CHICAGO

P L AY S !

PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT PROGRAM

The Chicago Park District in partnership with Friends of the Parks intends to invest in neighborhoods across the city by launching the Chicago Plays! Playground Equipment Replacement Initiative. This new program is designed to replace the playground equipment at 35 Chicago parks and help make playgrounds safer and more accessible for all Chicago residents. The Chicago Plays! Playground Equipment Replacement Program provides a unique opportunity for community groups and neighborhood associations to have a voice in the selection process. The playgrounds chosen this year will be based on a community application process. We want to hear from you on how your community will benefit from a new playground. To begin the process, complete the application and collect the necessary materials from community members and your Alderman. The program is open to community and neighborhood organizations such as Park Advisory Councils, Adopt-a-Park groups, scouting troops, block clubs, neighborhood associations, churches, Chamber of Commerce, or any other community-based organization. Community organizations should demonstrate a strong support for a new playground through its care and maintenance. In addition to completing the application, communities that receive new playgrounds are expected to adopt their playground to help maintain and keep it clean. There may even be some opportunities for organizations to help put the finishing touches on the new playgrounds. Friends of the Parks can provide on-going assistance in order to help your group organize community clean up days throughout the year. The Chicago Plays! Playground Equipment Replacement Program provides for the removal of old equipment and the installation of new playground equipment. Look for a full announcement of playgrounds scheduled for rebuilding in April!

CHICAGO PLAYS! COMMUNITY MEETINGS:

There will be three informational meetings held in March, which will give interested organizations the opportunity to learn more about the application process and what kind of playgrounds can be expected. Saturday, March 23rd Monday, March 25th Tuesday, March 26th 10:00am 6:00pm 6:00pm Washington Park Refectory, 450 E. 55th Street Harrison Park, 1824 S Wood Street Independence Park Bungalow, 3900 N. Hamlin Avenue

chicagoparkdistrict.com 541 N. Fairbanks Court Chicago, Illlinois 60611 312.742.7529 fotp.org 17 N. State Street, Suite 1450 Chicago, Illlinois 60602 312.857.2757

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COMMUNITY INFORMATION
APPLICANT INFORMATION:
ORGANIZATION NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: CONTACT PERSON NAME: CONTACT PERSON EMAIL : CONTACT PERSON TELEPHONE: STATE: ZIP:

PLAYGROUND INFORMATION:
PARK NAME: PARK ADDRESS: CITY: STATE: WARD: ZIP:

ALDERMAN:

APPLICATION CHECKLIST
STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY IMPACT PLAYGROUND CONDITIONS REPORT COMMUNITY PETITION LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM THE ALDERMAN Applications can be emailed to: chicagoplays@fotp.org or faxed to 312-857-0656 or mailed to: Chicago Plays! c/o Friends of the Parks, 17 N. State Street, Suite 1450, Chicago, IL 60602

COMPLETED APPLICATIONS DUE MONDAY, APRIL 15, 2013

chicagoparkdistrict.com 541 N. Fairbanks Court Chicago, Illlinois 60611 312.742.7529 fotp.org 17 N. State Street, Suite 1450 Chicago, Illlinois 60602 312.857.2757

CHICAGO PLAYS! PROGRAM

PLAYGROUND INFORMATION

STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY IMPACT:

Please detail the impact that your organization envisions a new playground would have on the community. What are the benefits for the community? Are there any barriers in community development that this playground could help solve? What community members do you anticipate receiving the most benefit, and why?

PLAYGROUND CONDITIONS REPORT:

What is the current condition of the park? Specifically, why does the facility need to be replaced and why are other parks or playgrounds in the area not meeting the communitys needs? We encourage the applicant organization to provide visual evidence through photographs or video but request a maximum of four photos OR a video of no more than two minutes.

chicagoparkdistrict.com 541 N. Fairbanks Court Chicago, Illlinois 60611 312.742.7529 fotp.org 17 N. State Street, Suite 1450 Chicago, Illlinois 60602 312.857.2757

CHICAGO PLAYS! PROGRAM

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
COMMUNITY PETITION
A major requirement for a successful application for the Chicago Plays program is the involvement of the community and its residents. Both the Park District and Friends of the Parks are eager to see these newly renovated playgrounds function as a hub of resident activity. To that end, we are requesting that your organization circulate a petition that demonstrates a desire in the community to see your playground renovated. The petition is open to playground users of all ages, including children, but please limit the signatures to the residents of the neighborhood that will be directly impacted by the program. Any petition with less than 50 signatures will not be considered. In the back of this application packet you may find a sample petition. Your organization may choose to create their own petition that highlight certain priorities or choose to use the petition provided. In either case, please list your organizations name, park name, and park address at the top of the petition and collect only the name and address of the signatories.

ALDERMANIC LETTER OF SUPPORT

The final requirement of the Chicago Plays Program is securing a letter of support from the Alderman of the Ward in which the playground is located. This one-page letter should simply state that the Alderman acknowledges the communitys application and that he is supportive of the Chicago Park District replacing the equipment in the playground. The purpose of this is to make indvidual Aldermen aware of the communitys desire to improve their parks as well as ensure that projects that are already in the development phase are not interrupted. If your organization is interested in applying for the Chicago Plays Program, we recommend contacting your Alderman very early in the process as their offices can be extremely busy. Additionally, if your organization is having a difficult time securing a letter of support, please contact Friends of the Parks chicagoplays@fotp.org.

chicagoparkdistrict.com 541 N. Fairbanks Court Chicago, Illlinois 60611 312.742.7529 fotp.org 17 N. State Street, Suite 1450 Chicago, Illlinois 60602 312.857.2757

CHICAGO PLAYS! PROGRAM

COMMUNITY PETITION
ORGANIZATION: PARK NAME: PARK ADDRESS: NOTE: 50 TOTAL SIGNATURES ARE REQUIRED FOR THE COMMUNITY PETITION. As part of the community-driven application process of Chicago Plays, our organization is currently seeking community support for the replacement of equipment of the playground at the park listed above. By signing the petition, this signals that I am a resident of the area and would benefit from an improved playground.

NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: NAME: ADDRESS: