The Community Image Task Force Kicks off the Great Wall of Pilsen project at the Clean and Green!

Erika Arreola Reyes
Published: April 28, 2012

In celebration of Earth day, and as part of the city wide Clean and Green, the Pilsen community members of all ages gathered with a common goal: to work together towards Pilsen’s beautification and cleanup. The event kicked off with a cheery speech by Alderman Danny Solis, who provided bright green shirts, coffee, and donuts to all participants, us included, who then promptly set off to clean the neighborhood.

We, a small group of DePaul students, were able to partake in such an event thanks to the DePaul Steans Center teaming up with The Resurrection Project located in Pilsen. We are currently involved in a beautification project along 16^th street, where unsightly weeds and trash make walking next to the viaducts nearly impossible. The project is an initiative of the Pilsen Community Image Task Force, a coalition of Arts and Environmental organizations in Pilsen. The viaducts, also known as the Great Wall of Pilsen (GWOP) are crucial to the community identity, as many local artists have painted their renditions of important aspects of local culture such as the Chicago Fire or Mexican immigrants’ indigenous roots. Sadly enough, these murals have become barely visible, and walking alongside the planters and small shrubs that were planted is nearly impossible.

The goal is make the path useable, and pedestrian friendly. Not only will it be accessible, but we also aim to make it aesthetically pleasing. We began by cleaning up the trash in the area and weeding the planters set up on almost every corner. But we’re not stopping there! We have big plans to further along the community project, and are currently trying to involve residents around the area to get involved with cleanup but also with the creative process of how they want the community gardens to look like. If you have any ideas you’d like to share, or simply want to help but don’t know how to get started, The Resurrection Project can help!

The Resurrection Project
1818 S. Paulina
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: 312-666-1323

Ask for Danilo Aguilar or Valerie Paurus. Click here to download our flyer.

Next clean up will be June 2, 2012 8am-11:30 with a special focus on tree care! Join us at 16th and Blue Island and call the number above to volunteer.

Keywords: clean up, community image task force, Great Wall of Pilsen, greening