The 47th Ward Green Council meets monthly to share updates from partner organizations, weigh in on policy, and develop programming throughout the ward. If you are interested in getting involved, please email us at greencouncil47@gmail.com and tell how about yourself! We have a planning committee that meets monthly, as well as other ways to volunteer with our ward-based partner organizations that are highlighted below.
Ward organizations
Clark Park Advisory Council – Represents Clark Park, located along the river between Belmont and Addison. They organize monthly cleanup days with a special focus on the riverbank and a wooded area in which they’re developing a nature play area.
Friends of Winnslie Parkway – Stewards for the area on the eastern embankment of the UP North Metra railway between Ainslie and Winnemac. They’re also working on plans to extend the walking trail south to Lawrence and further north into parts of the 40th Ward.
Graceland West Community Association – Neighborhood group representing the area bound by Ashland-Clark and Montrose-Irving Park. They have an ECO Committee that’s pretty active, and some of their key initiatives include planting native pollinator gardens and doing an annual street leaf cleanup. They also co-sponsor the Pumpkin Smash at Lake View HS.
Montrose Metra Community Gardens – Located along the western embankment of the UP North Metra railway between Berteau and Wilson, this includes two full blocks of raised garden beds, a public orchard, and a native oak savanna garden with a walking trail. Also part of NeighborSpace and the city’s community composting pilot.
Openlands/47th Ward TreeKeepers – The Green Council started discussions with Openlands about doing a ward-based TreeKeepers chapter, and we’ve been able to work closely with the group on planning work days, surveys, and so far two tree planting grants.
Organizing for Plastics Alternatives – Founded by several 47th Ward residents to focus on advocacy and activism around single-use plastics. They’re part of the Coalition for Plastic Reduction and have worked with our Green Council to conduct a survey of local grocery stores and their customers.
Ravenswood Neighbors Association – Neighborhood association representing the area bound by Damen-Ashland and Lawrence-Montrose. They have a greening committee that primarily focuses on its native corner garden initiative, and this year they’re partnered with Montrose Metra Community Gardens to get more growing space for their native plants that they’ll transplant to parkways around the neighborhood.
Reduce Waste Chicago – Started as an initiative of the North Center Neighbors Association, but grew into a separate organization that’s still sponsored by NCNA. They host regular recycling and reuse events to collect hard-to-recycle materials and keep them out of the landfill, in addition to education and advocacy around waste issues.
Riverbank Neighbors – Riverbank Neighbors are stewards for the community walking trail along the riverbank from roughly Berteau to Pensacola, which is a NeighborSpace garden.
Save Your Ash Coalition – Began as a project of the North River Commission, but has expanded to other neighborhoods, including active groups in the ward including NCNA, Heart of Lincoln Square Neighbors, and the Greater Rockwell Organization. Focused on protecting the city’s remaining ash trees following the emerald ash borer infestation and the city removing funds to inoculate ash trees.
Welles Park Advisory Council – Volunteer board that assists with fundraising and programming at Welles Park. They have a Greening Committee that organizes monthly cleanups, maintains the nature play area, and helped plan the 47th Ward Eco Fest.