Metropolitan Planning Council announces Placemaking contest online winner; two more entries will be selected by a panel of judges, and all will be honored at 11/1 awards ceremony
(Chicago) … Forty-six projects. 11,151 votes. Now, it’s time to announce the People’s Choice winner of the Metropolitan Planning Council’s (MPC) “Space in Between” Placemaking contest, which is highlighting the most creative, temporary transformations of vacant spaces in greater metropolitan Chicago, Milwaukee, and Gary.
“MPC extends a hearty ‘congratulations’ to the Altgeld Sawyer Corner Farm, which has captured the hearts and minds of the people of Logan Square, as well as the most public votes on our web site,” said Marisa Novara, MPC project manager. “We look forward to celebrating the people who make Altgeld Sawyer Corner Farm the great place that it is – and all of the amazing people and community groups that entered our contest, including two more to-be-announced winners – at our Nov. 1 awards ceremony.”
The Altgeld Sawyer Corner Farm, located in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, has been active since 2009 and has a hallmark of cooperating with local business and the nearby Christopher House. The Christopher House helps at-risk children thrive, and the farm provides produce and educational plots to the organization. The farm also grows plants specifically for papermaking and dyeing purposes, provides composting for the neighborhood, and is a “safe, open space [in] one of Chicago’s most ‘park-poor’ communities.” Open year-round, day and night, the farm welcomes all visitors. The $1,500 prize from the Space in Between contest is significant, given that the farm runs on an average of $1,000 per year – a relatively inexpensive, easily replicable, and highly effective temporary use of vacant space.
Altgeld Sawyer Corner Farm is one of 46 projects entered in the contest, including gardens, pop-up galleries and art installations, and children’s play areas. View all of the submissions at PlacemakingChicago.com.
Two more entries will be chosen as winners by a panel of judges: a $1,500 Grand Prize winner, and a $500 Runner-up. All three winners also will receive a coveted campaign from Groupon Grassroots, to earn more financial support for their projects.
MPC will announce the two juried winners and honor all three winners – as well as all of the creative Placemakers who entered the contest – at an awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Metropolitan Planning Council, 140 S. Dearborn St., Suite 1400.
MPC encourages community organizations and individuals who want to turn vacant spaces in their neighborhoods into great places to attend the event, to network and trade ideas with these inspiring community leaders. Complete details about the ceremony and registration are available on MPC’s web site. The event is free; registration is required.
“There is still enormous potential for Placemaking in our cities, and meeting with like-minded individuals who have succeeded can help spur others on to action,” said Novara
MPC would like to thank our contest sponsors, Michaels Development Company and Groupon Grassroots, for their generous contributions.
Since 1934, the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) has been dedicated to shaping a more sustainable and prosperous greater Chicago region. As an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, MPC serves communities and residents by developing, promoting and implementing solutions for sound regional growth.