Toggle main menu visibility| June 15, 2020 7:15 amThis is how quickly history is being written these days: “” already has its own Wikipedia entry.Video of the verbal confrontation — which involved a white woman named Amy Cooper calling the cops on an African American man, Christian Cooper (no relation), who asked her to leash her dog in the park — was kindling to the civil unrest that erupted in the wake of the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police. The two incidents took place just hours apart on May 25.Where Floyd’s death has sparked protests against police...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 15, 2020 7:15 amThis is how quickly history is being written these days: “” already has its own Wikipedia entry.Video of the verbal confrontation — which involved a white woman named Amy Cooper calling the cops on an African American man, Christian Cooper (no relation), who asked her to leash her dog in the park — was kindling to the civil unrest that erupted in the wake of the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police. The two incidents took place just hours apart on May 25.Where Floyd’s death has sparked protests against police...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| July 22, 2020 7:07 amChicago’s  as the city’s roads and sewers, which is why a trio of aldermen is proposing the creation of an Urban Forestry Advisory Board to develop a cohesive management strategy for this valuable resource.Alds. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward), George Cardenas (12th Ward) and Samantha Nugent (39th Ward) are introducing an ordinance at Wednesday’s meeting of the Chicago City Council, which would amend the Municipal Code to allow for the establishment of the advisory board.The city’s motto is “Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden), and...…Toggle main menu visibility| July 22, 2020 7:07 amChicago’s  as the city’s roads and sewers, which is why a trio of aldermen is proposing the creation of an Urban Forestry Advisory Board to develop a cohesive management strategy for this valuable resource.Alds. Scott Waguespack (32nd Ward), George Cardenas (12th Ward) and Samantha Nugent (39th Ward) are introducing an ordinance at Wednesday’s meeting of the Chicago City Council, which would amend the Municipal Code to allow for the establishment of the advisory board.The city’s motto is “Urbs in Horto” (City in a Garden), and...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 26, 2021 8:47 amUPDATE: It was the moment Chicago’s birding community has been waiting for.The  are back at Montrose Beach Dune.Mark Kolasa, who ventures to the dune nearly every day, made the first sighting of what’s now confirmed to be Rose, one half of Chicago’s beloved piping plover duo.“It was really cold and really windy. There was no one out,” Kolasa recalled. Around 7:30 a.m., he spotted “this little thing” in the sand and his heart leapt. It was a plover, “pretty much right in front of me,” he said.Kolasa knew to look for a colored...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 26, 2021 8:47 amUPDATE: It was the moment Chicago’s birding community has been waiting for.The  are back at Montrose Beach Dune.Mark Kolasa, who ventures to the dune nearly every day, made the first sighting of what’s now confirmed to be Rose, one half of Chicago’s beloved piping plover duo.“It was really cold and really windy. There was no one out,” Kolasa recalled. Around 7:30 a.m., he spotted “this little thing” in the sand and his heart leapt. It was a plover, “pretty much right in front of me,” he said.Kolasa knew to look for a colored...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 23, 2021 10:02 amThe Obama Foundation is sharing new details related to its landscape plan for the proposed Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, including a just announced partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden.The goal, the foundation said in a statement, is to “create a model of sustainability and strengthen the overall ecological health of the site.”The Botanic Garden will be particularly involved with the design of an anticipated fruit and vegetable garden, bringing its expertise in operating urban farms to the table, according to the...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 23, 2021 10:02 amThe Obama Foundation is sharing new details related to its landscape plan for the proposed Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park, including a just announced partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden.The goal, the foundation said in a statement, is to “create a model of sustainability and strengthen the overall ecological health of the site.”The Botanic Garden will be particularly involved with the design of an anticipated fruit and vegetable garden, bringing its expertise in operating urban farms to the table, according to the...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 23, 2021 4:03 pmNearly a year and a half after a powerful storm pummeled Chicago's shoreline, repairs are still being made to damaged sections of the lakefront.A $1.5 million lakefront protection project is just getting underway between 47th and 51st Streets, a stretch of waterfront known as  for the 400-million-year-old rock outcrop situated a few hundred feet offshore.The Chicago Department of Transportation is teaming with the Army Corps of Engineers on the project, with funding provided by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. The work will...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 23, 2021 4:03 pmNearly a year and a half after a powerful storm pummeled Chicago's shoreline, repairs are still being made to damaged sections of the lakefront.A $1.5 million lakefront protection project is just getting underway between 47th and 51st Streets, a stretch of waterfront known as  for the 400-million-year-old rock outcrop situated a few hundred feet offshore.The Chicago Department of Transportation is teaming with the Army Corps of Engineers on the project, with funding provided by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. The work will...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 13, 2021 1:58 pmDespite ’s reputation as a gifted orator, precious few audio recordings exist of speeches made by the groundbreaking reformer, who served as mayor of Chicago from 1983 until his sudden death in 1987.The Chicago Public Library has now filled a gap in Washington’s legacy by digitizing scores of the mayor’s written speeches, available to the public in a , library officials announced this week.“I’m thrilled that CPL will be providing access to the speeches of one of Chicago’s most impactful and trailblazing leaders,” said CPL...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 13, 2021 1:58 pmDespite ’s reputation as a gifted orator, precious few audio recordings exist of speeches made by the groundbreaking reformer, who served as mayor of Chicago from 1983 until his sudden death in 1987.The Chicago Public Library has now filled a gap in Washington’s legacy by digitizing scores of the mayor’s written speeches, available to the public in a , library officials announced this week.“I’m thrilled that CPL will be providing access to the speeches of one of Chicago’s most impactful and trailblazing leaders,” said CPL...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 7, 2021 2:19 pmConservationists are celebrating the Chicago Park District’s announcement Wednesday of a 3.1-acre expansion of the Montrose Dune Natural Area, a site that’s gained international attention in recent years as the nesting home for a pair of endangered Great Lake piping plovers, Monty and Rose.“This is a huge win for Great Lakes conservation, and I commend the Chicago Park District for its visionary leadership,” said Leslie Borns, steward of the Montrose beach dunes. “It’s a happy day.”The addition, on top of the dunes’ existing 12.8 acres,...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 7, 2021 2:19 pmConservationists are celebrating the Chicago Park District’s announcement Wednesday of a 3.1-acre expansion of the Montrose Dune Natural Area, a site that’s gained international attention in recent years as the nesting home for a pair of endangered Great Lake piping plovers, Monty and Rose.“This is a huge win for Great Lakes conservation, and I commend the Chicago Park District for its visionary leadership,” said Leslie Borns, steward of the Montrose beach dunes. “It’s a happy day.”The addition, on top of the dunes’ existing 12.8 acres,...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| April 9, 2021 2:07 pmBars, restaurants and other concessions are reopening along the Chicago Riverwalk, beginning Friday, as the city continues to emerge from restrictions and closures imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.“The Riverwalk is not only an important part of our city's economic engine, but it also adds to the liveliness of our iconic summers," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement, as she announced the beginning of a phased-in approach to opening.Island Party Hut, City Winery and Beat Kitchen on the River are the first to welcome back guests...…Toggle main menu visibility| April 9, 2021 2:07 pmBars, restaurants and other concessions are reopening along the Chicago Riverwalk, beginning Friday, as the city continues to emerge from restrictions and closures imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.“The Riverwalk is not only an important part of our city's economic engine, but it also adds to the liveliness of our iconic summers," Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement, as she announced the beginning of a phased-in approach to opening.Island Party Hut, City Winery and Beat Kitchen on the River are the first to welcome back guests...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| March 10, 2021 3:59 pmA massive new campus for the Chicago Park District, which has the added intention of creating a new neighborhood park, is one step closer to reality.The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved a $64.5 million construction contract for the agency’s new headquarters, a  that will double as much needed green space in the Brighton Park community.The formerly vacant industrial property at 4830 S. Western Ave., acquired by the city in 2018 for $8 million, will eventually encompass a 58,000-square-foot...…Toggle main menu visibility| March 10, 2021 3:59 pmA massive new campus for the Chicago Park District, which has the added intention of creating a new neighborhood park, is one step closer to reality.The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners on Wednesday approved a $64.5 million construction contract for the agency’s new headquarters, a  that will double as much needed green space in the Brighton Park community.The formerly vacant industrial property at 4830 S. Western Ave., acquired by the city in 2018 for $8 million, will eventually encompass a 58,000-square-foot...WW…

Toggle main menu visibility| June 12, 2020 4:04 pmIn its 167-year history, the has only been canceled during the Civil War and World War II, and now due to the coronavirus pandemic.On Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced his decision, in light of the risk posed by COVID-19, to pull the plug on the annual celebration of Illinois’ agricultural communities, which had been scheduled for Aug. 13-23.“This is the right choice based on guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and other experts: we have to prioritize keeping our people safe,” Pritzker said in a statement. “And I look...…Toggle main menu visibility| June 12, 2020 4:04 pmIn its 167-year history, the has only been canceled during the Civil War and World War II, and now due to the coronavirus pandemic.On Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced his decision, in light of the risk posed by COVID-19, to pull the plug on the annual celebration of Illinois’ agricultural communities, which had been scheduled for Aug. 13-23.“This is the right choice based on guidance from the Illinois Department of Public Health and other experts: we have to prioritize keeping our people safe,” Pritzker said in a statement. “And I look...WW…