Beautification of Public Space

Goudy Square Park

Goudy Square Park, named for William C. Goudy, a well-respected attorney who served as President of the Lincoln Park Board from 1887 to 1893, is our neighborhood's park. It is located at the Southeast corner of Astor and Goethe and falls under the jurisdiction of the Chicago Park District. The park was transformed into the special space it is today with children's playground equipment and wrought iron fences with the generous donations of private citizens in the neighborhood as well as previous support from then-Alderman Daley. Gold Coast Neighbors continues to work in conjunction with current Alderman Smith and the City of Chicago to beautify the parkways.

A new project to renovate the existing park, including the play equipment and grounds and other repairs as needed, as led by the Friends of the Parks, is ready to get started once the city approves the plan.  GCNA donated $35,000 of neighbors' support to this $600,000 project.

A few years ago, spearheaded by GCN Director Karen Herman, an association fundraising campaign raised over $25,000 for the plantings and maintenance of the parkways. GCN would like to thank Alderman Daley and Mariani Landscape for their work on the project. In 2008 eight generous donors from five buildings bordering the park have pledged over $1,500 per year for the next three years to maintain the parkways. Interested in making a contribution? Please send your donation to the association office address. Make check payable to Gold Coast Neighbors and indicate "Goudy Park Parkways" in the memo section to help defray the costs of maintenance.

North Avenue Underpass

Working closely with former Aldermen Daley and Bernadini, Gold Coast Neighbors fought hard for the funding of the North Avenue underpass and cul-de-sac, now pristine areas for neighbors use and thoroughfare. Once a dangerous spot due to flooding, poor lighting, and cracked cement, the underpass was long in disrepair and dire need of improvement. Thanks to the neighborhood's efforts the underpass is now safe, well lit and accessible to pedestrians and bikers alike. The cul-de-sac, once a constant source of traffic aggravation and considered an eyesore, now is built on a new concrete bed, is easier to maneuver around, has beautiful plantings and is currently graced with public art, thanks to Alderman Daley.