making Sunday one of the busiest days of the week. BooPalooza not only brought thousands of people (and dogs) to the park, it raised about $20,000 to fund the rest of the programming.

 

With the pandemic winding down, we have a chance not only to restore Wicker Park to its preCovid glory, but to make it even better. This year will be key. As strange as it might sound I think that the lack of funds from BooPalooza  may set us up to surpass the past and move on to greater things.

 

We don’t have money from BooPalooza to fund the Create Series, but you will notice the Create Series is not only happening, it is already being expanded. For example, we are doubling the amount we plan to spend on Wicker Mic this year so we can hire security. The reason we can do this is the incredible relationships Doug Wood, Leah Root and others have built with the Chamber of Commerce, other sponsors, and community partners. We are fortunate to be in a community which values the park and supports the events that we produce. I was recently at the online PAC Conference. I can tell you that not all parks are so fortunate.

 

But 2023 is only the beginning. I want to dream about 2024 for a minute. If we continue strengthening and expanding our relationships with sponsors and partners to provide the revenue needed for the Create Series, the revenue from BooPalooza will generate a surplus which can be used for even greater expansion next year. Here is my vision for that surplus.

 

First, and most obvious, we can expand and improve the Create Series. What would that involve? I don’t know, but I would love to have a meeting where we brainstorm ways to provide new events for the community and upgrades to our current events.

 

Second, I would like to use part of the surplus to invest in the children’s programs the park district runs. Keith has some great sports teams. We could fund uniforms or equipment. I would love to sponsor an end of the season banquet for each team. We could invite them along with their parents or guardians, feed them pizza (or whatever) and celebrate their season.  I’m sure if we sat down with Keith he could give us great ideas for how to spend our excess funds.

 

Third, I would like to use the surplus to serve PACs around the city. We already do that to some extent. The amazing Nights Out in the Park events we host allow the park district to spend their limited resources in parks that are under-resourced. We recruit sponsors to pay for 3 movies allowing the park district to utilize their limited free movies in other parks. But I would like to go beyond this and become a leader in helping establish and improve advisory councils around the city. I suspect Maria Stone could connect us with PACs who could benefit from our expertise. I know we have done some of this in the past. I would like to do more. Maybe each year we adopt a sister PAC from among those that are not blessed to be supported by a vibrant community like we are. We could help them learn what it takes to become successful and if our surplus is big enough, maybe even provide funds to sponsor a movie in their park.

 

In order to do this, we need to continue to build relationships with sponsors and partners and work to make sure that every sponsorship dollar is money well spent. Sponsors are not just sources of revenue, they are partners in strengthening the community.

 

One of the roles of an advisory council is advocating for improved services in the park. I’m going to take this role seriously. I’m going to continue to advocate for is expanded field house hours during the Summer. We need to get back to preCovid levels. The Chamber of Commerce pays for the Farmers Market to be here and bring thousands of people to the park on Sundays. They (and their members) also pay to sponsor many of our events. The least we can do is return their support by advocating to have restrooms available during the Farmers Market. I realize that there are staffing issues and Keith may not currently have the resources to open the Field House on weekends. I plan to be a strong advocate for getting him more resources so he can. If that requires communicating with the folks downtown or going to the board of supervisors meeting, that’s what we will do.

 

A second thing I’m going to advocate for is bringing the field house into compliance with the Park District’s “Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Manual” which states,

 

If offices, clubrooms, gym rooms and recreation area have window treatments (anything covering windows that decrease visibility), they should be open to allow clear visibility into any programming area.

 

I don’t think there is currently “clear visibility” into all the programming areas. I realize there is a small strip of glass on the window into this room, but it provides limited visibility only if you stand right next to it and stare in. The blinds to the outside are often only partly open. I plan to advocate for changes in this area. I met with Art Richardson and Maria Stone today. They explained that they investigated it and the manual I referenced was only recommendation and not CPD policy. I’m going to advocate changing the recommendation into a policy. They suggested I follow up with Daphne Johnson so I will.

 

At our January meeting Keith explained that this was for the safety of the children. He is right to make the safety of the children a priority. We will advocate for that as well. It is true that bad behavior sometimes occurs in the park. We will advocate with Chicago Park District Security and the Chicago Police Department to address that behavior. The children in our programs shouldn’t be forced to hide behind blinds when they are in the field house. More importantly, they shouldn’t run the risk of encountering bad behavior when they go outside the field house. If Keith or other park staff have additional areas related to the safety of the children, I encourage them to share them with us so we can fulfil our responsibility to advocate for solutions.

 

I have been made aware that some children have meltdowns when their caregivers leave and blocking visibility helps with this. If that is the main concern I would suggest one-way film which is mirrored to people inside the room but allows for clear visibility into the room. I’m confident if we work together we can find solutions that are in the best interests of the children.

 

I feel fortunate to be able to lead the advisory council during these exciting times. The future is full of opportunities and challenges. I look forward for what we can build together if we follow the advice of Mr. Wicker who, long before Nike was a thing, said, “Just Do It!”

 

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

John Shirk

 

 

WPAC 3-9-Meeting Report Wicker Park Programming – Events, Programming, Fundraising, Volunteers – Submitted by Doug Wood

 

  1. Promotion of Chicago Park District Programming at Wicker Park: Emailed to 2,500 people and Shared to 12 FB Pages: Noble Square Community News, Wicker Park Community Page, Bucktown Neighborhood News, The Bucktown Blend, Ukrainian Village, Elk Grove, Honore & Wood Neighborhood Group, Wicker Park Advisory Council, Wicker Park Garden Club, Greater Westown Community Coalition, Sustainable Bucktown (Currently Pending Approval), Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail (Currently Pending Approval)

++NOTE: Deborah Rosa, Wicker Park Senior High Rise Coordinator said she printed the schedule and posted at the 2 buildings.

 

  1. Permits-All are in the Tentative Status – Fees listed after Each Event for Each Permit are now $0 due to Partnership Processing being Complete – Permit #R79221 Plant Sale ($2,835), Permit #R79223 Music ($12,285), Permit #R79225 Wicker MIC ($1,200), Permit #R79227 Yoga ($5,200), Permit #R79229 Art Class, Permit #R79228 ($2,600), Boo-Palooza ($19,125), The Mulch Day Permit was not Processed.

 

  1. Security for Movies, Wicker MIC and Wicker Park Fest – R&R Security was contacted; All Dates Confirmed; Invoices Soon.

 

  1. Sound System for Wicker MIC – Chris at Livin’ Live Management was contacted – Invoice soon.

 

  1. Final Movie Confirmed Dates – Invoice received for $3,000 -Paid 2/14/2023 – Confirmation #100096909.001

Movie Costs $1,000 (Movie) $680 (Security) Total $5,040 – Please Don’t Share Dates/Titles Until the Mid-May When Park District Announces

 

  1. Sponsorship for Movies – $7,000 Sold to Date (More in Negotiations) Sponsor Details & Benefits

Note – Keith forwarded Info from one interested Sponsor who called the Park to Leah & John. Leah Root and Mike Runkle made contacts with New Sponsors and forward information to Doug. Leah helped develop 2 sponsorship packages. Doug worked with previous CREATE sponsors and completed all confirmations, sent invoices, confirmed payments, is working with sponsors for their promotions at the movies, working with sponsors to create pre-movie slide show slides, and obtained all Logos.  Sponsor logos will be designed into the movie panel of the CREATE Series Banner and yard signs and used in social media promotions along with Park District Sponsors of Movies in the Parks.  The final panel of the banner and movie yard signs will be submitted to Jon Ravencroft for his approval before printing.

 

SPONSORS: Ann Nolan State Farm, Bruce Marcus Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (In Final Stages), Childrens Learning Place, Crumbl Cookies, Individual & Family Connection (In Final Stages), The Moret Group, Toss & Spin (Some More work needed), Western Wag, Wicker Park Lutheran, Zach Koran Group (Ask Nagel – Package In Negotiations) – Working on package for Toss & Spin to present pickleball on Basketball court before Movies.

 

  1. Music Series (5 Performances) Booking Update – Booking was conducted based on the Park District Request (Raquel Maldonado & Farah Tunks) to asked us to Not Book any performances in July due to the Summer Camps impact on the Park Staff availability to be open on Sundays during the Camp.- We focused booking performances in June and August.

PERMIT LOCATION: West Side of Field House on Mulch or Inside if Raining – Field House 9am-1pm

TRADES – We will submit trades order for a Roller Cart of 50 Chairs when all 5 performances are confirmed.

 

 

  1. Music & Wicker MIC Series Funding – Sponsorship – Sales Begin Next Week- Sales for the music series will begin on Monday, March 13 after Full Swing Band confirms dates.
  • We currently have one $1000 sponsorship – Altitude Chicago Trampoline Park
  • We will submit a WPB SSA#33 Community Grant for Music for $5000 – Due by 3/31/2023
  • Sponsors will be individually contacted beginning next week.
  • The Series Sponsorships will be offered as – 5 Part Music Series or 2. 2 Band June Series only or 3. 3 String Quartet Series
  • Wicker MIC Sponsorships will begin next Week.

 

  1. Mulch Day & Dog Park Cleaning Day-Saturday, April 29 – Confirmed Tools & Mulch with Landscaping Staff Sarah Frank and Parris Purdis. The Field house will be open from 8am-2pm and tools will be delivered on Friday and stored in the Field House.

 

  1. Yoga in the Park – Both Zen Yoga Garage and Eb & Flow Yoga have sent their COI and Certificate of Teaching. We submitted these 4 documents to permits – the receipt was confirmed by Max – Permits Staff Coordinator. SPONSOR SALES begin Next Week.

 

  1. Volunteer Signups and Event Signups – Links found on Event Pages on www.WickerPark.org

 

  1. Night Out in the Parks: Krista Bryski Richard (Night Out Coordinator) agreed to Accept and upload all of the CREATE Series events as Part of the Night Out Series. This support assists us with promotions of all events with lists and their AP.

 

  1. Promotions: Website Updated & I Designed and Printed 4 – Business Card Sized Promotions: Plant Sale & Volunteer, Mulch Day & Dog Park Cleaning Volunteer, WPAC Meeting Card, and Donate Card – all with QR Codes Leading to Website or Signup Sites. They are in the lobby on the information desk for all to take home. WE distribute Summer Events Cards at All Events.

 

 

 

REPORT FROM ELECTION DAY – SUSAN FONTANA

We (Mary Tamminga, Denise Browning, Susan Fontana) came and set up the night before for the election day coffee.  We had coverage (the 3 aforementioned, Elaine Coorens, John Shirk and Amy Shirk) from 6am-7pm handing out park programing info and Advisory Council event and volunteer information.  We also discussed our community’s requests and concerns…

  • We had @ 900 local people come in to vote and we spoke with them throughout the Day.
  • We have people interested in joining our Advisory Council for Playground Committee, Gen Z and Senior Programming, along with volunteering for Big Mulch Day and supporting the Park Gardens through the Plant Sale
  • The comments and the requests that came in were the following:
  • Playground Revamp/Repairs
  • Free Open Gym hours for Basketball during inclement weather and the winter months
  • Field house longer hours and open on the weekends (pre-pandemic hours of 9-9 week days and 9-5 weekends both Saturdays and Sundays)
  • Park Safety, more visible security
  • Dog Park revamp survey input
  • Compliments on the Park Gardens