Wicker ParkPaulette, Z, Margarita, Dalton

Location

• Wicker Park is located on northwest side of the loop• Western neighborhood of Chicago• South of Bucktown

Transportation

There: 1. Take red line train from Loyola station to North/Clybourn2. Take bus #72 and get off at Wicker ParkBack:3. Take bus #70 and get off at Clark/Division4. Take red line from Clark/Division to Loyola

However, there are many, many other routes to Wicker Park.

History

Incorporated as a city of Chicago in 1837. Industry first came in 1857 when the Rolling Mill Steel Works opened along the river near Ashland and

Armitage. Irish community settled in that area providing the major source of labor for the mill, then Germans and

Norwegians, later Jews Clothing, furniture, musical instrument, art galleries, and cafes form part of the community There is a diverse mix of ethnic and economic residentsmid 1800s through 1929 was the establishment and growth period1930 to approximately 1975 was a steady, slow decline culminating in a depressed communityA slow rebirth followed by an explosion of development and progress that continues today

Demographics

Area: 0.958 square miles

Population: 25,008

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Paulette’s Reflection

I moved to the Chicago suburbs from Arizona about seven years ago. Being from a small border town I had never seen a big city like Chicago. For years I

spent my free time downtown being a tourist seeing all the sights and eating at all the restaurants. This

project taught me that there’s more to Chicago than just “Chicago”. Little towns surround the area and offer a look into different cultures and lifestyles.

Going to Wicker Park encouraged me to continue exploring the other neighborhoods. I’ve noticed that each one differs in its people and the vibe I get as I

walk down the streets.

Z’s ReflectionLiving in the West Suburbs visiting Chicago is a frequent hobby; as such I decided to let my group decide where

they would want to visit. Luckily they chose a community that I haven’t visited before and I was amazed to see the beauty of it. Wicker Park was a

wonderful example of Chicago as it revealed the beauty of the city. Standing at North Ave. one gets a clear view

of the Chicago Skyline while still captivated by the design and set up of Wicker Park. It consisted of

multiple shops and stores side by side with apartment complexes. This all funneled off into a gorgeous park, from which the community is named after. Waiting for

the bus at Division St. one gets a clear view of the bustle of the City, as cars rushed by and traffic seemed endless. Wicker Park was a wonderful experience and

provided a clear view of Chicago as a city.

Margarita’s Reflection The Connections to Community project was undoubtedly a fantastic experience. Being able to take

some time off from the stresses of working on the Honors paper to get to know three awesome

individuals and to explore a neighborhood of Chicago was great (and we were able to use the excuse that it

was for academics)! Wicker Park was quite a ways away from Loyola’s campus, so having this project as

incentive to explore such an interesting neighborhood opened my eyes to the fact that making the trip is often

worth it! Exploring the different neighborhoods of Chicago has enlightened me to the fact that no two parts of the city are the same. Often times I think of

Chicago and only think of the skyscrapers and business of downtown. The atmosphere in Wicker Park was

extremely different; there’s intricate art everywhere you look, and the streets are filled with cool little thrift

stores and restaurants. As I admired the witty signs outside of shops attempting to compel people to stop in, I promised myself that I would definitely not make

this the last time I visited Wicker Park.

Dalton’s ReflectionBeing from Texas, it was easy to see Chicago as one little,

perfect, tied-up in a bow, city. Since moving here, that picture began to crack. Upon going out to Wicker Park with my group,

the picture shattered. It is more than awe invoking to see individual neighborhoods operating separate from, yet still

interconnected to the rest of the city. This is very much different than Texas – everything is more conglomerated and

identifies as such. Suburbs of Dallas simply identify as “Dallas,” not their individual selves. It is inspiring to see neighborhoods here embracing their culture and what sets them apart from the rest. It is nice to see a bit of pride going about. The trip to

Wicker Park could not have been a better “Chicago Experience.” It is almost if it is a slice of what Chicago is all about –

embracing differences while embracing each other. It was interesting to see the differences between our home Roger’s

Park and another neighborhood. There are still shops, restaurants, and people, yet there is this different atmosphere, an aura in a sense. Even so, when you look up at the skyline, it is still our own Chicago. That is amazing to me. Seeing Wicker Park and its winsome attributes brought me back to why I love finally living in a city – there are real people doing real things

that bring them together.

Citations

• Wicker Park Bucktown. Chicago Website Development: Chicago Digital And Website Design: Marian Williams Design. Web. October 19, 2014. http://www.wickerparkbucktown.com/the-neighborhood/history

• Chicago Transit Authority. Web. October 19, 2014. http://www.transitchicago.com/redline/

• Wicker Park neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois (IL), 60622, 60647 detailed profile. City-Data. 2011. Web. October 19, 2014. http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Wicker-Park-Chicago-IL.html