If parks could talk, the so-called Fire Station Park would be begging for help. Because it has suffered from neglect for oh-so-many years now. The over-grown ugly duckling plot of land is situated on the west side of Larrabee Street just south of Armitage adjacent to the fire house.

Now, though, help is on its way. If all goes according to plan, the little park will bloom again.

Plans call for it to become a jewel of a garden. Visionaries say come spring time it will be showcasing plants indigenous to Illinois. Such nature’s wonders as prairie, savanna, wetland and woodland plants and eco systems will be on display. Park supporters also are setting aside an area where residents with a green-thumb bent can grow their very own favorite plants.

Sound like a dream come true? Very well could be. For sure, the park revival movement has picked up a heady head of steam in recent weeks.

Paul Maggio and Sally Drucker pull weeds at Fire Station Park

It all started when two Lincoln Central Association board members, Sally Drucker and Paul Maggio, agreed the tawdry park deserved a better fate. They swung into action. They enlisted the support and picked the brains of landscape architects at Hoerr Schaudt. Other advice and counsel was readily offered by Openlands, Greencorps, a land preservation organization. The Department of Transportation pitched in, too. As did Alderman Vi Daley.

Fire Station Park gets the volunteer treatment

“The rebirth of the park means all of Lincoln Park will soon have a spectacularly beautiful garden to enjoy,” enthused Maggio. He says the park can serve as a venue for educational and other events for adults and children, alike.

Drucker observed that, while “…the park rebirth journey is headed in the right direction, we are certainly not to the finish line yet. Plus, there will always be work to be done to maintain the park.”

Both Drucker and Maggio encouraged volunteers interested in supporting the park effort to contact LCA at www.lincolncentral.org.