Whether your time is limited or you’re looking for regular volunteer opportunities, you can find way to make a difference in our community! Local associations invite Beverly/Morgan Park residents to get involved.
Beverly Woods Homeowners Association Looking to Regroup
For the last year and a half, Lydia Barnes has worked hard to get the Beverly Woods Homeowners Association (BWHA) up and running again. She is looking for help to organize in her neighborhood and address the unique issues the Beverly Woods area faces. The north/south boundaries for the BWHA are from 115th to 119th streets, and from Western west to Rockwell Avenue.
“We need an association. When things happen in your neighborhood, there needs to be forms of communication and a place where you can voice your complaints as a neighborhood,” she said. “You need to get the support of your city government as a neighborhood, not as an individual, since it’s more effective to have the clout of an association behind you.”
For example, Barnes would like to see the street lights updated, since the current ones are old and some are rusted and falling over. Beverly Woods is solidly residential, without any parks, and it bounded on Western by a variety of businesses, including restaurants and bars. “We have unique problems,” Barnes said.
Barnes runs a Facebook page for association residents which can be found by searching for BWHA. On it, she posts local news and events that would be of interest to her neighbors.
Last summer, Barnes teamed up with neighbor Lynn Sloyan to organize a food drive. They went door to door, leaving a grocery bag at each house. “County Fair provided bags and BAPA helped us to make fliers. We attached the fliers to the bags and had the Boy Scout troop collect the food on a Saturday morning. It was very successful and benefitted the Maple/Morgan Park Food Pantry and a food bank in Roseland,” she said.
Thanks to the success of the food drive, Barnes feels that the neighborhood is encouraged to participate, but she does need help organizing events and addressing neighborhood concerns. If anyone in the Beverly Woods neighborhood would like to help lead the charge, contact Lydia Barnes through BWHA’s Facebook page or email her directly at ldbarnes9@cs.com.
BRHA Block Buddies
Neighbors who live between Western and the Metra tracks from 95th to 103rd Streets and are interested in taking on a leadership role for your block within the larger community are invited to become a Beverly Ridge Homeowners Association (BRHA) Block Buddy. BRHA’s next meeting is Mon., Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., Ridge Park, 9625 S. Longwood Dr. For info, email beverlybrha@gmail.com.
WBCA Meeting
The West Beverly Civic Association (WBCA) will meet Wed., Feb. 8, 7 p.m., at Barney Callaghans, 10618 S. Western. Attendance is welcome for people who reside between 99th and 107th Streets, Western to California.
SWMPCA Meeting
Southwest Morgan Park Civic Association (SWMPCA) will hold its’s quarterly meeting, Tue., Feb. 7, 7 p.m. St. Walter’s Parish, Peterson Hall, 11722 S. Oakley Ave. Neighbors who live between Western and the Metra tracks, from 111th to 119th Streets are encouraged to attend and here the area news and association updates.
VIA General Meeting
The Vanderpoel Improvement Association (VIA) general membership meeting will be held Sat., Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m., Beverly Library, 95th & Damen. All neighbors residing between 95th and 99th Streets, Wood to Charles Streets (both sides) are welcome to attend. Refreshments will be served.
RPAC Meeting
The Ridge Park Advisory Council (RPAC) will meet Tues., Feb. 28, 7 p.m., Ridge Park fieldhouse, 9625 S. Longwood Dr. Election of officers is on the agenda along with discussions of upcoming programs and projects. Meetings will be held on the 4th Tuesday, every other month. RPAC members will be partnering with members of Vanderpoel Improvement Association, Beverly Ridge Homeowners Association and BAPA on an Earth Day Clean & Green in April, designating Ridge Park, the 95th Street Metra Station and the 99th Street Metra Station for clean-ups. The RPAC is a group of concerned citizens assisting the Chicago Park District and staff of the Ridge Park Field House and Cultural Center in sustaining and advocating for improvements to the historic fieldhouse built in 1913, the park grounds and park programs. For information, contact Mary Jo Viero, mjviero@bapa.org or 773-233-3100.
