Burnham Park (Chicago)

Coordinates: 41°50′7″N 87°36′26″W / 41.83528°N 87.60722°W / 41.83528; -87.60722
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Burnham Park
Northerly view of Burnham Park
from Promontory Point (05/28/06)
Map
TypeUrban
LocationChicago, Cook County, Illinois
Coordinates41°50′7″N 87°36′26″W / 41.83528°N 87.60722°W / 41.83528; -87.60722
Area598 acres (242 ha)
Created1920 (1920)
Operated byChicago Park District
OpenAll year
Websitewww.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/Burnham-Park/

Burnham Park is a public park located in Chicago, Illinois. Situated along 6 miles (9.7 km) of Lake Michigan shoreline, the park connects Grant Park at 14th Street to Jackson Park at 56th Street. The 598 acres (242 ha) of parkland is owned and managed by the Chicago Park District.[1][2] It was named for urban planner and architect Daniel Burnham in 1927.[2] Burnham was one of the designers of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

The park is an outgrowth of the 1909

South Side
.

Location

The Veteran's Memorial at Soldier Field

McFetridge Drive is the boundary between Grant Park and Burnham Park.

14th Street Beach, and enclosing Burnham Harbor and its public marina, the park runs in a narrow strip past Soldier Field and McCormick Place, both of which disrupt Burnham's original plan, south to 56th street. From North to South, the park runs through the communities of Near South, Douglas, Oakland, Kenwood and Hyde Park
.

The park lies mostly between Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan, but it crosses the drive and abuts the Illinois Central Railroad tracks in places. There is a beach at 31st Street, a skatepark at 34th Street, a stone beach at 49th Street, and a model boat pond at 51st Street in Hyde Park. The park ends with a flourish at Promontory Point at 55th Street. Footbridges and underpasses provide access to the park over the barriers of the train tracks and Lake Shore Drive. A 6-mile (9.7 km) section of the Chicago Lakefront Trail bicycle and jogging path runs the length of the park.

History

A copy of The Chicago Plan

Ward fought for the poor people's access to Chicago's lakefront. In 1906, he campaigned to preserve neighboring

Plan of Chicago.[7]
Burnham's famous 1909 plan eventually preserved Grant Park and the entire Chicago lakefront.

1860-1890

Paul Cornell, a lawyer and real estate developer, donated and built East End Park between 51st and 53rd Streets in 1856.[8] After much of the land eroded, the property was incorporated into Burnham Park and was eventually renamed Harold Washington Park in 1992. In the years following his donation, expansions were built at the northeast corner of the future Jackson Park, located at the south end of Burnham. The most notable expansions included a seawall and granite paved strolling beach, constructed from 1884 to 1888, and a building used as the Iowa Pavilion during the Columbian Exposition.[9]

Daniel Burnham (1846-1912)

Cornell lobbied for the establishment of the South Parks and Boulevard System.

immigrant neighborhoods were developing. The city limits were expanded from 39th to 130th in 1889, absorbing virtually all of Hyde Park Township (35th to 138th).[9]

1890-1910

Burnham Harbor in Burnham Park with the Field Museum of Natural History in the foreground

The Columbian Exposition was held in Jackson Park, leaving housing in Hyde Park built for the Fair. The area around the new

railroads until courts rejected the legislation.[9]

1910-1920

The South Park Commission received rights to the future site of the

Burnham Plan actually built,[10] were completed to 23rd Street.[9]

1920-1930

Soldier Field

A $2.5 million bond issue passed in 1922 for a

bond issue in 1926. By 1924, the breakwater wall stretched from 14th to 55th Streets. In 1926, Soldier Field and a portion of Lake Shore Drive were opened. Landfilling extended from 23rd Street to 56th Street; however, Promontory Point was not complete, prompting complaints regarding garbage, blowing sand and odors. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, landfill efforts continued to fill in Burnham Park and the adjacent Northerly Island.[11] The South Development was named for Daniel Burnham on January 14, 1927, and support increased for a world's fair in the park. Construction was completed on Lake Shore Drive, with northbound lanes named for Leif Erikson, and southbound lanes for Christopher Columbus. In 1929, construction of the park at Promontory Point began. The Great Depression delayed work and prevented construction of nearshore islands. Burnham Park was chosen for the site of the Century of Progress world's fair and a yacht basin was built south of 51st Street.[9]

1930s-1940s

Aerial view of Burnham Park, 1939

In 1933 and 1934, the

Metropolitan Fair and Exposition Authority and allowed construction of Meigs Field, after Northerly Island lost out as the site for the United Nations.[11] In 1948, Burnham Park hosted the Chicago Railroad Fair,[11] proving the location's viability for conventions, which eventually led to the construction of the first McCormick Place in 1960.[11]

Balbo Monument

Balbo Monument

One highlight of the 1933

fascist Italo Balbo, leading 24 flying boats in landing on Lake Michigan after a transatlantic flight from Rome. Balbo's squadron left Italy on June 30, 1933, and arrived on July 15, after making several short stops. To honor his journey, 7th Street was renamed Balbo Drive. As a return gift, Benito Mussolini sent an ancient 2nd-century Roman column, which was erected in front of the Italian pavilion during the Century of Progress Exposition.[12] Located near the lakefront bike trail east of Soldier Field, the Balbo Monument is one of the few relics remaining from the fair. The column is from a portico near the Porta Marina of Ostia Antica
and stands on a marble base with inscriptions in both Italian and English reading:

"This column, twenty centuries old, was erected on the beach of Ostia, the port of Imperial Rome, to watch over the fortunes and victories of the Roman

Fascist
Italy, with the sponsorship of Benito Mussolini, presents to Chicago a symbol and memorial in honor of the Atlantic Squadron led by Balbo, which with Roman daring, flew across the ocean in the 11th year of the Fascist era."

1950s-1970s

During the 1950s, the park was the host of a Project Nike air defense system missile site. The United States Department of Defense and the United States Army kept similar sites in 40 United States cities during the Cold War and dismantled them in 1971.[13] The original McCormick Place burned down in 1967, and despite opposition, a new facility opened in Burnham Park in 1971.[7]

Burnham Park today

Burnham Park skatepark at 31st Street

Facilities

The

community area, he was transported by helicopter to a lawn landing in Burnham Park.[16][17]

Harbors and marinas

The park includes two harbors for the docking of fishing and

leisure craft.[18][19] Located adjacent to the Museum Campus and Soldier Field, Burnham Harbor is created by Northerly Island. It contains 1120 docking facilities, a harbor store, a boat ramp, and the Burnham Park Yacht Club. The 31st Street Harbor, adjacent to the 31st Street Beach, opened in 2012. It contains 1000 floating slips, a harbor store, and a boat ramp. It also provides new park amenities.[20][21]

Morgan Shoal

In 1999, the Park District initiated a long-range planning program for a number of lakefront and historic parks.[22] On January 5, 2000, the Park District made its first move towards adding acreage to the park by adopting the Burnham Park Framework Plan.[23] The project, which as of 2009 was still continuing, is a joint commission of the Park District, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the City of Chicago Department of Environment.[24] The project has been delayed in part because the Corps of Engineers has been diverted to design projects for the Iraq War.[25] In conjunction with Harza Engineering, BauerLatoza Studio designed a nature area within a portion of the park between 45th and 51st Streets, featuring the shallow bedrock in an area known as Morgan Shoal. The $42 million expansion will increase parkland by 30 acres (12 ha), filling Lake Michigan.[26]

Chicago Lakefront Trail

The

Lincoln Park, Grant Park, Burnham Park, and Jackson Park
.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Burnham Park Framework Plan". BauerLatoza Studio. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-7385-0716-4
    .
  3. ^ "Burnham Park". ArchFilms. Archived from the original on October 19, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  4. ^ Spielman, Fran (June 12, 2008). "Mayor gets what he wants - Council OKs move 33-16 despite opposition". Chicago Sun-Times. Newsbank. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  5. ^ "The taking of Grant Park". Chicago Tribune. Newsbank. June 8, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  6. ^ Spielman, Fran and Art Golab (May 16, 2008). "13-2 vote for museum - Decision on Grant Park sets up Council battle". Chicago Sun-Times. Newsbank. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  7. ^ a b "Burnham Park". Chicago Park District. Archived from the original on March 20, 2006. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  8. ^ File:20061022 Cornell Stone Hyde Park.JPG
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Burnham Park Timeline". Hyde Park Kenwood Community Conference. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  10. ISBN 0-226-31015-9. Retrieved July 13, 2009. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help
    )
  11. ^ a b c d McClendon, Dennis (2005). "Near South Side". The Electronic Encyclopedia of Chicago. Chicago Historical Society. Retrieved March 14, 2007.
  12. ^ Maggio, Alice (April 15, 2004). "Italo Balbo and Chicago's Forgotten Gift from Fascist Italy". Gapers Block. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  13. ^ Ortiz, Vikki (May 15, 2009). "Old missile sites are silent reminders of a tense time". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  14. ^ "South Lake Shore Drive History". Chicago Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  15. ^ "Beach & Lakefront Amenities". Chicago Park District. Archived from the original on April 14, 2008. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  16. ^ McCormick, John (February 16, 2009). "Obama's day to hoop it up - President plays basketball, then watches NBA". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  17. ^ Cooper, Helene (February 16, 2009). "This President's Escape Is Sweet Home Chicago". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  18. ^ "Burnham Harbor". The Chicago Harbors. Westrec Marinas. Archived from the original on June 18, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  19. ^ "31st Street Harbor". The Chicago Harbors. Westrec Marinas. Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
  20. ^ Kamin, Blair (May 6, 2012). "31st Street Harbor makes waves on south lakefront: $103 million facility gives once-neglected area a welcome lift". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  21. ^ Donovan, Lisa (April 30, 2012). "New 31st Street harbor complex has offerings for land and water lovers alike". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
  22. ^ "Burnham Park Framework Plan". Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference Parks Committee. Archived from the original on September 14, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  23. ^ "Plan to add 37 acres to Burnham Pk. lauded". Chicago Sun-Times. January 6, 2000. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  24. ^ Rejman, Rob (2009). "Great Lakes Urban Habitat Symposium Chicago 2009" (PDF). Chicago Park District. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 31, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  25. ^ "Proposals and public input for the Morgan Shoal/45th-51st Street shoreline area". Hydepark.org. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.
  26. ^ "Morgan Shoal at Burnham Park". BauerLatoza Studio. Archived from the original on May 30, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2009.

External links

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