Friends of the Parks

DUSABLE PARK INCLUDED IN CPD 2004 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET

The Chicago Park District 2004 Capital Improvement Budget includes funds for the development of DuSable Park. FOTP commends the Park District for allocating funds to finalize the design/engineering plans and working drawings.

DuSable Park, located where the Chicago River meets Lake Michigan, was dedicated in 1988 in honor of Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable, founder of modern day Chicago. Developing the park presents the unique opportunity to establish a park for all Chicago. DuSable Park is the goal of lakefront park advocates, residents in the nearby Streeterville and Near East Side neighborhoods, and Chicagoans desiring to commemorate Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable's contributions to Chicago.

In 2003 significant progress was made by the Chicago Park District with the support from U.S. Congressman Danny Davis, State Senator Barak Obama, State Representative Louvana ("Lou") Jones, and Alderman Burton Natarus, 42nd Ward, including:

environmental clean-up;

establishment of the DuSable Park Steering Committee

formulation of a concept plan for DuSable Park.

The DuSable Park concept plan incorporates the public contribution of Martin Puryear, through the Ferguson Fund of the Art Institute, and also artistic plaques and informational signage which will tell the story of the settlement of Chicago by Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable at the end of the 18th Century.

In December, 2003, the Chicago City Council, at the request of Ald. Burton Natarus, adopted an amendment to the River East Plan Development, which clarifies several important public access dimensions, including the area under Lake Shore Drive and the river path leading to DuSable Park. The river esplanade to be designated as the DuSable Founder's Trail, would connect DuSable Park with Pioneer Court on Michigan Avenue, the site of DuSable's first settlement in the 1770's.

Friends of the Parks looks forward to working with the DuSable Park Steering Committee and the Chicago Park District to finalize the design and engineering plans for DuSable Park, and complete this significant park project for Chicago.