Programs

Past Seed Grant Awardees

Since 2003 Friends of the Parks has awarded thousands of dollars in Seed Grants funds to Park Advisory Councils and community groups for volunteer led projects in parks across the city of Chicago.

The program is designed to build stronger communities, develop alliances and foster success in the work of citizen groups for a wide variety of project ideas. Seed Grants have helped groups with park beautification, programming, gym equipment, theater productions, dog water fountains, community gardens and Movies in the Park.

Through this program, park advisory councils can apply for small grants to support local park projects to green parks, provide children’s programs and activities, offer free special events and sponsor innovative cultural programs.

2010 Friends of the Parks Seed Grant Awardees: 

  • Park 550- Facility Equipment
  • Churchill Field- Dog water fountain
  • Edmonds and Junction Grove- Community Projects
  • Eugene Field- Family Summer Fest
  • Golden Gate Homeowners Association- Park Beautification
  • Gompers Park- Yoga Program
  • Hamlin Park- Dog park landscaping
  • Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse- Nature Board
  • LeClaire/Hearst- 10th Annual Community Picnic
  • Lowe Park- Grand Opening Celebration
  • Mayfair- High beam balance
  • Nash Community Center- Wii equipment
  • Unity Park- Art in the Park Program
  • Weisman Park Advisory Council- New Playground

2009 SEED Grant recipients and their projects

  • Unity Park Council/Arts in the Park
  • Athletic Field Park Council/Arts Project
  • Friends of Portage Park/Soccer Equipment
  • Touhy Park Council/Special Events
  • Sheil Park Council/Promotes-Marketing
  • Oz Park Council/Landscape Park Entry
  • Rutherford Sayre Park Council/Sound Equipment
  • Armour Square Park Council/Landscaping
  • Garfield Park Council/History Exhibit
  • Dunbar Park Council/Flower Planting-Movie Night
  • Indian Boundary Park Council/Build-A-Kiosk
  • Kilbourn Park Organic Greenhouse/Building a South Garden
  • Friends of Murray Park/Adopt A Park
  • Chase Park Theatre Council/ Production Costumes
  • Washington Park Conservancy/Install Native Plants
  • Austin-Irving Community Council/Installing Native Plants
  • Grand Blvd. Federation/Taylor Park Beautification-Sculpture
  • GroundUp Productions/Theatre Shows (6)
  • Uncovered Theatre/Theatre Productions (6)

2008 SEED Grant Winners: Park Name and Grantee Project

  • Armour Square – Landscaping (3 locations)
  • Brainerd – Community Fest
  • Calumet Park – Community Gardening (Gateway)
  • Chase Park Theater Group – Theater (3 performances)
  • Commercial Park – Growing Food Production
  • Dvorak Park – 100th Park Anniversary (promotion)
  • Ogden Park (LAC) – Movie in the Parks (Are We There Yet!)
  • Portage Park – (concert and movie)
  • Pulaski Park – Majorette Classes
  • Rutherford Sayre – Folding Mats (tumbling class)
  • Sherwood Park – Music Program
  • Sheil Park – Playground Promotion
  • Washington Park –Plant identification project
  • Murray Park – Park Promotion and LAC Formation
  • Wiggly Field – Landscape Remediation
  • Euclid Park – Spring Break Event
  • Ground Up – Outdoor Theater ( 5 sites)
  • Mann Park – Garden Project
  • Loyola Park – Sculpture Repair
  • Lindblom Park – Basketball Program
  • Horner Park – Gym Mats
  • Holstein Park – Movie in the Parks
  • Carver Park – Food For Life – Planting