DUNNING — An effort to spruce up the far northwest corner of the city is bringing some color to Harlem Avenue.
Businesses, residents and community groups can sponsor a brightly colored 2½-foot-by-6-foot banner from the Dunning Neighborhood Organization through June 30, said Melissa Kaszynski, a member of the group.
The banner program is designed to make passersby give Dunning another look, said Dunning Neighborhood Organization Vice President Phil Garofalo.
"Dunning is a great neighborhood and not all that well known," said Garofalo, who is heading up the banner project. "We hope these banners will get more people to take notice of Dunning and start to think about it differently."
Portage Park resident and designer Jane Madsen designed the banners, which invite people to discover Dunning.
Named for pioneer Andrew Dunning, the neighborhood is probably best known as the former home of an insane asylum and massive — and largely forgotten — cemetery. Efforts are underway to turn part of that vacant land into a natural prairie and wetland.
But Dunning is also home to many residents who claim Italian heritage — as evidenced by the many Italian bakeries and restaurants — and one of the highest concentrations of backyard gardens in Chicago, Garofalo said.
Dunning is also adjacent to the Des Plaines River, Garofalo said.
Most of the banners will be located along Harlem Avenue south of Irving Park Road, but can be installed on any main street, organizers said.
The last time Dunning's light poles had banners was the late 1990s, organizers said.
The cost to sponsor a banner is $225. For more information or to buy a banner online, go to dunningneighborhood.org.
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here:
