Community Events & Placemaking Grant Program
Lakeview Special Service Area (SSA) 27 is pleased to offer its Community Events & Placemaking Grant Program, which provides up to $5,000 in financial assistance and technical support for unique events and projects taking place in the Lakeview neighborhood. With funding from SSA 27, the Program furthers our goals to create memorable experiences and promote the neighborhood within the boundaries of the SSA. In 2020, the SSA 27 Commission has approved the following four events which will move forward in a safe and socially distanced manner. Please come join us for some outdoor fun!
A Very Harry Celebration (awarded $3,500): August 29-30
Southport Ave from Byron St. to School St.
Covenant Youth Collision presents a celebration of all things witchcraft and wizardry! A Very Harry Celebration will bring a weekend full of Harry Potter screenings to the Music Box Theatre plus scavenger hunts, quidditch matches, a photo booth and more fun and family-friendly activities along the Southport Corridor. Masks and hand sanitizer will be provided for individuals who do not have them and staff will mark areas on the ground to ensure that social distance measures are implemented and maintained throughout the event. Staggered starting times and pre-registration for event activities will be required to maintain social distancing.
Volunteering Untapped (awarded $2,250): September 12
Lincoln Hub and Southport Plaza
Volunteering Untapped presents different opportunities for Lakeview residents to get involved in community service. Attendees can create cards for children all around Chicago who are experiencing long term illnesses at the ‘Cardz for Kidz’ station. Participants can also ‘Chalk the Walk’ to spread cheer all throughout the neighborhood. Reminders of PPE will be made clear to all participants and extra PPE supplies will be provided. Participant number limits and staggered starting times will be necessary to maintain social distancing.
Dog Days of Summer (awarded $5,000): September 19
Southport Plaza
Dog Days of Summer is a pet-focused and family friendly event featuring a doggie pool, ball pit, pet red carpet photo-op, and tent cooling station right below the Southport Low-Line. Guests can ask any dog questions they may have during the Q&A with professional dog trainer, Sarah Koppel. Pre-registered guests will have the opportunity to take 2 art classes from Chicago Sip & Paint and ChicagoARTery where they will learn to paint their pet. Attendees can grab a bite to eat or drink from local vendors, such as Elevate Coffee Shop and will also have the opportunity to win give-aways and other promos from Chicago celebrity and event MC, Miss Foozie. A local rescue shelter will also be attending the event to help connect their dogs to forever homes. Staff will require all guests wear masks and follow social distancing measures throughout the event.
Paint Southport (awarded $5,000): October 10
Southport Ave from Grace St. to Waveland St.
Join Spectra Fine Art in the Southport Corridor to admire a collection of Chicago’s best artists as they paint out on the street. Galleries, local vendors, and artist booths will be stationed alongside the street and a map will be placed at Bombastic Cafe marking the location of artists for guests to spectate throughout the day. All attendees will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing measures to ensure safety throughout the day.
Past Projects