Civic Associations

North River Commission thrives because of its connection to residents of our service area. Active neighborhood associations, which we call "civics," are partners in the work that we do together to improve the quality of life for all.

Albany Park Neighbors

APN was born out of a discussion that began on the defunct social network Everyblock. In the Fall of 2012 a small group of residents met at Eugene Field Park Fieldhouse who became the founding members of Albany Park Neighbors. This core group of residents have been working to transform online conversation into offline action ever since, and we’ve continued to get more long-time and new residents involved. Since then, we’ve cultivated a Facebook community of more than 4,000, coordinated events, developed relationships with aldermen and local organizations, and disseminated valuable information about our community to residents.

If you identify as an Albany Parker, or live between the boundaries of Pulaski and the river, Foster and Montrose, please join us! Bring an open heart, rolled-up sleeves and great ideas.

Albany Park Neighbors is registered as a not-for-profit with the State of Illinois, and we hold 501c3 non-profit status with the IRS.

Mission Statement: To bring together residents with businesses, officials, and relevant agencies and develop practical, positive, and productive ways to improve our area for all who live, play, learn, and do business here.

albanyparkneighbors.org
www.facebook.com/AlbanyParkNeighbors

People of East Albany Park Block Club

The People of East Albany Park (PEAP) block club was formed in March 2012 as a response to an increase in violence in our neighborhood.
Our mission is to:

  • provide a place for friends and neighbors to meet and strengthen the sense of community;
  • give neighbors a place to express their concerns and ideas;
  • create opportunities for positive interaction between individuals of all backgrounds;
  • provide a social anchor for neighborhood activities and involvement;
  • make the neighborhood an attractive, aesthetically pleasing area;
  • help respect the unique historical aspects of the neighborhood and work towards building and sustaining a vibrant sustainable future; and
  • give residents a chance to build their community by choice, not chance.

Our boundaries include the residents of:
4400-4500 blocks of North Whipple, Albany & Troy
3000-3100 blocks of Wilson & Sunnyside
www.facebook.com/groups/PEAPblockclub

 

Hollywood - North Park Community Association

The Hollywood - North Park Community Association was created in 1951 by neighbors who sued to shut down a troublesome business on Metropolitan Sanitary District land near Peterson and Jersey Avenues. After winning the suit, the Association successfully campaigned to have the land transferred to the Chicago Park District, which converted it to green space, now known and enjoyed as Legion Park.

Those determined residents created a legacy that the Association carries forward today: Assessing neighbors' concerns and seeking consensus, strategizing and acting together to develop solutions, enjoying the natural and cultural bounty of our community.

Since 1951, HNPCA milestones include:

  • Lobbying for and receiving the city's first "Residential Only Permit Parking" on streets near Northeastern Illinois University;
  • Saving the former Municipal Tuberculosis Sanatorium grounds from commercial development and remaking them for community as North Park Village;
  • Convincing the Chicago Fire Department to keep its Peterson Pulaski station open;
  • Advocating successfully for the Albany Park Library and, more recently, for Northside College Preparatory High School
  • In 2001 HNPCA celebrated its 50th anniversary with an outdoor festival at North Park Village.

For more information please follow this link: www.hnpca.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hnpcachicago

Horner Park Neighbors

Horner Park Neighbors has been working to improve the community since 1988, helping residents to deal with problems they might have, or that they see developing. HPN serves as a liaison for the neighborhood with the alderman’s office, Chicago Police and other civic organizations. HPN represents the neighborhood bounded by Montrose, California, Irving Park and Sacramento.
HPN holds monthly board meetings on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:30 PM at the Horner Park Fieldhouse. Board meetings are open to all.

HPN for much of its history has been a concerns-driven organization, working to keep our community safe and clean. As neighborhood concerns are low at present, we are focusing on social gatherings in the hopes that the friendships formed during this period will keep the neighborhood strong for years to come.

For more information:
hornerparkneighbors.org
www.facebook.com/HornerParkNeighbors

 

West River Park Neighbors

The West River Park Improvement Association (West River Park Neighbors) was founded in March 1967. We are focused on the area bounded by Foster Ave., Kedzie Ave., Lawrence Ave., and the Chicago river. Mission: To bring residents, building owners, and business owners together to promote a safe and beautiful neighborhood in which to live, work, and play.

www.facebook.com/WestRiverParkNeighbors

Horner Park Advisory Council

The Horner Park Advisory Council (HPAC) was chartered back in 1989 as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization to lend park user insight to the Chicago Park District’s Horner Park and its satellite parks: Buffalo, Jacob, Ravenswood Manor, and Sunken Garden.

HPAC has specific goals and directives and are unique in having several parks all with different uses under the purview of the council. Its aim is to steward improvements that will allow its parks to be enjoyed by all park users. Through community action keeps its gardens nurtured, the playgrounds safe and updated with great equipment, the sports facilities maintained to current standards, and the park user experience a reliable constant that generations of Chicagoans have enjoyed.

Get Involved in Your Parks’ Advisory Council!
Help define the course of your neighborhood parks’ future. The Horner Park Advisory Council welcomes all neighbors and interested parties to regular meetings held on the first Monday of every month (except August) at 7:00pm in the Horner Park field house.

For more information, visit the HPAC's website at: www.hornerpark.org

For information about Horner Park activities, Park District page:
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/horner-henry-park

TRIP / The Residents of Irving Park

TRIP (formerly UNITE) was founded in May of 1976 by a group of neighbors that organized to form a voice for the Irving Park community. Today, TRIP is made up of community residents that share the same concern and serves Chicago's Irving Park Neighborhood from Montrose Ave. to Irving Park Road, and Monticello to Sacramento Avenue.

www.facebook.com/TheResidentsofIrvingPark

Mayfair Civic Association neighbors making a difference since 1945.

Mission

  • to form a united, progressive, and constructive community in which to live
  • to establish communication between residents
  • to achieve harmonious teamwork
  • to provide good leadership to solve community problems
  • to enhance the beauty of our neighborhood
  • to encourage the youth of our community to participate in neighborhood projects
  • to promote safety wherever it is needed
  • to secure the cooperation of proper authorities to achieve our goals.

For more information, please visit: mayfaircivic.org

North Mayfair Improvement Association

The North Mayfair Improvement Association is a neighborhood organization of residents dedicated to keeping our community safe and a desirable place to live and raise families. The NMIA provides a forum for residents to come together and discuss concerns and suggestions for improving the community. The NMIA keeps neighbors informed of community events and issues through the "Improver", our monthly newsletter which is distributed to over 3000 North Mayfair residents.
Some NMIA neighborhood activities include:

Sponsor and volunteer in park cleanup projects at Gompers Park.

  • Help preserve and maintain the nature trails, lagoon, and wetlands in the park.
  • Sponsor one boys and one girls baseball teams in association with the Gompers Park Athletic Association.
  • Help fund Gompers Park for the children’s Easter, Halloween, and Christmas parties.
  • Sponsor a 4th of July Parade for the community.
  • Provide financial assistance to the Garden Club to help beautify North Mayfair.
  • Work closely with our alderman and her staff on issues affecting our community.
  • Maintain a vigilance regarding zoning changes, property use and new developments to protect property values and the character of the neighborhood.
  • Work closely with other civic organizations to stay informed on local issues.

For more information please visit: northmayfair.org/nmia
www.facebook.com/NorthMayfairImprovementAssociation

Old Irving Park Association

The Old Irving Park Association (OIPA) is a non-profit, all volunteer community group active on Chicago's northwest side since 1983. Members, ranging from young families to longtime residents, work together on many projects which impact the quality of life. These range from painting murals under viaducts and creating street banners to traffic and zoning issues and working with housing developers and area businesses. Social activities include an annual Holiday Potluck, Spring Egg Hunt, June Ice Cream Social and special childrens' events. OIPA serves as a link between the residents of Old Irving Park and all of our elected officials. The group is a federally registered 501(c)3 organization.

Members – 600 households within a one square mile area – attend meetings at 7:30 PM on the 2nd Monday of each month, September through June (except January). February – June 2019, in the lower level of St. John’s Episcopal Church, 3857 N. Kostner. OIPA also publishes a 48+ page monthly newsletter which is included in the $25 annual membership ($15 for seniors).

www.oldirvingpark.com
www.facebook.com/oldirvingparkassoc

Peterson Park Improvement Association

Boundaries: Devon, Pulaski, Peterson, and the Chicago River. Mission: Peterson Park is a North Side residential neighborhood which borders Hollywood Park, W. Rogers Park, Sauganash and Lincolnwood. It proudly and positively is called home by a very diverse population which is committed to the welfare of all of its home owners and their families.

The Peterson Park Improvement Association, in existence for over 60 years, is dedicated to represent all of its residents and aims to preserve the beauty of its neighborhood, to directly and indirectly work to achieve area improvements and be alert to changes, opportunities and threats which require timely community leadership action.

Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association

Ravenswood Manor Improvement Association (RMIA) was formed in 1914 and since then has worked to maintain maintain the “park-like” condition in the Manor. RMIA annually hosts the Easter Egg Hunt, Annual Garage Sale, Independence Day Bike Parade, and Garden Walk. This unique neighborhood is more than a collection of distinctive houses; it is a community of people.

The objective of RMIA is “to promote the welfare of the community in respect to the maintenance and improvement of the physical appearance of the private and public property; the compliance with the laws as applicable to private and public property; the maintenance of facilities with respect to the safety, health and welfare of its residents.” The RMIA is a non-profit association in Illinois and a IRS qualified charitable organization under §501(c)(3).

For more information, please visit the RMIA website at: www.ravenswoodmanor.com
or www.facebook.com/ravenswoodmanor

Sauganash Community Association

Sauganash Community Association (“SCA”) was founded in 1924. Its continued purpose remains to unite the residents and promote the common good. To these ends, the Association functions within the community to:

  • Preserve the community's architectural and general appearance
  • Advocate beneficial projects within the community
  • Promote civic, social, and recreational functions in the community
  • Encourage legislation and participation in government administrative proceedings related to the community
  • Encourage improvements and protection, and maintain zoning laws in the community

The SCA is responsible for working with local government in the area of city services, police protection, and zoning. The SCA also works with park district officials to organize the annual Fourth of July picnic at Sauganash Park and to make recommendations about park programs and facilities. The SCA funds mosquito abatement in the summer. The SCA also encourages improvements within Sauganash, including beautification projects and memorials.

To learn more about the Sauganash Community Association,
please visit their website at www.sauganash.org
or www.facebook.com/Sauganash1

Sauganash Park Community Association

Sauganash Park, as it is now known, was originally the Peterson Tree Nursery. The area was subdivided in 1925  by the firm of Krenn and Dato who also laid the sidewalks. In the early years, only two homes were built, one on Karlov just north of Glenlake,  and the second on Keeler just south of Glenlake.

Building began anew in 1939 by Edward R. Wanland. Streets were laid under the WPA program in 1940, and by the end of that year there were approximately 30 homes occupied or under construction.  The idea of a community association was promoted by two early residents, Raymond Tomkins and Edward Thau, who passed out fliers to homeowners urging them to join together as a group.

The first meeting was held at Sauganash Park Fieldhouse on September 26, 1941.  Officers were elected and the name Sauganash Park Improvement Association was adopted.  The goals of the association were established as follows:

1. To unite property owners
2. To encourage improvements in community interests
3. To promote social interests

For more information: sauganashpark.org
and on Facebook

West Walker Civic Association

West Walker Civic Association is a not-for-profit organization that was founded in the year 1912 and incorporated in 1920. The collective vision for West Walker is to retain the high quality of life residents enjoy in a neighborhood distinguished by century-old architecture, an abundance of single family homes, tree-lined streets and relatively low congestion. Through the vision process West Walker hopes to preserve and enhance the character of the neighborhood as a safe and friendly place to grow up, live well, raise children or retire.

More information: www.westwalker.org
and in the Facebook group

Irving Park East

Neighbors helping neighbors in the East side of Irving Park Neighborhood in Chicago.

For more information: Facebook page and on Twitter: @IrvingParkEast

Greater Independence Park Neighborhood Association

The Greater Independence Park Neighborhood Association (GIPNA) is a group of civic-minded individuals who believe a unified community that faces modern challenges can affect real, lasting change.

Mission: GIPNA is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the quality of life in the Independence Park community by involving, informing, and encouraging people to participate in matters relating to the community, and by protecting the historical, social, cultural, and architectural character of the neighborhood.

Independence Park is a diverse, family-oriented community on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Situated along Irving Park Road near the Kennedy Expressway, Independence Park is conveniently located between downtown Chicago and O’Hare Airport along the Metra route and CTA Blue Line.

The Independence Park neighborhood was originally established in the 1800s, and it retains the vintage character of oversize lots, mature trees, and generously sized homes in a variety of period styles. These attributes are what gives Independence Park its unique character and make it such a tranquil city neighborhood in which to live.

For more information: gipna.org
and Facebook group