Friends of the Parks will honor Ernest Wong, Principal of Site Design Group.   Ernest Wong was selected as this year’s Parks Ball honoree for his outstanding designs for new Chicago Parks.  Each of the parks was uniquely and thoughtfully designed to reflect the neighborhood in which they are located.  The parks were so successful that each has become the heart center of their neighborhood. 

Ping Tom Park in Chinatown was constructed with gorgeous Chinese dragon pillars and pagodas reflecting the culture of the neighborhood.  Lakeshore East Park was designed as a multi-use active recreational park becoming the backyard of thousands of condo-dwellers.  Bridgeport’s Stearns Quarry, an abandoned stone quarry was transformed into a naturalistic landscape with a stream-meandering park giving people a new fishing hole.  As a landscape architect, Ernest Wong has taken Chicago’s urban parks to a new level of outstanding design.

The Parks Ball begins with cocktails, silent auction and a special performance,   ollowed by a sit-down dinner, a ceremony to honor Ernest Wong, and dancing.  Our guests will include leaders from Chicago’s civic, business, environmental and cultural communities.  The event will showcase the importance of parks as critical places in neighborhoods to play, exercise, relax, find beauty and escape the stresses of urban life.  Your support of the Parks Ball will enable us to take steps to implement The Last Four Miles Plan by acquiring 100 acres of land for a new lakefront park.

2012 Parks Ball

Friday, May 11, 2012

Gallaria Marchetti

825 W. Erie Street, Chicago, IL

For more information and for tickets, please contact Nancy Minster Swabb at (312) 857-2757 extension 11.