May 2007 | From the Commish

Residents Help Make Chicago Beautiful

by Sadhu A. Johnston

One of the great benefits of living in a Midwestern city such as Chicago is that we can enjoy the change of seasons. Experiencing the bright browns and oranges of a brisk fall afternoon to awaiting the bloom of colorful flowers on a warm spring morning are some of my favorite moments. While installing solar thermal panels on city facilities and adding hybrid vehicles to our fleet are great examples of what the city is doing to be more environmentally friendly, Mayor Daley is also committed to make Chicago a more beautiful city and recognizing the efforts of individual Chicagoans towards that goal.

Residents like Anna Ramaglia, Chicago’s Gardener of the year in 2006, help improve the quality of life in neighborhoods all across the City as they beautify vacant lots, parkways and their own backyards. Anna has tended her garden in the Portage Park neighborhood for more than 30 years. Rather than being content with the same design, Anna makes the effort to try new things and alter her design from season to season, and from year to year. She opens her yard to neighbors and entertains children.

Mayor Daley’s Landscape Awards recognize gardeners like Anna and community organizations such as the Buffalo Seniors Community Garden who all help improve the quality of life in the City of Chicago.

Applications for this year’s 51st Mayor’s Landscape Awards will be available beginning in June at the Department of Environment or on our website.

The Department of Environment also offers hands-on assistance through our Greencorps Chicago program, which provides plants to more than 500 community groups and school gardens each year through five annual distribution days. Greencorps annually works with over 60 community groups providing horticultural expertise, physical assistance and a variety of plant and garden materials, such as rain barrels, cedar benches and compost. In 2007, Greencorps will plant over 10,000 perennials, 300 shrubs and 100 trees and provide over 500 cubic yards of soil, mulch and compost to Chicago’s community and school gardens.

Through programs such as the Mayor’s Landscape awards and Chicago Greencorps, we encourage the continued greening of Chicago. Other resources available for gardeners in May include a Vegetable Distribution Day on May 17 at the Chicago Center for Green Technology, 445 N. Sacramento. Groups must register in advance, by May 11, by calling 312-744-8691 or email. Residents interested in purchasing a rain barrel should email. And you don’t have to be a gardener to participate in the Department of Street & Sanitation’s Clean & Green neighborhood cleanup on Saturday, May 5. Through your ward office, you can borrow a variety of tools to beautify your neighborhood. Additional information is available at the City’s website, cityofchicago.org.

Gardening is among the hardest, yet most gratifying, work there is as we strive to make Chicago the greenest city in the nation. We’ll continue to provide some of the tools and support gardeners need to make a difference in their neighborhoods.

Sadhu A. Johnston is commissioner of Chicago’s Department of Environment.