1st Ward Newsletter | April 14, 2026
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Dear Neighbors,
This is Priscila, your 1st Ward Community Engagement Specialist. I had the privilege of meeting many of you this past Saturday at several of our 1st Ward parks. Thank you to the 200+ volunteers who came out to support Wicker Park and parks across the ward! Your collective efforts are what make the 1st Ward such a special community and I look forward to continuing to meet more of you throughout the year.
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While in the office, I've had the opportunity to connect with local schools, businesses, and nonprofit organizations in and around the ward that focus on housing, environmental efforts, education, health and wellness, and other community areas. These connections are helping shape upcoming initiatives and partnerships that I hope to build for the ward.
As we turn toward the weeks ahead, we’re looking forward to gathering with the community at some exciting events we have planned.
- Next Saturday (4/25)! Join us at Pulaski Park from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. for free basic bike maintenance, bike rack demonstrations on CTA buses, and information on pedestrian and bike safety from CDOT SAFE Ambassadors. This event is in partnership with Cook County Commissioner Bridget Degnen.
- To celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month in May, our office is partnering with LoSAH to host a free Yoga in the Park event at Maplewood Park on Saturday, May 2, from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. We see this as a meaningful way to kick off the month by encouraging community members to take a break, relax, and recharge through yoga and guided meditation.
Thank you for your continued engagement and for helping make the 1st Ward an active, welcoming place for all. As a reminder, you can see all of our upcoming events at www.the1stward.com/events!
Sincerely,
Priscila
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P.S. Click here to open this newsletter in another tab!
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In this week's newsletter, you'll find:
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Join Ald. La Spata and Cook County Commissioner Degnen for our annual Spring Bike Tune-Up event! We’ll be at Pulaski Park with mechanics from The Recyclery generously volunteering their time to get 1st Ward/12th District bikers ready for the warm weather. All appointments have been filled, but walk-ups will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
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In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Ald. La Spata and LoSAH Center of Hope will host neighbors at Maplewood Park for an afternoon of yoga on Saturday, May 2 at Maplewood Park! This event will encourage community members to take a break, relax, and recharge through yoga and guided meditation. Please bring your own yoga mat and water bottle.
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This week is Pre-K Week at Otis Elementary (525 N Armour St)! Families are invited to take a tour any day this week at one of the scheduled times above. Visit otis.cps.edu for more information.
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The 2026 Taste of Chicago Food Vendor application is now open! To learn more, please click here. Applications are due Monday, April 20, 2026 – End of Business Day.
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The 2026 Jumping Jack Application Portal will open tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15 at 9 a.m.! For general rules and application information, please click here.
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The West Town library is hosting a play group this Saturday where caregivers will learn from a speech language pathologist how play time can be used to encourage language development in young children!
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In Case You Missed It
The 1st Ward Office recently scheduled two First Look meetings. It is expected that both of these cases will be referred to neighborhood review with comments from the meeting:
- 1619 N Artesian (March 30, 2026): you can watch the video at the video archive and provide feedback on the proposal.
- Reschedule request: 1028 N Ashland, developer requested rescheduling April 13, 2026 meeting. A new meeting will be scheduled shortly.
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Committee on Zoning
You will see a Rule 41 notice filed for Wednesday's City Council meeting, in which Ald. Bennett Lawson (44th Ward) is proposing to formalize his seat as the Chair for the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks, and Building Standards. Ald. La Spata supports this Resolution as a co-sponsor at City Council, and signed on to the Rule 41 notice with a number of colleagues across all caucuses.
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