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Overton Exchange Plaza Ribbon-Cutting (July)

Cutting the ribbon to debut the Overton Exchange Plaza (Photo: Joe Ignatius).


July was quite a busy month for us at Overton.


On Monday, July 29th, we had a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut the Overton Exchange Plaza, which includes our community garden, several murals, a seating area, and a shade structure. This moment marks a big milestone in reclaiming the former elementary school as a communal space.


City of Chicago officials joined this celebration:

Kenya K. Merritt, Deputy Mayor of Business, Neighborhood and Economic Development

Alderwoman Pat Dowell (3rd Ward)

Commissioner Ciere Boatright, Department of Planning and Development


All sorts of different guests joined us to activate the plaza:


Music: Trqpiteca


Thank you Block Club Chicago & Jamie Nesbitt Golden for this article!


The new plaza received a grant as part of the Department of Planning and Development’s (DPD) Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) program which collaborates with community partners to transform vacant land into vibrant, safe gathering spaces infused with colorful, artistic designs. This 30,000 square-foot plaza preserves a portion of the former Overton Elementary campus, which has hosted community engagement events

since 2017.


Overton Exchange Plaza was developed in partnership between the Washington Park Development Group and Borderless Studio as both organizations advance the vision for the Overton Center for Excellence, an incubator hub with many community-focused art, nature, performance, and sports-related activities.


The plaza feature three major amenity zones called the Indiana Gardens, The Lawn, and the Exchange Plaza. The Garden will include an accessible community garden space, and The Lawn will be outfitted with tables and seating for neighborhood gatherings. The Exchange Plaza features a large-scale asphalt mural and public art by artists Amanda Williams, Rahmaan Statik, Jade Foreman, Sandra Steinbrecher, and Juan Angel Chávez.


Aerial view of the plaza, complete with a canopy, murals, and our community garden (Photo: Joe Ignatius).



Attendees enjoying Rainbow Cones (Photo: Joe Ignatius)



Poet Leslé Honoré addressing attendees (Photo: Joe Ignatius).



Attendees catching up (Photo: Joe Ignatius).



Many thanks to our garden crew, volunteers, partners, and community members who have stopped by the Overton Exchange Plaza over the years. We've all shaped this space together.


Join us for our next Community Day (RSVP here).


Saturday, August 17th 

11:00 am - 3:00 pm

4927 S Indiana Avenue @ Overton



Photos by Joe Ignatius.


The Overton Exchange POP is brought to you by the City of Chicago’s Public Outdoor Plaza (POP!) program designed to create strategic community gathering spaces that serve as destination points for residents and neighborhood visitors.




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