Madison Row Clean Up
Saturday, April 12, 9am-11am
Meet at CryoBar, 1215 W Madison
Join the West Central Association for their annual Madison Row Clean Up! This is a great chance to kick off spring cleaning with neighbors.
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Can't make this but want to help with other Clean & Green events? Find more opportunities in the Community Events section of this newsletter.
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Speed Camera Installations
I'm excited to share that automated speed cameras are planned for installation at the following locations:
- on Racine, between Harrison and Lexington
- on Desplaines, between Jackson and Monroe
- on Jefferson, between Jackson and Monroe
- on Michigan, between Monroe and Van Buren
These locations were chosen because of their proximities to parks and schools. Installation dates have not yet been scheduled, but I will provide updates when they are planned.
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El Grito 2025 Community Engagement Webinar
Tuesday, April 15, at 5:30p.m.
The organizers of El Grito Chicago will be hosting a virtual community engagement webinar on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. to share information about their plans for their upcoming event at Butler Field in Grant Park on September 13 and 14.
Representatives from El Grito Chicago, The Consulate General of Mexico, and The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will be present at the meeting to share information and answer questions from the community. This is an excellent opportunity for community members to learn more about the event and interact with key representatives. Register in advance here.
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2025 Street Sweeping Schedule
Street sweeping started April 1st, and the schedule is live! Find a map and scheduled dates here.
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Block Party Planning
Jumping Jack applications open on April 15th!
I'm looking forward to this summer's block parties across the Ward! For application information, please email pc@ward34.org.
Jumping Jack applications will open on April 15th for interested block party organizers, so please submit your block party requests now as they are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Stay connected with the 34th Ward on social media!
Alderman Conway can be found at the links below or with the @AldConway handle on the following platforms.
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Free Tax Prep Assistance
The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) is excited to announce the return of the Tax Prep program, offering free income tax preparation and assistance for households earning up to $67,000 or individuals earning up to $35,000 annually. Services will be available at various Chicago and suburban locations from January 25 to April 15, 2025. No appointment is needed - but it is recommended that neighbors arrive early, as sites close when they reach capacity.
For further information on accessing the free tax assistance program:
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2025 Beat Meeting Schedules
Please join my team at upcoming CAPS meetings with the 1st and 12th Police Districts. CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) meetings are a great opportunity to meet with police, neighbors, and my team about local safety initiatives. To find your beat, click here. I hope you can join us at these meetings!
There are two beat meetings scheduled for next week, both on Wednesday, April 9th in the 1st District.
- Beat 132: April 16, 2025 at 5:30pm
- Awaken Church, 1829 S. State
- Beat 1224: April 16, 2025 at 6pm
- Illinois Medical District, 2100 W. Harrison
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Camera Registration Program
When a crime occurs, Police Officers and Detectives canvass the area looking for evidence to determine what occurred. Video footage can greatly assist in their efforts.
If you have a private security camera that captures the public way and you are interested in assisting in an investigation in the event of a crime in your neighborhood, you can register your camera with the Chicago Police Department.
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By registering your camera, you are simply allowing the Chicago Police Department to contact you in the event of a crime in your area. CPD will not have direct access to your camera system and cannot access camera footage without your consent. This is a free and voluntary program. Learn more on the program website.
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34th Ward Infrastructure Updates
- Street Resurfacing
- In progress: S. Sangamon from Monroe to Adams
- In progress: S. Carpenter from Arthington to Taylor
- Tentative start date 4/14: Flournoy from Loomis to Laflin
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- Bike median extensions on Harrison from Desplaines to Canal started March 12th after last year's resurfacing project. Flaggers will be on site to assist traffic in the area, and work is in progress.
- Detached Bump-Outs
- Completed: Flournoy and Laflin ahead of street resurfacing.
- In progress: Laflin and Monroe
- Alley Improvements (start dates weather permitting)
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- Alley bounded by Adams, Jackson, Wabash to State, tentative start date 4/14
- In progress: Alley bounded by Van Buren, Jackson, Sangamon to Peoria
If you have any questions regarding these or any other infrastructure projects here in the 34th Ward, please reach out to Dan from my office at 312-744-6820 or via email to dan@ward34.org.
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NASCAR Local Impact Updates
The NASCAR construction schedule is now live, and has been adjusted in response to feedback from neighbors:
- NASCAR activity in Grant Park starts June 19th, 16 days before the event and 10 days later than in 2024.
- Impact to Michigan Avenue (Ida B. Wells to Jackson) reduced by 5 days
- The total build time for the race is 25 days, a 42% reduction since 2023.
More information on the local impacts of the 2025 NASCAR race can be found here, including a full list of street and sidewalk impacts.
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Ashland/I-290 Expressway Viaduct Work
The bridge carrying Ashland Ave over I-290 expressway is currently in a Pre-Stage traffic configuration, with 2 lanes of traffic for southbound Ashland Ave, and 1 lane of traffic for northbound Ashland Ave.
The contractor is working on the removal of the existing medians located within the project limits to replace them with temporary pavements that will be utilized as crossovers during Stage 1 and Stage 2 construction operations. All stages of this project are scheduled to be completed by Spring 2026.
Motorists can expect delays and should allow extra time for trips through this area. Drivers are urged to pay close attention to flaggers and signs in the work zones, obey the posted speed limits and be on the alert for workers and equipment.
For road construction updates and general travel information please visit IDOT’s Getting Around Illinois website.
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8 N. Morgan Construction Information
Construction is expected to start soon. Pile driving will take 12-15 business days, weather permitting, and is planned to occur between 8am and 5pm. With any questions for the construction team, please reach out to Alex Najem here.
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Traffic Closures
- Bridge Testing: in advance of boating season, the CDOT is conducting bridge testing along the Chicago River. They will happen on the following dates:
- April 3, 10pm - April 4, 5am: Michigan Bridge
- April 8, 9:30am-2:30pm: State St. Bridge
- Helicopter Lift: On April 5th, from 9am-11am, there is a planned helicopter lift at 118 N. Clark. During the lift, the adjacent blocks of Clark, Washington, and Randolph will be closed.
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Peoples Gas Main Replacement - Wabash from Monroe to Balbo
Peoples Gas (PGL) is continuing a major infrastructure upgrade project along Wabash from Monroe to Balbo as well as on Harrison from Michigan to Wabash. This gas main replacement project is part of PGL’s ongoing efforts to modernize its system in order to ensure continued safe and reliable service to the City of Chicago.
The work hours may vary throughout the project, but we currently anticipate working from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. During construction hours you will be able to expect traffic in each direction maintained through our work zones. This gas main installation will at times impact access to garages and/or loading docks so they ask that any deliveries or driveway access needed during work hours be communicated to on-site personnel with advance notice to the extent possible to allow access to be accommodated with minimal delay.
Week of 4/14
- Retire the existing gas main in Wabash between Balbo and 11th St. (9 am-4 pm M-F) Gas odors may be present throughout the week during this work
- Finish gas service installation in Wabash between Harrison and Balbo (9 am-4 pm M-F)
- Continue gas main retirement excavations in Wabash between Monroe and Balbo (9 am-4 pm M-F)
- Begin backfilling retirements in Wabash between Balbo and 11th (9 am-4 pm Thurs/F)
Week of 4/21
- Continue gas main retirement excavations in Wabash between Monroe and Balbo (9 am-4 pm M-F)
- Cutoff of existing services in Wabash between Harrison and Balbo (9 am-4 pm M-F)
- Continue backfilling retirements in Wabash between Balbo and 11th (9 am-4 pm Thurs/F)
- Continue gas main retirement work in Wabash at 8th (9 am- 4 pm M-F)
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Traffic Management: Tribune and U-Haul Demolition
- Monday-Friday truck traffic will be focused from 9am – 4pm to avoid the morning and afternoon commuter rush hours. Once trucks are on-site, they will be on private property and not in the public right of way.
- Weekends will be used for heavy hauling and will limit truck traffic from 8:00am – 8:00pm.
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- Traffic entrance and exit as noted in the above diagram (please note, barging material as shown, is not an option at this point). If more entrances and access become available, Brandenburg will consider editing said plan.
- Brandenburg has a scale set up onsite and random trucks leaving the site will be weighed to verify optimal capacity and to adhere to city trucking load limits.
- This plan will be modified as conditions in the field dictate.
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Work is underway for the Canal Street Viaduct demolition.
Update: April 9, 2025
Reconstruction of the Canal Street Viaduct between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard continues.
The Canal Street east sidewalk will be fully closed between Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard starting as early as Friday, April 11th, for approximately 2.5 months. During this time, Chicago Union Station can be accessed from the west sidewalk of Canal Steet as well as all building entrances available between Clinton Street and the Chicago River. A nightly lane closure on westbound Adams Street should be expected.
A concrete bridge deck pour is anticipated to occur in spring of 2025. At this time, traffic will be detoured around a weekend roadway closure at the intersections of Canal Street/Adams Street and Canal Steet/Jackson Boulevard.
The project is anticipated to be complete in fall of 2025. If you have any questions, please email the project email address at CDOTCanalProjects@gmail.com.
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The City of Chicago and Cook County are hiring! View their respective job posting sites below:
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Airport Expo and Job Fair
UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt
May 1, 2025
Find contracting and employment opportunities at O’Hare and Midway airports at the Chicago Department of Aviation’s Airport Expo and Job Fair, free for attendees on Thursday, May 1 at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road.
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Business representatives will recruit candidates to fill cargo, concessions, construction, security and other positions at all experience levels — with some hiring on the spot! Small business owners will learn how to obtain city certification and enter the airport business.
Access the UIC Forum via CTA Blue Line (UIC-Halsted), #12 Roosevelt bus, or #8 Halsted bus.
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Obama Presidential Center Opportunities
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Friends of Skinner West Gala
April 11, 6pm
Join the Friends of Skinner West (FOSW) for their 2025 Gala, a night dedicated to supporting students and funding vital programs at Skinner West School. This event is open to the entire community! Don't miss this exciting evening filled with great food, entertainment, and opportunities to give back!
Tickets are on sale now! For a special early bird rate, click here.
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Parents: POW Gym is offering discounted babysitting from 5:30–10 PM for children in Kindergarten and up, so the kids can enjoy a fun-filled evening while you do too!
For additional details or to donate to their auction, contact Friends of Skinner West at friendsofskinnerwest2011@gmail.com.
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West Central Association Gala
Step into a night of Magic & Moonlight as we celebrate the 13 vibrant communities of the West Central Association! Enjoy delicious food, enchanting cocktails, and mesmerizing magician activations, with illusions and surprise performances at every turn. Click here for more information.
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Volunteer with Hope's Table!
The Hope’s Table ministry is designed to serve the needs of Chicagoans who are homeless or hungry and is sponsored by First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple.
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Saturday morning services typically include serving hot meals and food to go, distributing clothing, and connecting guests with legal support through DePaul University’s Neighborhood Legal Assistance Program. Grace Episcopal Church partners in many ways, most visibly by providing space at 637 S. Dearborn. To volunteer or donate, please contact their volunteer coordinator.
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Helping Cats Near You
4th Sunday of every month, 4pm - 6pm
Details here.
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Discuss how to help community cats through TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), what to do with kittens, ongoing colony management, preventing nuisance issues and much more!
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