Groups raise half of funds for new playlot
by BRIAN NADIG
The Mayfair Civic Association and the Mayfair Park Advisory Council have raised about half of $25,000 to help pay for a new playlot in Mayfair.
An update on the fund-raising efforts was given at the April 12 meeting of the association at the Irish-American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave.
The groups have been working with the nonprofit group Openlands and Alderman Margaret Laurino (39th) in an effort to help the Chicago Park District to acquire a vacant 12,500-square-foot vacant triangular parcel at 4546 N. Kedvale Ave.
The purchase of the land is expected by mid-June, association president Ron Duplack said.
The $25,000 will cover only a small portion of the actual land cost, whose figure has not been released, but the community’s fund-raising efforts help to demonstrate to city and park officials that there is a strong desire for the proposed playlot, Duplack said. A private foundation has agreed to match the amount of funds raised by the community.
Supporters of the project have said that families living near the Kedvale parcel take a risk crossing Elston when they walk to Mayfair Park, 4550 W. Sunnyside Ave., and that the Spiking Farm Park playlot, 4706 N. Pulaski Road, is too small. The Kevdale parcel is about twice as large as the Spiking site.
Duplack said he hopes that the park district this year will landscape the Kedvale site and install benches so that residents can start to use the site while the playlot’s design plans are developed. He said that the park district is expected to work with the advisory council on the design.
A fund-raising account for the project has been established at gofundme.com. The association will hold fund-raisers from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, May 10 and 24, at Potbelly Sandwich Shop, 4185 W. Irving Park Road.
The group will receive a portion of the restaurant’s proceeds from purchases in which customers present a fund-raising flier. Those interested in attending are asked to send an e-mail to rduplack@rieckcrotty.com.
