Depaving unnecessary asphalt is the key to healthy land, healthy cities, healthy communities.
Our Mission
Depave Chicago works hand-in-hand with communities and partners to transform paved land into living surfaces. Following years of exploring the challenges of flooding, heat island, air pollution, and poor quality of public space, we landed on one simple conclusion - we must remove asphalt as the barrier to transformation. We see depaving as a response and solution to the multiple crises of climate, species decline, and human disempowerment.
Where to Depave Chicago?
What is Depave Chicago?
Why Depave
Chicago?
DEPAVE CHICAGO PARTNERS & SUPPORTERS
The start-up of Depave Chicago is funded by a Resilient x Nature Grant from the Walder Foundation. Depave Chicago is founded and managed by University of Illinois Water Lab, headed by Associate Professor Mary Pat McGuire, and affiliated with the Department of Landscape Architecture, UIUC. Our location in the downtown Chicago Studio is generously provided by the College of Fine & Applied Arts, UIUC.
SPECIAL THANKS!…..
Depave Chicago is guided by the amazing Katya Reyna and Ted Labbe of Depave (Portland) whose mentoring and teaching not only lay the groundwork for our program but fuel our ethos and passion for this work. Katya and Ted, thank you!
We’re grateful for support and advice from the following organizations during the early years of our program:
Chicago Region Trees Initiative
Environmental Law & Policy Center
Greater Chicago Watershed Alliance
Neighbors for Environmental Justice
Openlands
Trust for Public Land
US Forest Service
Gratitude to our Collaborators over the years for their support and
contributions leading to Depave Chicago
To become a supporter or partner of Depave Chicago,please contact Mary Pat McGuire at mpm1@illinois.edu.
Thank you in advance!
SUPPORT OUR PILOT PROJECT!
We’re currently seeking funding (both individual donors and corporate sponsors) to support the implementation of our pilot depave project at The Montessori School of Englewood. Your donations will help pay for design, project management, site prep, equipment, purchasing soil and plants, contractor services (asphalt hauling & recycling), volunteer support, and education programming! Thank you in advance!
Land Acknowledgement
Depave Chicago, located in Chicago, Illinois, sits on the unceded lands of the Council of Three Fires, the Odawa, Ojibwe, and Potawatomi Nations, as well as the tribes of the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sac, Fox, Kickapoo, and Illinois Nations. Controlled occupation of these lands through land cessions and forced removal of Indigenous people occurred through the Treaty of Greenville (1795), the Treaty of St. Louis (1816), and the Indian Removal Act (1830). The histories of Indigenous peoples and all communities throughout the Chicago region must be acknowledged in the work of Depave Chicago. We must honor and celebrate traditions and care for the land and the waters of the region. And we must contribute to the work of restoring relationships among land, water, people, and all living species and entities of the region for remaining Indigenous communities and for all people who live here.