Beverly Area Planning Association

The Beverly Area Planning Association was founded in 1947 as a civic association serving the people, businesses, institutions and organizations in Chicago’s Beverly Hills/Morgan Park neighborhood.

In 1971, BAPA hired its first paid full-time staff, focusing its efforts on housing, schools and economic development. At a time when many south side communities were targeted by unscrupulous real estate agents using blockbusting tactics that fueled white flight and rapid resegregation of communities, BAPA’s staff and volunteers facilitated successful integration and increasing home values by encouraging diversity, promoting the neighborhood, and fostering business investment along the commercial strips.

BAPA’s program areas address housing, economic development, and schools, but also focus on other elements that make the Village in the City prosper: safety, historic preservation, city services, transportation, marketing, and fostering community spirit through a variety of special events.

The Beverly Area Planning Association hosts several annual events, including the Beverly Hills/Morgan Park Home Tour, showcasing significant private residences on the third Sunday of May; the Ridge Run, one of Chicago’s oldest and most popular neighborhood races offering a 10K run, 5K run/walk, and 1 mile youth run on Memorial Day; the Beverly Hills Cycling Classic, first race in the International Cycling Classic Superweek Pro Tour, held on the second Friday of July; Music Under the Stars, an outdoor family concert and fireworks show held on the first Sunday of August; and the History Mystery Bike Tour, a family biking event through the historic district held in October.