UPTOWN — It can feel lonely raising your kids in the big city, according to Uptown resident Brett Weidl.
The 32-year-old landscape architect and mother of a 2-year-old is looking to change that with Uptown Chicago Moms, a community group she formed to make connections with other parents in the neighborhood.
"Uptown has always had families living here, but there are fewer families here than some other Chicago neighborhoods. So sometimes you can feel somewhat alone raising your kids in Uptown. My hope is that no family will feel alone here. We can raise our kids together in Uptown and take advantage of the amazing things this community has to offer," Weidl said in an email.
Since Weidl founded the group in early June, it has grown to nearly 100 members on Facebook.
"It has far exceeded my expectations," she said.
Mina Bloom says the moms hope to organize monthly play-dates:
So far, the group has hosted just one play date in early June at Sunnyside Mall, a pedestrian thoroughfare at Sunnyside Avenue between Magnolia Avenue and Beacon Street. Roughly 30 people, including kids, showed up, Weidl said.
Weidl, who has lived in Uptown for five years, chose Sunnyside Mall because she believes it isn't being used to its full potential.
She described it "as an area that's safe from cars, where kids can roam without fear of traffic." It's also a "sheltered space shaded by graceful mature trees," she said.
But she added that it also has a history of crime.
"It has a mixed history. There has been and continues to be some crime in the area. Because of this, many families simply avoid the Sunnyside Mall," she said.
"If we can take this space back by programming positive events there, people will begin to have pleasant associations with the space. And in turn, people may take ownership of it, wanting to make it their own, wanting to advocate for it. The Sunnyside Mall is a huge asset to our community and my dream is to see it used to its full potential."
The goal of the group is to continue hosting play dates once a month to bring neighborhood kids together to play and parents together to work on important causes for the community like improving parks, schools and more, she said.
"We want our kids to have fun and play with one another. Yet as moms get together, sharing a common vision for our community, we can also make a difference," Weidl said.
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