Q1 Newsletter: Winnemac Park Advisory Council, January 2026
What Is A Park Advisory Council? (PAC)
Happy New Year from your friendly neighborhood Park Advisory Council! We’re looking forward to implementing this new form of communicating with our neighbors and fellow Winnemac Park enthusiasts over the coming year. We plan to send out this newsletter quarterly as a way of communicating park news, events, and activities as well as offering information on how you can become more involved in the park and the work of the PAC. For this first edition, we thought it would be a good idea to explain a little more about what a PAC is, and showcase some of the work of the Winnemac Park Advisory Council. Read on for more about us, plus past news and upcoming events and ways to get involved!
Let’s start with the basics. What is a PAC? A Park Advisory Council (PAC) is a volunteer organization that serves as a community voice for parks, playgrounds, or natural areas throughout all 77 community areas in Chicago. PACs work closely with the Chicago Park District to advise and assist in finding the best ways to utilize our parks and natural spaces. They communicate with the community about park projects, host events, and fundraise for park enhancements.
Read more about PACs in Chicago from the Chicago Park District’s website.
The Winnemac PAC (WPAC) is a group of neighbors and park enthusiasts who meet monthly to discuss park news, address concerns, and plan events and activities in our beautiful park.
The WPAC was originally started informally with meetings taking place around park renovation in the late 1990s as the community worked with then-alderman Gene Schulter to provide input, and became a formal council around the year 2000. Since being reconstituted as an Advisory Council in 2023, we have:
- Hosted Winnemac Fourth for All for two consecutive years
- Supported performances of Shakespeare in the park by Motley Crew and Midsommar Flight theater groups
- Maintained the prairies while providing education via nature walks
- Advocated on behalf of those prairies with the Park District after an unannounced mowing in spring 2025 and informed district personnel of park maintenance needs
- Communicated with our neighbors regarding this unexpected mowing, as well as the progress of the TIF project which resulted in refurbished tennis courts and a new baseball diamond
- Created and reported out on a survey of park use and needs
- Began a robust development of partnerships with businesses and organizations as a foundation for additional funding for amenities and activities desired by the community.
We are a work in progress and look forward to working with many of you who have indicated an interest in playing a role in advisory efforts.
What We Cannot Do
For better or worse, advisory councils are limited in terms of what they can do- though we will continue to try our best to help. Based on some of the suggestions received via our fall survey, we want to clarify that we cannot:
- Finish Park District projects (though we can certainly follow up with those responsible)
- Plant trees (such as willows) ourselves (though we can make requests to the Park District)
- Ticket off-leash dog owners or force the police to ticket them
- Dictate what kind of maintenance the Park District does in the park and prairies (though we can make suggestions)
- Clean the port-o-potties (though we can direct your complaints)
- Monitor the bikes and scooters on the Winnemac Greenway (though we can advocate for safety enhancements)
- Control traffic on the streets around the park
- Magically make permanent bathrooms appear (we’re trying!)
- Schedule sports activities (see Lisa’s contact info below)
Resources
For requests or concerns related to the park itself, contact Lisa Ragucci, our Park Supervisor, at lisa.ragucci@chicagoparkdistrict.com or (312)-742-5101
If you have a concern or complaint that you feel the 40th ward Alderperson Andre Vasquez needs to be aware of, you can reach him at (773) 654-1867 or visit 40thward.org
To contact the Chicago Police to report any concerns, call 911 in an emergency. You can also call 311 in a non-emergency, and contact the 20th District at 312-742-8714 or 312-742-8715.
The Chicago Police Department hosts regular beat meetings as a part of their Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy (CAPS). The area surrounding Winnemac Park is part of beat 32 for which meetings are held at 7 pm on the last Wednesday of the month, February through November at Ravenswood Evangelical Church (4900 N Damen). Learn more about CAPS meetings from chicagopolice.org.
Despite these limitations, if you have a question about the park, an idea for the PAC, a complaint or concern, or a suggestion, we would love to hear from you and will do our best to facilitate or connect you with the right person! You can reach us by replying to this email or sending inquiries to winnemacpac@gmail.com anytime.
How to Get Involved with the WPAC
All community members are welcome to attend our meetings. We meet on the second Wednesday of each month (no meetings in April, July or December) in the library of Amundsen High School* from 6:15-7:15 pm. The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 11th.
To become a voting member of the PAC, you must have attended the two meetings immediately preceding a vote OR half of the meetings in the 12 month period preceding the vote.
*Note that we generally meet offsite at a local business during summer months when Amundsen is closed. The location of these meetings are made available ahead of time.
Help Keep Our Prairies Beautiful
The Winnemac Park Advisory Council's Natural Areas Committee hosts volunteer work days on the last Saturday of the month, May-November, from 9am-noon. No experience or special equipment is required. Work may include picking up garbage, removing invasive species, putting in native plants, maintaining pathways, gathering seeds, and other seasonal tasks. All are welcome!
For more information, contact Winnemac Park Steward, Amy Williamson: williamson.amyf@gmail.com
Yoga In The Park Is Returning To Winnemac!
Our friends at Bloom Yoga Studio will once again be offering free yoga classes monthly from 10-11 am on Saturdays starting in April. Classes will be held on the west side of the central prairie across from the stadium. Preregistration is appreciated but not required at bloomyogastudio.com. Please bring your own mat and props, as well as water and a hat- especially if the forecast is warm!
Samantha Sierakowski will be returning to teach yoga in the park, you can get to know her on Instagram at @butterfly.yogi
2026 dates (weather permitting): April 11, May 9, June 13, July 4, August 8, September 12, October 10, November 14Help us raise funds by organizing a fundraising event or campaign. We will provide you with all the necessary resources and support.
Park Updates & Scheduled Maintenance
Upcoming Prairie Burn: The Chicago Park District has given notice that there will be a prescribed prairie burn in Winnemac Park sometime between November 2025 and April 30, 2026. Weather and wind conditions need to be just right for the burn, so an exact date is unavailable at this time.
Willow Work: Recently, at the request of the Winnemac Park Advisory Council's Natural Areas Committee, the Chicago Park District engaged a professional arborist to inspect the Weeping Willow closest to the playground. It is nearing the end of its natural life and has suffered a lot of breakage recently. To prevent any additional damage, it is scheduled to be trimmed by January’s end. The goal of this project is to help preserve longevity of the tree while eliminating the risk of falling limbs. We are uncertain of the extent of the trim, but the goal is to preserve as much of this beloved tree as is safely possible. UPDATE (addition since newsletter): this project has been completed and was executed with a lot of care and precision; the Willow looks wonderful.
Edgewater Castle Football Club Coming to Jorndt Stadium
The Winnemac Park Advisory Council has been notified that the Chicago Public Schools, which owns Jorndt Stadium in Winnemac Park, has entered into an agreement with the Edgewater Castle Football Club to use the stadium to host 12-15 games on weekends between May and July 2026.
Learn more about Edgewater Castle FC on their website.
Stay Connected With The WPAC
We post regular updates and information here on our site: winnemacpac.org.
You may also keep in touch via our Instagram @winnemacparkadvisory and our Winnemac Park Advisory Council Facebook page.
the North side Artificial Turf field is open!
central willow tree removal
central prairie patch mowing | July 23, 2025
Statement from Winnemac Park Advisory Council
The Winnemac Park Advisory Council (WPAC) is extremely disappointed with the actions taken by the Chicago Park District yesterday. We understand that maintenance is crucial when it comes to natural areas like ours and much of the work is intended to be beneficial for these spaces. That said, when the Chicago Park District takes dramatic action that drastically changes Winnemac Park, our community expects and deserves to be informed and have our voice heard. The unfortunate situation that took place today at Winnemac Park underscores the Park District's extraordinary failure to communicate and engage civic stakeholders; the city can, and must, do better.
That said, we need to look for a silver lining; we learned something today, which creates a positive catalyst for change. Together, we can work collaboratively to find solutions that allow nature to thrive in this park. This event also underscored how deeply our community cares for these patches; people gathered, chatted, expressed anger, sadness, and importantly, asked "why?" This curiosity and connection to our park creates moments for awareness, education, and volunteer opportunities moving forward. Thank you to those who stopped today to express their outrage at the natural area's destruction - we will continue to work to make sure your voice is heard by the city.
Winnemac Park Advisory Council (WPAC)
NESTING SEASON • 2025 PRAIRIE UPDATES
Our Prairies: An Urban Habitat | Red-Winged Blackbirds
After our late-season burn in 2024, you may see many of our wildflowers re-growing within our prairie patches, with quite a variety to be seen. Once we greet the initial days of March, these patches act as essential habitats for many of our birds and critters that call Winnemac Park home. Local and migrating birds, bunnies, squirrels, bats, butterflies all take refuge within the greenery not only for shelter and nesting, but for fresh greens and variable forms of sustenance.
It is absolutely necessary that we treat our prairies as the preserves that they are, which means stay on the paths and keeping our dogs out of these fenced zones.
We ask that you do this to respect the nature that resides within these prairies; a dog's scent can hinder or divert native activity and nesting, which works against our goal.
To articulate this point further, we can look to our native Red-Winged Blackbirds, who are well-known ground nesters. These birds surely use Winnemac's prairie patches to their benefit during breeding season. For frequent spring/summer park attendees, we know them well, as they let their presence be known from the branches above; however, once we gain a better understanding of their habits, we can learn to love these birds and their protective nature.
More about Red-Winged Blackbirds
(Agelaius phoeniceus)
The male Red-Wings arrive first to their breeding territories, which generally occurs in mid-late February. Their call is unmistakable once they have made their landing; a sign that spring is just around the corner. While it may seem like they are yelling at you as you pass by, it is nothing personal - yet. For now, they are simply staking out their preferred grounds for when the females arrive, which is about a month or so later.
These birds, along with other ground-nesting birds, are a crucial reason that it is essential to stay on prairie paths and keep pups out of our natural areas.
Once the females arrive, they will start constructing a nest in the zones that have been "dibbed" by the fellas; this will be done with prairie scraps, grasses, and of course, mud, for extra durability.
This is where things can get aggressive. Once that female has eggs in the nest, the males will loom overhead, ensuring no one gets too close.
Because their nests are on the ground, they are extremely vulnerable; they cannot tell the difference when someone is taking a leisurely stroll, or a potential threat to their eggs. To the bird, they can very much appear the same.
While males often act with a diving head-bomb, if a female does choose to attack, it will often be in a more extreme form than the male exhibits.
So this year, let's try to cut our Red-Winged Blackbirds some slack, and be sure to play your part to keep their nests safe.
💚 Thank you!
🪶 @fromwinnemacpark
A male Red-winged Blackbird in Winnemac Park • Spring 2025 📷 Tessa