CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - May 10, 2016) - Arbor Day Foundation and Boise Paper are pleased to announce they've partnered with Office Depot to complete the 71st & Crandon Organic Gardens Project in Chicago, Illinois.
The idea for the garden project came out of the 5th Ward participatory budgeting process in 2013. Alderman Leslie Hariston hosted the participatory budgeting process and dedicated the funds, which provided the lion's share of the funding for the garden. The garden project, led by Elliot El-Amin, has included many community members since it began. And in 2014, Chicago's land trust for community gardens, NeighborSpace, took title to the property. They worked with the regional conservation group, Openlands, and local community members to make the garden dream a reality. Development on the lots began last summer and the final garden build will be held on May 14, 2016.
Funded through sales of select office papers and in partnership with Arbor Day Foundation, Boise Paper's Project UP™ initiative works to transform distressed urban spaces into vibrant community parks. Previous Project UP™ recipients include Indianapolis, Indiana; Baltimore, Maryland; Opa-Locka, Florida; Toronto, Canada and Atlanta, Georgia.
Employees of Boise Paper and Office Depot, together with community residents and other partners, will plant trees and shrubs in the newly created Organic Garden. The building day will include installation of up to 50 raised vegetable beds, which will be planted and cared for by the community in the coming months. What was once a vacant lot will be transformed into a beautiful space with real social and ecological value.
About Arbor Day Foundation:
Arbor Day Foundation is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving the health and livability of cities by planting and caring for trees. With member organizations and program partner organizations in the United States and Canada, Arbor Day Foundation engages volunteers to take action to improve the environment where over 90% of people live: in cities, towns, and metropolitan areas. Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. During the last 44 years, more than 250 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. For more information visit www.arborday.org
About Boise Paper:
Boise Paper, a division of Packaging Corporation of America, manufactures a full line of quality papers including imaging papers for the office and home, printing and converting papers, and papers used in packaging, such as label and release papers. Through their Paper with Purpose™ promise, they commit to delivering excellent value while sustaining environmental, economic, and social resources for future generations. Keep current with Project UP news and events at BoisePaper.com.
About NeighborSpace:
NeighborSpace is the only nonprofit urban land trust in Chicago that preserves and sustains gardens on behalf of dedicated community groups. We shoulder the responsibilities of property ownership -- such as providing basic insurance, access to water, and links to support networks -- so that community groups can focus on gardening. NeighborSpace-protected gardens give young and old alike an opportunity to get their hands in the earth and enjoy nature, right in their own neighborhoods. For more information, please visit http://neighbor-space.org/.
About Openlands:
Founded in 1963, Openlands is one of the nation's oldest and most successful metropolitan conservation organizations, having helped secure, protect, and provide public access to more than 55,000 acres of land for parks, forest preserves, wildlife refuges, land and water greenway corridors, and urban gardens. For more information, please visit www.openlands.org.
Contact Information:
Contact:
Brendan Wilson
Associate Marketing Communications Manager
630-227-3413