Chicago’s 50th Ward Newsletter

February 27, 2026

Dear Neighbor,

Rebuilding the Indian Boundary Park Playground

We held a third community meeting this week to share updates on the upcoming rebuilding of the Indian Boundary Playground. Dozens of local residents joined us virtually to learn about the plans. You can view all the beautiful designs here.

Thanks to all of your feedback, we successfully designed a truly unique and beautiful new playground that promises to be an anchor for our community. It will feature fun new equipment, some of which you will not see in any other nearby Chicago parks. Highlights include:

• Cliff Rider – a thrilling play tower that simulates the feeling of pole vaulting from one plateau to another.

• CocoWave Pendulum Swing – allows children to balance while standing upright on a pendulum swinging rope bar.  

• Inclusive Twister – allows children of different abilities to enjoy climbing, spinning, and playing. 

• Oasis Sand Boat – complete with a sail, this play boat encourages children to imagine sailing off into an unknown land.

• Parkour Climbing Piece – a combination of four climbing, crawling, and balancing activities.

  
  

Other fun equipment include a tall and exciting twist slide, a Crawling Pyramid, wobble bridge, double balance beam, waterlilies balance posts, and more!

These plans reflect the hard work and deep thought that our community took to design a new structure that will delight local families for decades to come. Thank you all for your input and feedback throughout this process!

Early Voting Starts On Monday

Early voting starts at sites across the city this Monday, March 2. The local 50th Ward site is the Northtown Library, 6800 N. Western. Voting will be available every day through Election Day.

Early voting hours at the Northtown Library and early voting sites across the city are as follows:

March 2 through March 17

Weekdays: 9 AM - 6 PM

Saturdays: 9 AM - 5 PM

Sundays: 10 AM - 4 PM

Election Day (March 17): 6 AM - 7 PM

For more information and a complete list of early voting locations throughout the city, click here. To check your voter registration status or learn more about the election, visit chicagoelections.gov.

Police CAPS and Community Meetings

There will be three beat meetings this week, covering the area of the 50th Ward that is north of Devon Avenue and the area south of Peterson Avenue.

The CAPS meeting for Beat 2011, stretching from Peterson to Foster and from Western to the North Shore Channel, will be on Tuesday, March 3 from 7 PM to 8 PM. The meeting will be held at the 20th District Station, 5400 N. Lincoln.

The CAPS meeting for Beat 2411, stretching from Howard to Pratt and from Kedzie to Ridge, will also be held on Tuesday, March 3 from 7 PM to 8 PM. The meeting will be held at Bethesda International Academy, 6803 N. Campbell.

The CAPS meeting for Beat 2412, stretching from Pratt to Devon and from Kedzie to Ridge, will be held on Wednesday, March 4 from 7 PM to 8 PM. The meeting will be held at Warren Park, 6601 N. Western.

These events are great opportunities to meet the officers who patrol your community and discuss safety concerns directly with the police and your neighbors. For more information, please call the 24th District CAPS Office at (312) 744-6321 or the 20th District CAPS Office at (312) 742-8770. Find all the upcoming local CAPS meetings at 50thward.org/police.

Iftar Dinner at FORA

It was an honor to attend an Iftar dinner at FORA (Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America) this week. Thank you to the entire FORA team for your nonstop work to ensure refugee families have access to the education and support they need.

Sincerely,

Debra L. Silverstein

Alderman, 50th Ward

50th Ward Veterans Resources Day

Senior Citizen Property Tax Deferral Program

Applications for the Senior Citizen Real Estate Tax Deferral Program for tax year 2025 are now available on the Cook County Treasurer’s Office website. The deferral program allows income-eligible property owners aged 65 or older to "borrow" money from the state to cover their property taxes. This program operates as a loan with a simple annual interest rate of 3%, providing financial relief to eligible seniors. Applications must be submitted before March 1.

The program allows deferring up to $7,500 annually in property taxes. If the bill is greater, the homeowner is responsible for paying the difference. Deferred taxes are paid when the property is sold, or upon the death of the participant.

Find more information about the program at the Cook County Treasurer’s website here. The Treasurer's Office has also created a video to explain the program.

Request a Free Tree on Your Parkway

With spring on its way, now is the time to request a tree be planted in a public parkway, free of charge. Simply call the 50th Ward Office or submit a Tree Planting Request online.

Planting trees improves air quality, prevents flooding, provides shade and cool air, and reduces pollution. The benefits of trees are numerous and of increasing importance in this age of climate change. More trees mean healthier communities and healthier lives.

Tree planting service requests are handled in the order in which they are received. Once your request is submitted, your planting site will be investigated by Forestry staff to confirm its suitability for a tree to grow. For the health of the trees, planting is typically only done in the spring and fall, with the exact timing of each season varying based on weather and ground temperatures.

Learn more about the benefits of planting trees and find answers to frequently asked questions at chicago.gov/OurRoots.

Emergency Heating Repair Program

The Emergency Heating Repair Program is now open to new applicants. This program provides direct assistance to income-eligible Chicago homeowners to repair or replace their furnace or boiler heating system. Limited funds are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Enrollment will be accepted from November 1, 2025, through April 1, 2026, or until all funds have been exhausted. To apply, visit chicago.gov/ehrp, call 311, or use the CHI311 app.

The Emergency Heating Repair Program is open to Chicagoans who own and occupy a one-to-four unit residential building. Households earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI) are eligible to participate in the program.

If approved for the program, qualified contractors will perform the work at no cost to the homeowner, with funding provided through the Department of Housing. For more information, visit chicago.gov/ehrp. For any questions, call (312) 744-3653 or email DOH@cityofchicago.org.

Museum Free Days

Chicago has some of the world’s greatest museums. You can see the largest and most complete Tyrannosaurus Rex ever found, moon rocks, dolphins and more – all without breaking the bank. Most of Chicago’s museums offer free days to Illinois residents, and now is the season when all the fun begins!

During this coming week, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, and more great museums all have free days! Click here for all the details.

50th Ward Know Your Rights Portal

Serve as an Election Judge

Northtown Garden Society Event

Green Homes Chicago