We are excited to announce that the David L. Hoyt Foundation has partnered with the Chicago Poetry Center to present a special poetry edition of Word Play Way! 

​The goal of this poetry specific Word Play Way is to advocate play and literacy through the power of words. We hope by bringing this project to Douglas Park, North Lawndale, we can provide members of the community with a way to engage with each other.  
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​“After hearing about the project Word Play Way last year. I wanted to join forces with the David L. Hoyt Foundation to include a poem for another iteration of the project. We have selected Chicago poet, Roger Reeves who is excited to dedicate a poem to Douglas Park, where he has lived and loved.” - Natasha Mijares

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​This public art project will be painted on the sidewalk using 1500 letter stencils to create over 1500 letters. The letters form words spelled out in winding patterns, and the words become the poem.  The installation will cover a footpath within Douglas Park, near the corner of California and Ogden, in North Lawndale. 
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In Spring 2019, the community responded to a call for poems we advertised and we received many wonderful poems for Word Play Way.  The poem Douglas Park by Aniyah Orr Howard, was chosen in early April.  Programming using Aniyah Orr Howard's poem is being developed for Word Play Way and a dedication event is being planned for July 27th from 1-4pm. More information about the dedication event is coming. 
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“I became interested in Word Play Way because it allowed children to become more comfortable with words, letters and numbers. Growing up I struggled with dyslexia and having a opportunity like this would have made learning more fun and a little easier for me. Seeing the kids all interact as one with the Word Play Way game was amazing.” - Shaniesesha Love

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​The installation design was organized by Jumble® author David L. Hoyt. Word Play Way is funded by the Steans Family Foundation, an ActingUp Award from the Chicago Community Trust and Good City, as well as in-kind support from Lowe's Home Improvement. We are thankful for the generous support of the Douglas Park Staff, the Chicago Park District, the 24th Ward Alderman Michael Scott Junior, Turning the Page, and the Douglass Library. 

Click here for POEM

You can find the location of Word Play Way at

​1400 S. California Ave. Douglas Park, North Lawndale. For GPS purposes add in 1401 S. California Ave Chicago IL 60608.

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How Can You Get Involved?

Volunteer Roles Available:

• Converse with and gather information from children and families interacting with Word Play Way at the Children’s Playground just north of California and Ogden in Douglass Park.
• Teach children and families how to interact with the poem and the word puzzle.
• Document users with video and photos when appropriate and then upload them to the DLHEF Google drive.
• Facilitate group activities involving the Word Play Way a the site. ​​

Click here to fill out the Volunteer Form

For additional questions or concerns, please contact Claire Haasl at [email protected]  
​or at 773-968-7103.

​ Our Sponsors and Supporters

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