Notification of Funding Availability and Request for Letters of Interest (LOI) 

Funding and support services are available for the growth and development of PlayStreets activations over the summer of 2020. Returning for its eighth year, PlayStreets is a community engagement initiative of the Chicago Department of Public Health that brings collaboration across public agencies, government and community stakeholders, along with volunteer groups. PlayStreets is just one of many initiatives the Department of Public Health leads as part of Healthy Chicago 2025, a city plan to advance health equity across communities in Chicago, bridging service gaps and looking at root causes for disparities in health outcomes.

Overview

The Chicago Department of Public Health has selected Gads Hill Center to serve as the PlayStreets seed funding/Delegate Agency for the West Region. The West Region communities will include Montclare, Belmont Cragin, Hermosa, Humbolt Park, Austin, West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park, North Lawndale, South Lawndale, Archer Heights, Brighton Park, McKinley Park, New City, Back of the Yards, Gage Park, and Chicago Lawn.

The Chicago Department of Public Health has also selected BUILD Inc. to serve as the PlayStreets seed funding/Delegate Agency for the South Region. The South Region communities include Oakland, Fuller Park, Grand Boulevard, Washington Park, South Chicago, Burnside, Roseland, Pullman, South Deering, East Side, West Pullman, Riverdale, Hegewisch, West Englewood, Englewood and Auburn Gresham. In collaboration Gads Hill Center and Build Inc. will provide support to their designated regions across the West and South sides of Chicago. 

PlayStreets seeks well-established CBO’s that are embedded within targeted community areas. These organizations (Implementing CBO’s) will identify blocks where community members consent to close off a one block radius to host PlayStreets activations for a minimum duration of 3-hours. PlayStreets activations will create safe spaces to build shared values promoting physical activity, healthy snack/food options, mental wellness, and foster social cohesion. PlayStreets activations will bring families together with the intention to inspire collaborations with, community leaders (elected officials, CFD, CPD, & DOT), local businesses, and other organizations/resources to increase community engagement and access to health opportunities. By inviting residents into a process that disrupts how public spaces are used will create environments where families feel safe and encouraged to play together. Implementing CBOs can influence community expectations and efficacy in advancing change.

Application Milestones and Key Dates for 2020 Applicants

April 1^st            - Request for LOI’s released

April 15^th         - Final Day (at 2:00pm) LOI’s accepted for 2020 consideration

April 29^th         - Invites for Final Proposals sent via email

May 13^th          - Final Day (at 2:00pm) Proposals accepted for 2020 consideration

May 20^th          - 2020 PlayStreets CBO’s awards announced

Delegate Agency Contact Information

For help with this application or with technical questions about PlayStreets 2020 please contact:

• Rosa I. Rubio, the Community Programs Coordinator at Gads Hill Center, (312) 226-0963 ext. 291 or at playstreets@gadshillcenter.org.
   
• Juan Villalobos, Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Partnerships at BUILD, Inc. (773) 227-2880 or at playstreets2020@buildchicago.org