Amanda Battles stood beside a freshly mulched tree at Millennium Park, rake in hand and mud on her sneakers.
“This is my town. Of course I’m going to make it look nice,” she said. “We live here, we should value the land we live on. It goes through seasonal changes, and we’ve got to do the extra step to bring it into the new season.”
Battles, the sponsorship and social media coordinator for the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, was one of many residents who turned out on Saturday, May 3, for Park Pride Day.
The annual cleanup brought neighbors together across both villages, as volunteers worked side by side to spread mulch, pull weeds, plant flowers and refresh their shared green spaces.
Catherine and Gregory Dixon plant flowers in front of the Irwin Park sign during Park Pride Day. The couple returns to the same spot each year, calling it “our place” to give back. (Nuha Abdessalam/H-F Chronicle)
By 8:30 a.m., shovels were already in motion. At Irwin Park, Catherine and Gregory Dixon returned to their usual spot in front of the Irwin Park sign, where they’ve planted flowers for years.
“This is our spot,” Catherine said. “We drive by and feel so good that we were able to help the community. It reminds us that we love our neighborhood.”
For the Dixons, the tradition is more than aesthetic. “We had people from all over last year—even a neighbor from the Dominican Republic,” Catherine said.
“He came out with his son, which helped him feel comfortable here. That’s what it’s about. Knowing who your neighbors are.”
Across town at Flossmoor Park, 13-year-old Ari Siengo, a baseball player with the Firebirds, was laying mulch around the very fields where he plays.
“It felt great,” Ari said. “Helping out here just made me feel proud.”
Nearby, Homewood-Flossmoor High School student George Goesel worked with adults to mulch trees and clean flower beds.
“It’s just a neighborly thing to do,” he said. “I like seeing people here.”
Emily Airey brought her family to volunteer as well. “We use these parks all the time,” she said. “So we should help keep them up.”
Volunteers showed up in all forms: parents and kids, longtime residents, first-timers, and community groups like the NAWC adult chapter WOMEN, which stands for Women Organizing Movements and Encouraging Nations. Francesca Smith, a group member, said it was their first time participating in Park Pride, but it won’t be their last.
“It was energizing,” Smith said. “It’s great for the environment, and it shows people we care about where we live.”
Devin Frendreis, recreation supervisor for the Homewood-Flossmoor Park District, said the event is more than a beautification project. It’s a kind of civic ritual.
“When people walk into Dolphin Lake for a wedding or a rental and the flowers are blooming, they know the community cares,” she said. “And it’s not just us doing it. It’s everybody.”
Frendreis added that the experience can be especially meaningful for residents who don’t have their own yards.
“You don’t always have the chance to get your hands in the dirt,” she said. “But here, you can still connect to the land and each other.”
She smiled, recalling a moment from the day. “I came to plant flowers and left with three new friends.”
Some came with long traditions of service, and others were surprised at how quickly they felt connected. Michael Bauer, who moved to Homewood in 2014, said he originally got involved through a workplace community service requirement. But after that first experience, it became personal.
“We enjoy these parks with our families, but we don’t always realize what goes into keeping them nice,” Bauer said. “Helping out builds pride. It reflects who we are.”
Theresa Harris, a nine-year resident of Homewood, said she comes back every year because the results are beautiful and the impact is lasting.
“I love seeing the flowers bloom,” she said. “Just get out and take advantage of what nature has.”
At Flossmoor Park, Jose Correa and James Dineen were already hard at work by 8:30 a.m., clearing beds and hauling mulch.
“We want everything to look really nice,” Correa said. “Everyone’s help is important.”
By noon, the work was winding down. Across the parks, volunteers headed toward the Irwin Center for a shared lunch with music, hot dogs, Park Pride T-shirt giveaways, and a chance to talk with neighbors and rehash their planting skills. Frendreis said the celebration is as essential as the labor.
“It’s a way to break bread, look around, and know we did this together,” she said.
“We’re not just making the park pretty,” Gregory Dixon said. “We’re reminding ourselves: this is home.”