Community Efforts and Challenges at Caterpillar Park in Englewood

David Bippes recently brought his parents to see a small plot of land located between a raised railway track and homes in Englewood. He wanted to showcase his latest community endeavor. Bippes, an Eagle Scout, developed a passion for community gardens through a high school project in Missouri. He now plays a leading role in Litter Caterpillars, a Chicago cleanup organization.

Last year, Bippes and three fellow group leaders purchased a vacant lot through a citywide land auction. Their aim was to create a neighborhood green space. “It’s like extending a childhood project,” Bippes explained. The group transformed the 6,000-square-foot area into a park with mulch and garden beds for tomatoes and native plants, such as prairie grasses and yellow coneflowers. They celebrated the park opening on April 12.

However, when Bippes returned a week later with his parents, they discovered landscaping debris piled 3 and 5 feet high on the property. One pile obstructed the sidewalk beside the park. “We’re trying to reduce litter, not increase litter,” Bippes stated. Co-founders Bippes and Kevin Tao remain uncertain of who left the debris or when.

These incidents have complicated efforts to build trust and encourage local investment. The group struggles with repeated illegal dumping at the site. The distance of the green space owners, who do not live in the neighborhood, adds another challenge in integrating the park into Englewood.

Bippes said, “It’s the concept of continual renewal. Caterpillars turn into butterflies, but there’s a period of time where they have not yet.”

The green space, named Caterpillar Park, reflects the group’s broader mission of transforming spaces in Chicago. The project began after leaders acquired two adjacent lots on S. Sangamon St. for $10,000 in a citywide auction in April 2025. The auction, organized by Hilco, featured over 800 vacant parcels on the city’s South and West sides. Improvements, including plants, mulch, and landscaping, have cost an additional $10,000.

Bippes and Tao said the purchase felt like an opportunity to establish something permanent. “I’m always looking for ways to make Chicago a better place to be for everyone,” Bippes said. He aims to rally others to support Englewood amid its history of disinvestment.

Tao, the son of Chinese immigrants, was attracted to creating a healing space in Englewood. “When I was at rock bottom, I blamed everyone around me. Changing our environment helps change mindsets,” Tao noted. As a frequent volunteer and donor at Cedillo’s community garden in Englewood, Tao sought advice from co-founder Dulce Morales to gain community support for Caterpillar Park.

Tao and Bippes want the park to become a community garden but understand that relies on local involvement. They have started knocking on doors and distributing flyers to nearby residents. “Making it a community garden is daunting. People who live far away have to commute regularly,” Bippes explained.

Illegal dumping has complicated community relations. Some neighbors mistakenly believed the debris was connected to the group. Morales noted, “It’s vital the community garden doesn’t look abandoned, as it might affect the neighborhood adversely.”

Morales’ Cedillo’s community garden has faced fly dumping and break-ins. However, community support has reduced these issues. “People know we’re there for the community’s betterment,” Morales said.

Faced with debris challenges, Bippes and Tao feel pressure to resolve the issue. Bippes submitted 311 requests and contacted the city’s Department of Streets and Sanitation. Following complaints, one of the largest debris piles was removed last month. “The City of Chicago aggressively prosecutes illegal dumpers,” said a department spokesperson.

Former resident Roosevelt Gordon supports the park as long as it benefits locals. Gordon envisions it as a place where children can learn farming and horticulture. “I hope it’s focused on serving the community, not changing it,” he said.

Despite setbacks, the organizers remain committed. Bippes expressed a desire to understand the circumstances of the dumpers. “If I could, I’d want to converse with those who dumped and possibly involve them in Caterpillar Park’s mission,” he said.