Tour of Portage Park this Sunday

This Sunday, join us as we take a bike tour of Portage Park on Chicago’s northwest side. Community area #15, Portage Park sits 9 miles northwest of the Loop. Having lived there for a number of years and having an office immediately north in Jefferson Park, I am pretty familiar with the splendid and densely packed durable early 20th century construction that covers the community. I hope you will join me to check out an area that is durable, beautiful, urban and thus the embodiment of a Chicago neighborhood. We will examine the different eras of worker’s homes, businesses, theaters, banks, public schools and places of worship that the residents frequented. The area occupies a part of the bungalow belt so there are many fine examples of Chicago Bungalows and a variety of bungaloid mansions, but Portage Park is also ripe with examples of Prairie, Craftsmen, American-4 Squares, Dutch-Colonials, Victorians, Tudors, mid-century moderns, and nearly everything in between. Sometimes, the least heralded nooks of the city offer the most consistently inviting and charming qualities, and that is certainly true of Portage Park.The ride is expanded from previous versions to offer an opportunity to see a variety of new sites such as Wilbur Wright Junior College, Foreman School and dozens more examples of the great residences that really make the area special.

The ride begins at the Portage Park Fieldhouse (the building by the pool) at 1:00 PM this Sunday February 20, 2011. The closest intersection to the meeting spot is Long and Berteau. If entering from the main entrance at Central and Irving Park, it is the building to the right. The ride is just less than 17 miles. It will be at a casual pace and all are welcome. You must wear a helmet and all riders must sign a waiver. It is $10 on site or save a buck by registering online. Register here.

Pre-Ride

For those interested, there is a free Pre-rideon Friday at 5:00 PM. Please note, this ride is to conducted in partial to complete darkness at points. The goal is making sure that the full tour route is unobstructed and with no surprises, so there is no time or light for pictures and the like. Coming is free and also earns you $5 off the price of the actual tour. Those that do the pre-ride and are interested in being Ride Marshals can do the actual tour for free.

Next month we are back to our 2 tours a month schedule with the beginning of our Spring Schedule, the Tour of Irving Park on Saturday March 5, 2011 at Horner Park.

See you on gradually melting streets.

Cheers!

Lee Diamond