Free events Wicker Park. The Wicker Park Community hosts a number of free events year round.
Where: Wicker Park, 1425 N. Damen Avenue, (312) 742-7553.
When: Sunday, September 12, 2021 1pm – 2pm
Free tour of Wicker Park and Gardens Canceled
Access Contemporary Music & Wicker Park Advisory Council present a free live performance by Access Contemporary Music. They will perform compositions LIVE from Sonic Walkabout, “a walking tour of Wicker Park that combines narrative storytelling, historical information and specially composed music inspired by neighborhood landmarks”.
Bring a Blanket or a Lawn Chair. Event Sponsored by Wicker Park Advisory Council & Garden Club working in Partnership with Chicago Park District. NO RESTROOMS – Field House Closed.
Also Sunday in The Park – WPB Farmers Market (8am-2pm) and View the Gardens.
PERFORMERS
Alyson Berger and David Keller, Cellos
Amos Gillespie, Saxophone
Trevor Watkin, Flute
Amy Wurtz, Piano.
CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITIONS PERFORMED
Quimby’s by Seth Boustead
The Real World by Seth Boustead
Flat Iron by Jonathan Hannau
The Fountain by Amy Wurtz
For Nelson by Kyle Gregory Price
Time’s Arrow by Trevor Watkin
Polish Triangle by Amos Gillespie
Chopin Theater by Angelo Hart
Jet Whistle by Alberto Ginastera
Free events Wicker Park – Related
Lincoln Park Greek Fest Sept 10-12
Printers Row Lit Fest Sept 11-12
Ravenswood Art Walk Sept 11-12
Lakeview East Festival of the Arts Sept 11-12
About Wicker Park
Located in the West Town Community Area, Wicker Park is 4 acres and features a field house, a large children’s playground with interactive water spray feature, a community garden area, ornamental fountain, dog friendly area, baseball field, basketball courts and an athletic field for soccer or football.
Though small in size, Wicker Park is well known for its lush and well-tended gardens due to it’s active Wicker Park Garden Club. The ornamental gardens, comprise 10,000 square feet were designed, funded, and are maintained by volunteers affiliated with the Garden Club. All interested gardeners are invited to attend weekly garden tending days where they will learn how to design and maintain gardens for their homes.
History
In 1870, when businessmen and developers Charles G. and Joel H. Wicker began constructing drainage ditches and laying out streets in their subdivision, they donated a four-acre parcel of land to the city to be used as a public park. Fencing the triangular site to keep cows out, the city created an artificial lake in the center of the park, surrounding it with lawn and trees. As the Wickers had hoped, the area developed into a fashionable middle- and upper-class neighborhood.
In 1885, the city transferred Wicker Park to the West Park Commission. Five years later, the West Park Commission filled the park’s lake, replacing it with lawn. Between 1892 and 1895, a fountain was installed in the park.
In 1908, Jens Jensen, then West Park System Superintendent, removed the cast-iron fountain and replaced it with a jet spray, converting the fountain into a children’s wading pool. Jensen also built pergolas and planted additional trees and shrubs in Wicker Park.
The West Park Commission was consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934. To provide additional programs, the park district soon constructed a small field house which replaced it with a post-modern field house in 1985.
