Mount Prospect block celebrates 25 years of tradition
Block parties are a summertime tradition in the suburbs.
And as Mount Prospect celebrated its 100th anniversary this year, Ironwood Drive in Mount Prospect's Camelot neighborhood celebrated an anniversary of its own - its 25th block party.
"I wish I lived on Ironwood Drive because this was not your ordinary neighborhood block party," a visitor from a neighboring block said.
The event was started by longtime residents Jim and Jean Holan (residents since 1991), Mike and Mary Pat Murphy ('92), Bob Lakome ('69), and Jeff and Robin Graves ('97'),
The festivities kicked off with a charity dunk tank, raising more than $400 for Mount Prospect's newly organized "Lemons of Love" cancer resource center. Neighbors, friends and family all donated for their chance to dunk the heckling volunteers.
Adding to the day's attraction was the ever popular 18-hole Frisbee golf course (played down the front lawns on Ironwood Drive) - a tradition each year since 1996.
Once preliminary rounds were played, a final four shootout took place at sundown. Jeff Greaves was crowned this year's Ironwood Frisbee Golf Tournament Champion.
Other activities included a visit from Mount Prospect's police and fire departments, a bags tournament, water balloon toss, a piñata and a bike parade for the kids. Holan's Beer Garden, music from Mike Murphy and a bonfire in the middle of the street capped off the night.
And there were memories.
Past years have featured events including "Craw-daddy's" Crawfish Boil (organized under President Trent Hasley in '07), a "Roll out the Barrel" Polish Day Buffet (Bart First in '06), and a carnival themed festival (Debbie Dale '14).
As this year's festivities came to an end, a call to order was held and the torch was passed to Megan Karnes, appointed as block party president for 2018.
Mount Prospect's "Friendliness is a way of life" motto spilled over onto Ironwood Drive, with another block party and a quarter century worth of neighborly bonding in the books.