History

Since the 1960s, community groups across Chicago have used vacant or untended lots as opportunities to create green open spaces in their neighborhoods. These sites become important community assets that provide residents with opportunities to socialize with each other, plant and grow food, or simply be outside and enjoy nature. These activities had done much to improve the quality of life in a variety of neighborhoods. Over the years, many of these sites were threatened or disappeared altogether.

In the mid-1990s, studies showed that Chicago ranked 18th out of 20 cities of comparable size in the ratio of open space acres to population. In response to these and other findings, leadership from the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County came together to undertake the development of a comprehensive plan to expand open green space in the City.

Representatives from these agencies also consulted with community leaders and nonprofit organizations to develop the best strategies to respond to specific needs. One such need was to protect smaller, more intimate spaces that communities had developed. The leading area “greening” nonprofits recommended a nonprofit be established to preserve these small community developed gardens and parks because so many had for so long been lost to redevelopment.

In response, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, and Forest Preserve District of Cook County worked together to establish NeighborSpace as a non-profit in 1996 and charged the organization with the mission to acquire such properties and ensure their continued survival. These three governmental agencies continue to provide Neighborspace leadership and financial support.