At just 3.4 acres, the Jean-Baptiste Point DuSable Park, with its $15 million price tag, may not be the largest public green space in Chicago, but it is poised to become one of the most notable.
Located in a prime area east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, the park is bordered by the Chicago River, the Ogden Slip, and Lake Michigan, making it a highly desirable location.
After 38 years of anticipation and numerous plans that have come and gone, Chicagoans are finally seeing progress towards a park that honors the city’s founding father, Jean-Baptiste DuSable.
Recent developments indicate that the wait is nearing an end; the park’s lead designers, Ross Barney Architects and Brook Architecture, have submitted design and construction documents to the Chicago Park District.
Park officials have indicated that the project is on track for completion by summer 2027, marking the realization of a long-held aspiration for many in Chicago.
Chicago Park District Director of Planning and Development, Heather Gleason, emphasized the city’s commitment to making this park both beautiful and functional.
“Everyone just wants to see this park built,” Gleason stated.
Carol Ross Barney, the design principal and founder of Ross Barney Architects, emphasized the importance of creating a park that serves as a ‘jewel’ in the city’s landscape.
The park plans to honor DuSable’s legacy through various features that interpret his significant contributions to the area.
DuSable, a Haitian-born trader and businessman, set up his operations in the 1780s at what would eventually become Chicago, making him one of the earliest non-Indigenous figures to capitalize on the region’s economic potential.
The park will feature an entry plaza that leads into a promenade, designed to circle the park elliptically, paving the way for visitors to engage with DuSable’s story.
Additionally, Brook Architecture is designing a pavilion aimed at educating visitors about DuSable, his Potawatomi wife, Kitihawa, and their substantial real estate investments on their riverfront property.
RaMona Westbrook, President of Brook Architecture, noted that the pavilion will be a space for reflection, strategically positioned to showcase the grandeur of DuSable’s estate.
Plans for the park also include a boardwalk, wetlands, prairies, a trio of hills, a connection to the Navy Pier Flyover, and a statue dedicated to DuSable himself.
An interesting aspect of this project is its funding structure.
Related Midwest, the developer of the 400 N. Lake Shore Drive residential project, is covering $10 million of the total $15 million budget, reflecting a strong public-private partnership model.
Ann Thompson, executive vice president of architecture and design at Related Midwest, praised this collaboration as a powerful force for positive change in the city.
She added, “It’s certainly additive,” highlighting the advantageous nature of having a well-located public park adjacent to their residential project.
The park, however, still awaits further approvals.
Following the Park District’s endorsement, the plan will go before the Chicago Plan Commission to ensure compliance with the Lakefront Protection Ordinance, before finally being reviewed by the City Council.
Once these steps are completed, the park has the potential to greatly enrich Chicago’s waterfront, while also contributing to the ongoing scholarship surrounding DuSable’s historical significance.
Peggy Montes, a member of the DuSable Park Advisory Committee, expressed her commitment to seeing the park realized.
At 88 years old, she is still actively pursuing the vision she, along with then-Mayor Harold Washington, late DuSable Museum founder Margaret Burroughs, and museum chief curator Ramon Price, initially conceived back in 1987.
Reflecting on the long journey, she stated, “I’m the only one still here, trying to make that legacy come true.”
The DuSable Park must not only serve as a tribute to the history of DuSable and Chicago, but it also needs to offer an inviting space for relaxation and recreation.
This presents a considerable challenge, especially given the $15 million budget, which is modest compared to larger park projects.
For context, last year’s restoration of the Cloud Gate plaza at Millennium Park cost between $7 million and $10 million.
While the architectural team possesses the skills to create an inspiring park, one can speculate about the possibilities that might arise with a larger budget.
Years of community input and advocacy have played vital roles in shaping the vision for DuSable Park, and the public rightfully deserves a park that reflects that effort and anticipation.
image source from：https://www.wbez.org/architecture/2025/04/26/dusable-park-development-chicago-takes-a-step-forward
