The Park offers weekday programming for various age groups. Programs include children’s arts and crafts, sports and fitness, dance, games and homework hour, adult walking club, as well as moms, pops & tots.

Schreiber Park’s Interesting History:

As late as 1870, there were fewer than ten families living west of Ridge Avenue in what is now the southwestern portion of Rogers Park. Among these were the Schreibers. Nicholas and Katherine Schreiber had arrived from Mainz, Germany in 1848, purchasing 40 acres of land near Devon Avenue and Green Bay Road (now Clark Street). Nicholas died suddenly just a few months before the birth of his twin sons, Dominick and Michael. Raised by their mother and an older brother, the twins eventually took control of the family farm. They expanded their holdings to 160 acres, and engaged in truck farming. Dominick built greenhouses on the land, and found success in the floral business. In 1877, he built a two-story frame house on Ridge Avenue, near his boyhood home. Twenty years later, the brothers subdivided their land; Schreiber Avenue runs through their former farmstead.

For more information, please call the Schreiber Park Field House at 773.262.6741.

Updates will be posted on our website as Spring approaches.

• Thome and Ravenswood
• Granville and Ravenswood
• Ridge and Ravenswood
• Peterson and Ravenswood

It is our hope that this installation will deter pigeons from flocking to these areas, thereby reducing the waste and disease they bring.

Remember that the Chicago Public library has set up a book mobile at the Broadway Armory for your convenience. See article below for more details.

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Edgewater will be getting a new 16,250 SF, two-story full service branch library that will replace the existing library located at 1210 W. Elmdale. The project will be designed to achieve “Silver” level certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. Additional property was acquired on Broadway to expand the planned library site. This new library will be one of the largest branch libraries in the city, containing more than 60 new computers for public use, free wireless-internet connection, a green roof, and over $500,000 in new books and other reading material. Construction for the new library will begin this summer and will be completed by the middle of 2013.

The joint efforts of Mayor Richard M. Daley, the PBC and the Public Library have lead to a prototype design for branch libraries that allows for efficient and cost-effective buildings. The designs also provide for the thoughtful use of space allowing the libraries to be able to host a variety of offerings such as children’s reading programs, high school equivalency and financial planning classes for adults, and various additional resources to enrich the learning process for library patrons of all ages. The result is a broad-based, technolocally advanced library system that plays a vital role in the education and literacy of Chicago’s children and adults.

The Chicago Public Library has placed a bookmobile in the Broadway Armory parking lot to service the community while the library is closed. The bookmobile will operate Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00am to 1:00pm and then again from 2:00pm to 6:00pm; Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm and then again from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. It will be closed on Sundays and Mondays. You may pick up materials that have been on hold or return materials but may not pay book fines.

For more information and to view a prototype of the new library, visit: Website

Reason: The old main consists of 6-inch pipe, and we want to expand capacity. Further, the old pipe dates back to 1894, and we can expect increasingly frequent breaks if we don’t replace it.

Timing: We expect the job to be completed in late November. This includes restoration. This, of course, is an estimate. Sometimes there are unexpected developments in the street, or other circumstances (e.g. weather) that force us to adjust our schedules.

Traffic: We will allow traffic to flow on N. Paulina Street without interruption, but we will have to restrict parking around our work zone.

Parking: We will post our work area for “No Parking” as needed, during work hours. We are agreeable to parking outside of those hours, but will have to insist that cars be moved by the start of the next workday. We will try to preserve as much parking as we can.

Service Interruptions: We will have to interrupt water service for a brief period when we transfer service pipes to the new main. This will always be done with plenty of notice. The other possibility is that a break in the old main might force an immediate shutdown. This is common during construction. We are replacing some pretty old pipes. We will make sure neighbors know what is happening if that occurs.

Contact Numbers

24-Hour Service and information Line
Telephone: 3-1-1

Alderman Patrick O’Connor
Telephone: 773-769-1140

Assistant Water Commissioner Tom LaPorte
Telephone: 312-742-1029

Frequently Asked Questions

What if there is a problem? There are always surprises in any construction project. If you have any concerns or questions, you can ask our foreman in the street. You can also call Assistant Commissioner Tom LaPorte directly at 312-742-1029. His cell is on the voicemail message, in case it’s off hours.

Can I park when you’re not working? We have no problem with you parking outside of our working hours. We have to insist that cars be out of our way at the start of the workday.

Will this ever end? Yes. As a matter of fact, the job is slated to conclude in late November. This includes restoration. We always hesitate to promise specific dates, since we are at the mercy of other factors like weather and emergencies elsewhere in town.

Will you shut my water off? Yes, maybe a couple of times. When we switch over the services from the old main to the new main, we interrupt service. We give you 24-hour notice when this is to happen. In any construction project, there is also a risk that an old pipe will break. They can be fragile. This may necessitate an emergency shutdown. If we do this, we will let you know what is happening, even though we may be unable to give prior warning.

Why should I be nice about this? The crew working in the street will work hard to be good neighbors, and to respect both your convenience and your quality-of-life. By working together, we can complete this important project as friends working for the improvement of our community.

It’s a Fact, 1894 was the year the old water main was installed.

• Coca-Cola was sold in bottles for the first time.
• The Tower Bridge in London opened to traffic.
• Labor Day was established as a holiday for federal employees.
• Daniel Cooper patented the time clock.
• The vaccine for diphtheria was announced by Dr. Roux of Paris.
• Comedian Jack Benny was born, at Mercy Hospital in Chicago.

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Please be aware that beginning August 29th, the Chicago Department of Transportation will begin resurfacing California Avenue between Foster and Lawrence. During the hours of 6:00am to 4:30pm, while the workers are in your area, you are asked not to park on California. If your car is in the way, it will be relocated to an area nearby.

We will ask the 20th District Police not to ticket while this project is going on. The Chicago Department of Transportation estimates that the resurfacing will be completed by October 1st, weather permitting. Please be sure to allow a little extra time when traveling to and from work.

Thank you for your patience, and we apologize for any inconvenice this may cause.

Please be advised that in the next few weeks, activities associated with the reconstruction of the Union Pacific North Line and Ravenswood Station will begin. Construction will include replacing the 11 bridges over Balmoral, Foster, Winnemac, Lawrence, Leland, Wilson, Sunnyside, Montrose, Berteau, Irving Park and Grace. New retaining walls will be built along the western side of the tracks. The Ravenswood Station, the only stop in the construction zone and the busiest stop on the UP North line, will be completely rebuilt in its current location. Construction is scheduled to be complete by 2015.

Construction will start with the installation of temporary bridge support columns at sidewalks throughout the project. This activity will begin in two weeks and will involve temporary lane and sidewalk closures, but allow pedestrian and vehicle traffic at all times.

Bridge construction will begin in about one month starting at Sunnyside. It is anticipated that Sunnyside will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians for six weeks for the initial bridge construction, with subsequent closures for steel erection and painting. Berteau will start two weeks after Sunnyside and is also expected to be closed to vehicles and pedestrians for six weeks, with subsequent closures for steel erection and painting. Grace will also begin this year and is expected to be closed for six weeks, with subsequent closures for steel erection and painting. Metra has been working with the Chicago Department of Transportation to coordinate the temporary street closures.

Retaining wall construction will begin this fall on the west side of the tracks from Berteau to Grace. Retaining wall construction will require daytime closures and restricted parking along West Ravenswood.

The Ravenswood Station reconstruction will begin in the spring of 2012. Boarding for the station will be temporarily relocated to the north side of Lawrence to allow for construction of the new station. The new station will include heated warming shelters, covered waiting areas, vendor space and ADA accessible ramps.

The work is not expected to impact rush-hour commuters on the line, and because two tracks on the line will remain operational, the current UP North schedule will not change due to construction activity. However, there could be some midday, overnight and weekend delays due to the project.

During the duration of the project, Metra will work closely with Ald. Patrick O’Connor’s office to keep the public apprised of construction updates. Furthermore, residents are encouraged to visit our website at www.metrarail.com and to sign-up for construction and service alerts with “My Metra”. Metra thanks you for your patience and support.

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Upgrading your natural gas delivery system

The dedicated professionals of Peoples Gas have provided safe, reliable natural gas service to residents and businesses in Chicago for more than 150 years. This commitment to safety and reliability is ongoing, and our accelerated main replacement program is bringing valuable improvements to your natural gas service.

Accelerated Main Replacement Program

Just as you have to replace the roof on your house or the tires on your car over time, Peoples Gas is replacing the cast iron gas pipes in its natural gas delivery system to ensure the long-term safety and reliability. In recent years, Peoples Gas has annually replaced about 45 miles of cast iron and ductile iron main with modern polyethylene pipes. Beginning in January 2011, we’ll increase those efforts with our crews replacing nearly 2,000 miles of natural gas pipes over the next 20 years. That’s more than 40 percent of our system.

Our crews will be working in neighborhoods from the North side to the South side and areas in between as we proudly bring a new era of natural gas service to the communities we serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safety

Peoples Gas has an excellent record of safety, and the accelerated main replacement program offers assurance that we’ll maintain that record. With a more modern delivery system, there will be fewer interruptions in gas service and fewer repairs. As professionals working for you at Peoples Gas, safety will remain our number one priority.

Reliability

The accelerated main replacement program will make it easier for customers to install today’s high-efficiency appliances without the extra cost of pressure boosters. By moving the Peoples Gas system from operating on low pressure to the medium pressure, reliability will increase for both current appliances and newer high efficiency equipment.

Lower Costs Over The Long Haul

By making these improvements sooner rather than later, we’ll reduce long-term costs to our customers. By some estimates, as much as $244 million in net operations and maintenance. How? Being proactive about making improvements means avoiding more expensive replacements later, allowing us to keep rates lower than they might otherwise be. And by removing aging pipes that require frequent maintenance, we can reduce the cost of ongoing repairs.

As the program moves forward, we’ll work closely with Aldermen and community leaders to make sure residents and businesses know when Peoples Gas will be working in their area. Our crews will employ the latest techniques in laying pipe to minimize disruptions to the neighborhood.

Upgrades in Your Community – View City Map to find details of where we will be or select a specific location below.

• 16th and Independence
• 37th and Paulina
• 43rd and Ashland
• 47th and Wentworth
• 70th and Lowe
• 88th and Marshfield
• Altgeld Gardens (Eden Green)
• Belle Plaine and Cicero
• Blue Island and Leavitt
• Byron and Monticello
• Clearing
• Cornelia and Milwaukee
• Cullerton
• Edison Park
• Garfield Ridge (Oak Park Avenue)
• Irving Park
• Laflin
• Lake and Green
• Lakeview
• Lawndale (Roosevelt and 16th)
• Little Village (Kolin and Karlov)
• Mount Greenwood
• Pullman (Langley)
• Rogers Park
• Spaulding
• Wildwood

For More Information

Keeping you informed is key to your satisfaction and our success, contact us at 866-556-6001.

The Lincoln Avenue Median Project is now complete. With flowers and trees in bloom, the median is not only pleasing to the eye but has also made Lincoln Avenue a much safer and environmentally friendly street in which to travel on. The median has succeeded in slowing traffic on what is a well traveled thoroughfare, making it much safer for vehicles and pedestrians alike.

POSTED UPDATE  / 22 December 2010

The Lincoln Avenue Median Project is now 95% complete. Permanent Pavement Markings cannot be installed due to the cold temperatures. Therefore, the installation of temporary pavement markings is scheduled to begin on December 9. Installation will take at least two days. Once the temporary installation is complete, all traffic control will be removed and the parking lanes will be restored. Permanent markings will be installed in spring.

Perennial Plantings will be completed in spring, no later than May.

The finished median will be a wonderful addition to our neighborhood. It will not only serve to help keep Lincoln Avenue safer, but will also help the environment and add beauty to Lincoln Avenue.

POSTED UPDATE  / 27 October 2010

The Lincoln Avenue Median Project is in it’s final stages. A few local residents have raised concerns as to why the city would initiate such a project during an economically difficult time. In an effort to answer questions regarding the construction of the median, the Department of Transporation has put together a summary of how the project benefits the city.

Safety – The median separates lanes of oncoming traffic and has been shown to help reduce vehicle speeds.

Traffic Flow – The median establishes turn bays and reduces the number of access points where vehicles turning from side streets currently cut across traffic. It also adjusts roadway alignment to improve traffic flow and safety. The stretch of Lincoln Avenue from Catalpa to Rockwell will have a revised geometry to improve channelization. Additionally, some turning bays were adjusted based on a traffic study done by the Chicago Department of Transportation prior to the project.

Environmental – The median will improve air quality and help manage stormwater.

Aesthetics – The median will help improve the look of the area and encourage private investment as well as improve property values.

The median project is scheduled for completion by the end of November.

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POSTED UPDATE  / 26 JULY 2010

The $3.3 million dollar Lincoln Avenue Landscaped Median Improvement Project is now underway.  Construction barricades are lined down Lincoln Avenue from Catalpa to California with future plans of extending the median to Devon Avenue.

The project will include removal of existing pavement and medians which will be replaced with irrigated, landscaped medians with decorative precast concrete.

Other work will include various corner upgrades, minor resurfacing and pavement marking installation.  Landscaping will include trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs.

The medians offer several benefits:

• Safety—medians separate lanes of oncoming traffic.
• Environmental—landscaped medians incorporate trees and other plantings that help reduce the urban heat island effect, keeping Chicago cooler.
• Storm water management—medians collect and store stormwater, reducing the amount that enters storm sewers.
• Aesthetics—median plantings contribute to the “greening” and beautification of Chicago.

Travel Impacts

Lincoln Avenue will see some lane reductions throughout the project between Devon Avenue to Catalpa Avenue.

• Northbound Lincoln: two travel lanes; no parking allowed
• Southbound Lincoln: one travel lane, one parking/travel lane

Maplewood, eastbound Mozart and Christiana will be restricted to right-in and right-out turn movements

Motels

Demolition of Riverside Motel and replaced with
Legion Park Gateway and Fountain and extension of bike path
Lincoln and Peterson – 1999

Demolition of Spa Motel and replaced with
20th District Police Station
5400 N. Lincoln Avenue – 2000

Demolition of Acres Motel and replaced with
Budlong Woods Public Library
5630 N. Lincoln Avenue – 2000

Police and Fire

New 24th District Police Station
6464 N. Clark Street

New 20th District Police Station – 2002
5400 N. Lincoln Avenue

New Engine Company 70 – 2008
6030 N. Clark Street

Parks and Fountains

Legion Park Gateway Plaza Fountain and Extension of Bike Path – 1999
Corner of Lincoln & Peterson Avenues
Note: This site was formerly the location of the Riverside Motel

Peaches Memorial Fountain – 1998
5850 N. Ashland Avenue

Schools

Stephen T. Mather High School
5835 N. Lincoln Avenue
Natatorium – 1998
Renovation – 1994
New Library and Greenhouse – 2010

Northside Prep High School
5501 N. Kedzie Avenue
Built – 1999

Roger C. Sullivan
6631 N. Bosworth Avenue
Renovation and Improvements – 2004

Mary Gage Peterson Elementary School
5510 N. Christiana Avenue
Modulers – 2004

Lyman Trumbull Elementary School
5200 North Ashland Avenue
Renovation and Improvements – 2003

Lyman A. Budlong Elementary School
2701 W. Foster Avenue
New Annexes – 2006
Renovation and Improvements – 2006

Joyce Kilmer Elementary School
6700 N. Greenview Avenue
Addition – 1996
Campus Park – 1998
Play lot – 1999

Minnie Mars Jamieson Elementary School
5650 N. Mozart Street
Modulars – 2004
Renovation and Improvements – 2004

Stephan K. Hayt Elementary School
1518 W. Granville Avenue
Renovation – 1993
Addition – 1996
Upgraded Athletic Fields

Park District Improvements

Gross Park – New Playground and Fencing
River Park – New Playground
Schreiber Park – New Park
Mellon Playlot

Streetscapes

Devon Streetscape – Ravenswood to Clark
Bryn Mawr Streetscape – Kedzie to Bernard
Clark Streetscape and Median
Note: The streetscape project includes new sidewalks, paved crosswalks, street lights, decorative lamp posts, trees and tree grates as well as new trash receptacles and bike racks.

Lincoln Avenue Median – 2010
Devon to Catalpa – 3.3 million
Note: New lights, trees and tree grates as well as new trash bins and bike racks.

Businesses brought into our community

Target – 2006
1212 W. Peterson Avenue

Dominick’s Finer Foods – 2010
5230 N. Lincoln Avenue

Bank of America
Note: Installed Green Roof

Walgreens – Peterson Avenue

Porous Alleys

Berwyn, Balmoral, Sawyer and Kedzie
Devon, Highland, Greenview and Clark
Balmoral, Rascher, Damen and Hoyne
Arthur, Albion, Newgard and Glenwood

Community Garden

Peterson Victory Garden