05 Nov LINCOLN PARK CONSERVANCY RECEIVES A $1 MILLION LEADERSHIP GIFT FOR RESTORATION OF NORTH POND
November 5, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact Doug Widener. 773.883.7275 ext. 6
Chicago, IL – November 5, 2018 – The Lincoln Park Conservancy announced a $1M leadership gift for the restoration of Lincoln Park’s North Pond. The nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring and enhancing the cultural and natural resources of Lincoln Park, is putting the final touches on a comprehensive Master Plan for North Pond that is slated for completion next spring. The Pond’s restoration will begin next summer and includes dredging the pond to increase its depth and improve water quality, grading and stabilizing the Pond’s banks to reduce erosion and increase aquatic habitat, and adding additional natural areas adjacent to the Pond including an expanded prairie and savanna and a tiered sedge-meadow to capture and filter rainwater and runoff.
“This anonymous leadership gift is a game-changer for the North Pond restoration project and our organization,” said Doug Widener, Executive Director. “A gift of this amount will allow us to move directly from completing the North Pond plan to beginning the restoration work next summer to ensure we meet our goal of 100% project completion by 2021.” “This contribution demonstrates the strong commitment of the Lincoln Park community to the Pond’s restoration and the momentum of the project. We know it will also help spark additional community investment to meet the overall budget for the Pond’s restoration,” added Board Co-Presidents, Julie Jahn and Chris O’Neill.
The Conservancy is currently conducting a 35th Anniversary Campaign, which will culminate in an Anniversary Gala on April 26, 2019, and includes raising money in support of the North Pond project and the opening of the new Sunshine Playscape north of the Pond next summer. The Playscape will replace the existing playlot at North Pond and integrates nature-play features that reflect the natural environment of the North Pond Nature Sanctuary with traditional playground equipment.
To learn more about the Lincoln Park Conservancy and its work visit lincolnparkconservancy.org
ABOUT THE CONSERVANCY
The Conservancy was established in 1984 and is entering its 35th year of partnership with the Chicago Park District in supporting Chicago’s largest and most visited park. The Conservancy provides additional stewardship, site management, resources, staff, and programming throughout the Park. The first park conservancy in Chicago, the Conservancy provides volunteer docents tours and programs at the Lincoln Park Conservatory and Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, coordinates volunteers stewardship events and corporate service days at North Pond and throughout the Park, and raises private support to restore and maintain park assets, including its current restoration efforts at North Pond. As it embarks on its next 35 years, the Conservancy looks to step into an even greater leadership and stewardship role to meet growing need across the entirety of Lincoln Park, from Osterman Beach to Ohio Street Beach and all the wonders in between. To learn more about the Lincoln Park Conservancy and its work, visit: www.lincolnparkconservancy.org.
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