The Wicker Park Lutheran Church, a long-standing beacon of community and inclusivity in the Northwest Side of Chicago, is embarking on an ambitious renovation project designed to ensure accessibility for all and to revamp its communal spaces. The fundraising campaign, "A Place For All," is near achieving its $1.4 million goal to introduce much-needed renovations, including a new ADA-compliant entrance, an elevator, and modernized bathrooms, in addition to safeguarding its historic stained glass windows and installing flood protections; with these upgrades set to start in 2025, according to information from the Chicago Sun-Times.
Reverend Jason Glombicki, who leads the church founded in 1879, emphasized the renovations are overdue, stating "Our building excludes people," as some organizations have declined to use the space due to its lack of accessibility, according to a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times; the church, functioning as a hub for neighborhood groups, youth camps, and assorted assemblies is taking strides to address these concerns while nurturing its legacy as Wicker Park’s oldest active religious organization.
Amplifying its role as a cornerstone for local activities, the church is also looking to remodel its basement, currently a singular expansive room with limited facilities, to better accommodate community events and multiple gatherings at once; this reconfiguration will eventually include the addition of four separate spaces, an industrial kitchen, and an office for church staff, as Glombicki revealed in an interview with Block Club Chicago.
With parishioners and local residents contributing to the fundraising initiative, alongside a congregant offering to match donations up to $50,000 through September – the church has already acquired $1.1 million, and support continues to pour in, demonstrating how ingrained the church is within the fabric of the community, as Glombicki explained, "The community put their dollars where their sentiments are," underscoring the depth of connection transcending religious affiliation, with these sentiments echoed in a statement obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times, while the church also received a significant $250,000 city grant to help preserve its stained glass windows.
The church, actively used by diverse groups which 90 percent of weekly visitors don't affiliate with religiously, plans to bolster its outreach and utility further by offering new spaces for concerts, debates, and community initiatives, Glombicki told Block Club Chicago; moreover, these steps go beyond mere structural refurbishment, framing the church as a multifaceted community center aptly titled the "Wicker Park Community Center," that's set to embolden local connections and foster communal growth for years to come.