LOGAN SQUARE — When Yousef Dana was younger, his dad, Mohamad Dana, would buy trees during end-of-season sales at Home Depot and plant them in random areas.
This year, after having lived in Logan Square for five years, Yousef Dana noticed a long-neglected patch of dirt under the Blue Line “L” tracks on Sacramento Avenue just south of Milwaukee Avenue. Like his father years ago, he decided to take matters into his own hands and beautify the space: He transformed it into a small but colorful garden — and he’s invited neighbors to add their own touches.
The plot has been devoid of greenery since 2006, according to Dana’s research. A civil engineer and transportation planner, Dana was inspired to improve the walkability of the area in some small way as he read about women being sexually assaulted in the neighborhood earlier this year.
“As civil engineers, we are so excited to build things, but it takes five years for it to be built, so building something yourself is exciting,” he said.
Father and son Mohamad and Yousef Dana created a wildflower garden underneath the CTA Blue Line tracks at 2411 N. Sacramento Ave. in Logan Square, which they tend to as seen on Sept. 15, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
The first step, back in April, was setting up a GoFundMe and putting up flyers so the community could donate to the project. Dana also posted to Reddit, gaining community support and raising nearly $1,300.
Yousef and Mohamad Dana rented a tilling machine to loosen the gravelly, tough soil, and added topsoil. Then, they added bricks to define the area and discourage drivers from rolling over it. Later, they added poles and short fences to further establish the space and prevent dogs from peeing on the flowers.
A flyer in the patch explains the garden’s goals — it says “This Area Needs Flowers” — and invites neighbors to plant their own flora there. The Danas are also asking people to stop throwing trash in the patch.
“It’s guerrilla gardening,” Dana said. “It’s very much do it and then ask for forgiveness.”
After the project was complete, Dana reached out to the local aldermen, Daniel La Spata and Carlos Ramirez-Rosa.
“They were happy with it. There was no pushback,” Dana said, adding that he was in an area that would not affect CTA maintenance operations or other city work. “If you communicate your intentions and show your work, people are going to want to join.”
This garden was an opportunity for Dana to bond with his dad, too.
“We used to do a bunch of projects like this when we were young. Me-and-him time was cool,” Dana said.
Mohamad Dana tends to the wildflower garden he and his son Yousef created underneath the CTA Blue Line tracks at 2411 N. Sacramento Ave. in Logan Square on Sept. 15, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Dana was sore for days after planting — but his dad was out the next day to plant trees in another area.
“He’s over 70, and I’m here 30 years old and struggling,” Dana said. “He called me a city boy.”
Dana and his mother planted flowers, and his grandmother and mother-in-law helped to identify weeds in the patch. Nearby businesses Pizza Lobo and the Logan Square Hand Car Wash & Detailing helped with watering by giving Dana access to their taps.
Neighbors have gotten involved, too: People dropped off flowers for the garden — and when Dana didn’t have time to plant them, he looked to Reddit. Two volunteers jumped in and planted the flowers.
During the initial buildout, Dana struck up conversations with people walking by, and they would share what they knew about local wildflowers and how to maintain the space.
Father and son Mohamad and Yousef Dana created a wildflower garden underneath the CTA Blue Line tracks at 2411 N. Sacramento Ave. in Logan Square, which they tend to as seen on Sept. 15, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Father and son Mohamad and Yousef Dana created a wildflower garden underneath the CTA Blue Line tracks at 2411 N. Sacramento Ave. in Logan Square, which they tend to as seen on Sept. 15, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Plans for the plot include tapping into the community more, empowering neighbors to help maintain the space. Dana also hopes to apply for grants to further change the space. Dana has interest in bioswales, a type of drainage structure that uses vegetation to divert runoff water from sewers.
“Instead of moving water through the city, you try to utilize the water that’s there,” he said.
Dana’s ultimate goal with this project is to inspire others to do public projects themselves.
“I really want the community to feel more ownership of their neighborhood” and not immediately think the city should do the project, he said. “You can do some cool things if you just go in and start doing it.”
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