The McKinley Park Civic Association announced and awarded the winners of the inaugural neighborhood gardening awards at the group’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 2, 2026.
The first-ever contest honored gardeners and their McKinley Park neighborhood gardens across four categories: multi-family residential, container, vegetable and single-family residential.
“Gardening makes my heart and soul very happy,” said Angela Dueñas, who attended the awards ceremony with her family for her winning multi-family residential garden.
Proud To Be Honored
“[The garden] gives the house a lively appearance,” she said.
“I’m so proud to be honored by this,” said Jeannette Bigos, who won for her container garden.
A lifelong McKinley Park neighborhood resident, Bigos makes all of her own arrangements in her extensive garden.
Community Garden Plot
“You name it, I got it,” she said.
Vyll Loquinte won for her vegetable garden in a plot of the McKinley Park Community Garden.
Flowers and Plants
Alicia Krok took the prize for best single-family residential garden in the McKinley Park neighborhood.
Many of the gardens included flowers and plants like red rios, petunias, impatients, marigolds, bincos and elephant ear plants.
Gift Card Prize
“Thank you to all the participants,” said McKinley Park Civic Association President Chris Bania.
In addition to plaques, each winner received a $100 gift card to Home Depot.
Holiday Decorating Contest
At the meeting, Bania noted the new civic association page on the Facebook service and updates to the group’s mckinleyparkcivicassociation.org website.
Bania also said the association will again host its neighborhood holiday decorating contest: the second occurrence of this annual event.
The next McKinley Park Civic Association Meeting is at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at the McKinley Park branch of the Chicago Public Library, 1915 W. 35th St., Chicago.
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