City breaks ground on DuSable Park

Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa joined local elected officials and community stakeholders to break ground on DuSable Park. The new public space spans 3.44 acres and is situated at 451 N. Lake Shore Drive. City leaders gathered at the site to launch construction on the long-awaited waterfront project.

The park is named in honor of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, who is acknowledged as Chicago's first permanent non-Indigenous settler. The Haitian-born trader and businessman set up shop in the 1780s just west of the park location at the original mouth of the river. His enterprise made him among the very first non-Indigenous people to take full advantage of the economic potential of the area that eventually grew into Chicago.

Design and planning for the project are being led by Ross Barney Architects and Brook Architecture. Their work centers on creating a public space that accurately reflects and honors the historical life of DuSable. The layout incorporates several distinct elements designed to engage visitors and commemorate his contributions to local history.

Plans for the grounds feature a dedicated entry plaza established to memorialize DuSable. This plaza leads directly into a wide promenade that runs entirely around the perimeter of the site. A specialized pavilion will be constructed on the property to provide educational exhibits where visitors can learn more about DuSable and his impact on the region.

Local stakeholders and park officials celebrated the official start of construction during the ceremony. The finished park is scheduled to officially open to the public in Summer 2028.