BAPA’s popular, family-friendly Porch Concert series is returning this spring with the first event kicking off BAPA’s Home Tour weekend on Fri., May 13 at Ridge Historical Society, 10621 S. Seeley Ave.
Tons of neighbors are volunteering their porches. In fact, too many.
“It’s a happy dilemma,” said BAPA’s Brittany Wiley who coordinates the concert series. “It’s great that the porch concerts are so popular, but we hate to disappoint the people who are volunteering to host them.”
Then BAPA came up with a win-win solution: Porch concerts will be held on the block where the most residents are current BAPA members in each of five sections of the neighborhood. Each area will have until two weeks before their concert date to get as many neighbors as possible to join BAPA. Finding funding for the concerts is important; each event costs approximately $1,000.
“We’re celebrating BAPA’s 75th anniversary this year, and focusing on the important role BAPA has always played and continues to play in our community,” Wiley said. “Everyone in Beverly/Morgan Park benefits from BAPA’s work, but only a small percentage are members. We are out to change that.”
May 27 is the deadline for North Beverly and the June 10 Porch Concert. Boundaries are 87th to 95th Streets, Western to Beverly Avenue.
June 24 is the deadline for East Beverly for the July 8 Porch Concert. Boundaries are 95th Street to 119th Street, Rock Island Metra tracks to Vincennes Road/Beverly Avenue.
July 29 is the deadline for West Beverly and the Aug. 12 Porch Concert. Boundaries are 99th Street to 119th Street, California Avenue/Rockwell Avenue to Western.
Aug. 26 for Morgan Park for the Sept. 9 Porch Concert. Boundaries are 107th Street to 119th Street, Western to the Rock Island Metra tracks.
Sept. 30 for Central Beverly for the Oct. 14 Porch Concert. Boundaries are 95th Street to 107th Street, Western to the Rock Island Metra tracks.
Bands are currently being scheduled for the Porch Concert series. The Smiley Tillmon Band will play on June 10, Pat Egan and the Heavy Hearts will play on July 8 and Railway Gamblers will play Sept. 9.
BAPA is looking forward to some lively competition for the Porch Concert block challenge. “It will be a fun way to get residents more involved with BAPA and to showcase our work in the community,” said BAPA Executive Director Mary Jo Viero. “Just like our neighbors count on BAPA to keep Beverly/Morgan Park strong and vital, BAPA counts on our neighbors to support our work.”
Become a BAPA member at bapa.org/support-bapa. Memberships are available at a variety of levels, and there’s a new monthly gift option.
#LoveWhereYouLive #LoveWhereYouGive.
