Chicago – In the Ukrainian Village neighborhood, volunteers have taken transit comfort into their own hands. Two homemade benches, painted in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, were installed at CTA bus stops on Damen Avenue near Thomas Street and on Division Street between Oakley and Western avenues.
Community volunteers lead the effort
The benches were constructed by members of the Northwest Neighborhood Alliance, a volunteer‑run group formed last year to advocate for transit and housing issues in Logan Square, West Town and Humboldt Park. Sam Kovnar and Eddie Lehwald built the benches using reclaimed materials, estimating each cost between $30 and $40.
“It’s very easy for someone like me to use the bus system when there’s really no accommodations,” Kovnar said. “But for someone who is older, who’s disabled, who has kids … you have to make the bus system usable.” Lehwald added, “You should have your basic human needs met while you’re waiting for the bus.”
DIY solutions fill a city gap
The initiative reflects a broader frustration among Chicago riders who often wait for delayed or missed buses with no place to sit. While the city’s Department of Transportation has not commented on the benches, Alderman Daniel La Spata, whose ward includes the new installations, expressed support, noting that residents have sent enthusiastic emails and that his office will not remove the structures.
Lehwald, a Logan Square resident, hopes the project will spark a constructive dialogue with city officials. “I hope the city doesn’t waste the opportunity to engage with people in a positive way, that can lead to low‑cost, high‑return kinds of investments like this,” he said.
Looking ahead
The volunteers plan to monitor the benches for maintenance issues and are already fielding requests from other residents who want to help or contribute materials. They envision a larger network of DIY benches across Chicago, and they would like the city to create a formal process for neighbors to request benches at underserved stops.
“The biggest concern now is whether the benches will be removed by the city or someone else,” Kovnar said. “They’re not bolted down or chained, nor are they officially sanctioned. We’re just building something we can do in a few hours, and now we have a bench.”
While the benches are a modest, low‑cost improvement, they illustrate how local volunteers can address everyday problems quickly and affordably, offering a model for citizen‑led enhancements to public infrastructure.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
