The Little School Under the "L"

Sheffield Neighborhood Association

Location:  5th row north of Belden, on the sidewalk

Installed: Aug. 2017

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      On Oct. 9th 1959, the Sheffield Neigborhood Association was incorporated in the state of Illinois.  The SNA began as a group effort from months before, when a number of private citizens and institutions such as McCormick Theological Seminary, Lurie Children’s Hospital, and DePaul University joined together to improve the neighborhood. 

      SNA began as an affiliate of the Lincoln Park Conservation Association.  One of SNA’s main concerns was the condition of residential buildings, especially rental units.  These rental units were used by many DePaul students at the time, and there number of city code violations and overcrowding of these same units. 

      Through the work of the SNA, conditions of these residential units improved greatly.  In 1969 SNA began the annual Garden Walk.  A yearly event to celebrate local gardens and the outdoor decorations of the neighbourhood. 

      The event is now called ‘The Sheffield Music Festival and Garden Walk’, which continues annually in the 3rd weekend of July. 

      The design of the pillar celebrates the founders and first board members of SNA.  As well as documenting the various activities of ‘The Garden Walk’.  The design includes a grid format and features ‘The Garden Walk’s’ main guitar logo as lawn decoration.  Also included is the SNA graphic logo ‘The SNA Circle’.