User:Molisemi/Chicago Gateway Green

Chicago Gateway Green  is dedicated to greening and beautifying the region’s expressways, gateways and communities.

The 501(c)(3) non-profit organization was founded in 1986 by the late Donald J. DePorter to benefit the environment and improve the quality of life for millions of Chicagoland residents and visitors. Chicago Gateway Green has three key programs: the Expressway Partnership, the Tree Partnership and the International Sculpture Program.

The Expressway Partnership

Unlike Adopt-a-Highway programs across the country, the Expressway Partnership does more than litter removal. Chicago Gateway Green works with landscape architects to create multi-year plans for each site so landscaping will fit in with the existing environment and eventually become sustainable. Landscaping crews visit the sites regularly for maintenance, which is made possible by corporate donors.

Visible results for nearly 1 million drivers using the expressways daily include: 77,000 shrubs planted; 3,000 trees planted; 71,000 perennials planted; and 495,000 lbs of litter removed.

The Tree Partnership

Chicago Gateway Green, in partnership with the City of Chicago, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and corporate partners, launched the Tree Partnership in an effort to address the problem of urban-heat islands within Chicago. The Tree Partnership transforms vacant plots of land into tree-filled green space and includes large-scale plantings throughout the city in support of the City of Chicago’s Climate Action Plan. Initial targeted locations pay particular attention to communities along the Dan Ryan Expressway and Bishop Ford Freeway. Volunteer plantings take place twice a year, during the Spring and Fall.

Trees provide benefits to urban areas by removing carbon dioxide and harmful particulates from the air and producing oxygen. Additionally, trees have been proven to reduce noise pollution and their canopies provide shade, reducing cooling costs and storm water run-off. They also add to the quality of daily life in the neighborhoods.

The International Sculpture Program

The International Sculpture Program was created to further enhance the 'gateways' of the city by installing public art from international artists on Chicago’s expressways. This program is intended to further identify Chicago as an international center of culture, and provides a visible platform for civic stewards to establish a legacy of support for both the arts and environment.

“For the past 25 years, Chicago Gateway Green has been a pioneer in urban-greening solutions and this initiative is another example of that leadership,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “This is the kind of public, private partnership that makes Chicago so unique and offers our residents an investment in their communities and a practical solution to make their environment a better place to live.”

Chicago Gateway Green is rated four-stars by non-profit watchdog Charity Navigator. Its signature annual fundraiser is the Green Tie Ball.