Friends of the Parks

2008 Annual Meeting Award Winners

Augie Lehman

Individual Award

For her work to improve Abbott Park and for organizing the Dr. Burroughs Celebration in April 2008.

REI

Corporate Award

For their environmental community service work and for their outstanding commitment for improving the environment

 Gale Park Advisory Council

Advocacy Award

For their successful advocacy for a new community fieldhouse in Gale Park

Nash Park Advisory Council

Park Advisory Council Award

For their work to improve Nash Park Community’s Center programs and facility for the community

Last 4 Miles Team

Community Service Award

For 3 years of pro Bono work to design and work with the community to complete the park designs for the Last 4 Miles Plan

State Representative Barbara Flynn Currie

Legislative Award

For securing $175,000 for Nash Park and $350,000 to restore a model boat basin in Burnham Park

Alderman Pat Dowell

Legislative Award

For securing $3 million in TIF funding to restore historic Fuller Park

 Leon Despres Lifetime Commitment to Parks Award to

Cindy Mitchell

For her lifelong environmental commitment and dedication to parks and public spaces in Chicago

2007 Annual Meeting Award Winners

Jean Carter-Hill
Individual Award
For her work to create community gardens in the Englewood neighborhood.

Northern Trust
Corporate Award
For their outstanding support of our Build-a-Park and Volunteers in the Parks program with a Community Service Day in Brainerd Park, and for
providing a pocket park in the Loop.

The Wooded Island Working Group
Advocacy Award
For their work to create a restoration plan that benefits both the bird
populations and the native flora of Jackson Park’s Wooded Island.

44th Ward Park Advisory Council & Alderman Tom Tunney
Park Advisory Council Award
For their work to complete a comprehensive 44th Ward Park Plan.

O’Halleran Park Advisory Council
Park Advisory Council Award
For their tireless activism and advocacy to improve O’Hallaren Park.

Northwestern University
Community Service Award
For their outstanding commitment to community service and for completing nine volunteer work days in parks and preserves.

Representative Marlow Colvin
Legislative Award
For securing $3.4 million to construct a new fieldhouse in Jesse Owens Park.

Steve Bylina
Legislative Award
For improving the management and operation of the Forest Preserve
District of Cook County.

Marian Byrnes
Leon M. Despres Lifetime Commitment to Parks Award
For her lifelong environmental commitment and dedication to parks and
Preserves.

2006 Annual Meeting Award Winners

Bessie Neal
Individual Award
For nearly half a century of leadership with the DuSable League and its work to construct DuSable Park.

HSBC-North America
Corporate Award
For their environmental commitment to the Earth Day Parks & Preserves Clean-Up and for their outstanding community service in Washington Park.

Chicago Bird Collision Monitors and Flint Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation
Advocacy Award
For their work to rescue, treat, and release birds injured in building collisions on the migratory flyway as well as other injured and orphaned animals.

Holstein Park Advisory Council
Park Advisory Council Award
For their fundraising work for a new children’s playground in Holstein Park.

Grand Crossing Park Advisory Council
Park Advisory Council Award
For their work to secure the historic designation and improvements in Grand Crossing Park.

Corinthian Yacht Club
Community Service Award
For providing the Corinthian Yacht Club as a classroom for Friends of the Parks’
Nature Along the Lake Program.

Alderman George Cardenas & Senator Antonio Muñoz
Legislative Award
For securing $12 million for the acquisition of the Celotex property for a future park in the Little Village Community.

Alderman Manuel Flores
Legislative Award
For improving parks the 1st Ward including Commercial Club, Dean, Haas, Maplewood and Wicker Parks.

Walter Netsch
Leon M. Despres Lifetime Commitment to Parks Award
For his lifelong work and dedication to the lakefront and neighborhood parks and for initiating reform at the Chicago Park District.

2005 Annual Meeting Award Winners

Jerry Garden
Individual Award
For volunteerism in the Cook County Forest Preserves and Chicago’s parks and for mentoring students in an environmental restoration project at the Skokie Lagoons.

Simple Green
Corporate Award
For their corporate commitment to volunteer stewardship in the broader community and their support of the Earth Day Parks & Preserves Clean-Up.

Jesse Owens Park Advisory Council
Advocacy Award
For their years of advocacy for a field house and children’s programming at Jesse Owens Park.

Tilton Park Advisory Council
Park Advisory Council Award
For securing a new children’s playground at Tilton Park.

Senator James DeLeo
Legislative Award
For his environmental commitment in sponsoring and ensuring passage of SB1211 which placed a conservation easement on 30 acres of woodlands in Chicago.

The Poetry Foundation
Special Award
For the project to educate children about the Fountain of Time through poetry writing and reading.

Leon Despres
Lifetime Commitment to Parks Award
For his tireless service to Chicago’s lakefront and neighborhood parks.

2004 Annual Meeting Winners

Eileen O’Malley
Individual Award
For the donation of 105 acres to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County

Unilever Corporation
Corporate Award
For its community service program in which 300 volunteers cleaned up parks and forest preserves

Rogers Park Conservancy
Advocacy Award
For developing a comprehensive plan for existing parks and new parks in the 49th Ward

Logan Square Parks Alliance
Park Advisory Council Award
For its advocacy in acquiring land for new parks and the expansion of three parks in Logan Square

Alderman Joe Moore
Special Award
For expanding, enhancing and funding Berger, Gale, Triangle and Harold Washington Parks in the 49th Ward

Alderman Freddrenna Lyle
Special Award
For expanding, enhancing and funding Tuley, Abbott and Ryan Harris Parks in the 6th Ward

Chicago Department of Transportation, Commissioner Miguel D’Escoto
Special Award
For the greening of South Lake Shore Drive and providing new access to lakefront parks

2003 Annual Meeting Winners

John Buenz
Individual Award
For his commitment to preserve Monroe Harbor

Commercial Park Advisory Council
Park Advisory Council Award
For their work to restore and revitalize Commercial Park

Allstate Insurance Company
Corporate Award
For funding three new children’s playgrounds in Chicago

Westside Park Coalition
Advocacy Award
For their dedication to excellent park programming in Westside parks

Alderman Toni Preckwinkle
Alderman John Pope
Senator Emil Jones, Jr.
Special Awards
For expanding and enhancing parkland in Chicago

2002 Annual Meeting Winners

Sister Cecilia Fandel
Individual Award
For improving parks in the Rogers Park neighborhood community

Senn Park Advisory Council
Park Advisory Council Award
For building a new children’s playground

The BP America, Inc.
Corporate Award
For sponsoring Environmental Service Learning Projects

DuSable Park Coalition
Advocacy Award
For the environmental clean up of DuSable Park

Alderwoman Vilma Colom
Alderwoman Leslie Hairston
Alderman Ted Matlak
Special Awards
For expanding and enhancing parkland in their wards