Chicago Architecture Biennial
JIMA was invited by the Chicago Architecture Biennial to facilitate a community workshop around the reimagining of the historic Slumbusters Gardens in the North Lawndale neighborhood in Chicago. The Slumbusters Garden was one of Chicago’s first community-led neighborhood gardens in response to neighborhood disinvestment and vacancy in the city. Today, the Slumbusters Garden has seen new energy from the effort of neighborhood volunteers. The workshop explored the potential of the garden’s future by elevating key components that historically anchored the garden and provide new opportunities for land-based learning and community investment. The workshop is a first step toward implementation that will maintain this legacy space into the future.
Client
Chicago Architecture Biennial
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Year
2021
The Earles Garden (Slumbusters) is beneath an elevated rail line between residential homes. Presently, neighbors continue to steward the park but are looking for a vision on how the park can be used.
Team
Ujijji Williams
Location
Chicago, Illinois
Credits
Student Fellows: Erika Vidales, Olivia Lewis
JIMA Studio led a community visioning workshop to assist the community in defining the future and goals of the garden, including how to get youth involved to share the legacy with the next generation.
Student fellows Erika Vidales and Olivia Lewis contributed low-cost site furnishing ideas that could further beautify the site while aligning with the programmatic goals.
