The Chicago Plan Commission has approved the plans for DuSable Park at 451 North DuSable Lake Shore Drive in Streeterville. The project will redevelop a small vacant peninsula surrounded by Lake Michigan and connected to the upcoming spire replacement, 400 LSD. The effort is being led by the Park District, with partial funding from Related Midwest.
Rendering of DuSable Park by Ross Barney and Brook Architecture
Rendering of DuSable Park by Ross Barney and Brook Architecture
The city has been trying to develop the 3.44-acre site into a park since 2006, with the land having gained some small hills from relocated soil due to construction over the years. Now, Brook Architecture and Ross Barney Architects have crafted a design that utilizes the land’s natural formations to create various natural spaces and gathering areas — all for $15 million.
Plan of DuSable Park by Ross Barney and Brook Architecture
Rendering of DuSable Park by Ross Barney and Brook Architecture
Access to the park will come from an improved Riverwalk next to 400 LSD, walking paths from the Roosevelt Bridge, and the bike flyover that hugs the west end of the site. The western end of the park will feature two hills with a large lawn and natural prairie habitat, while the eastern end will boast a lakefront walk with a wet prairie habitat.
Rendering of DuSable Park by Ross Barney and Brook Architecture
Rendering of DuSable Park by Ross Barney and Brook Architecture
At the center of the park will be a small plaza with a sculptural pavilion that mimics the original home of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable — the Haitian man who was the first permanent non-Native settler of Chicago. With City Council approval as the final step, the team hopes to break ground this coming spring and complete construction by mid-2027.
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Seriously- more residential and no plan to include an enclosed dog park. There is not a city park in Streeterville with a dog enclosure. Please do the right thing for the neighborhood
That park is not the right place for a dog enclosure. they should put one someplace in that neighbourhood but not in the front yard.
There’s a dog park at Bennett Park less than a 10min walk away that’s open to the public. There’s also a fenced in area at Lakeshore Park north of Chicago Ave.
but what about my dog-baby?
Jerry, YA GOTTA SEE THE DOG BABY!
Bennet is not a city park and the park at Chicago Ave is not enclosed. Signs everywhere that are ignored.
Dog parks are nice, but dogs also don’t pay taxes (very minimal in sales to some extent). They are an added feature that many would consider a luxury.
The alternative is to use the outdoors, as most people already do. If it’s a bathroom issue, the LFT easily gets you to Navy Pier’s green space. If you need a space to run around with other pooches, that’s more of a neighborhood/residential project constraint. Many suburban folk go far ways for their dog parks. City folks can do it too.
I love my dogs, but an owner must also take responsibility for where it’s appropriate to own one.
Looks nice, great addition.
These are wonderful renderings. Appreciate the hills and plant strategy. Like to see more concepts that would attract various birds and butterflies, a nature retreat from the high buildings.
The design is not imaginary, sort of typical small town square….pleasant. Just looks like they are stretching a cheap budget with typical boring elements on a check list. Besides wealthy condo locals, honestly, who would have reason to go to this park? It’s a difficult location to get to but can be seen from DuSable LSD above, pathway, river entrance and surrounding areas; not looking for the Eiffel Tower, but focal element(s) or something to give people a reason or purpose to take the effort to go there.
Have you been out on the riverwalk by the LSD bridge? There is pretty good foot traffic even this far out, especially on the weekends.
This will be a very nice terminal point for the north walk, especially if even just a tiny little bit of effort is put into the pedestrian viaduct under the LSD. From the south, it will be only another few minutes to cross the river and get to the park. There is already good foot traffic on the LSD bridge (despite the decrepit feel of that walkway), presumably in no small part because the views down the river from that bridge are pretty great.
Not saying it would happen, but once the park and the south tower are completed, it would be really nice for the city to put a little bit of effort to clean up the pedestrian walkway on the LSD bridge to really make the whole river walk + river crossing + dusable park loop a joy to walk for locals and tourists alike.
Regardless, having walked/run the area dozens of times the last few years (West Towner, so not a neighborhood local), I think this will get way more use than you expect, and not just from the wealthy condo locals.
As you name the boat, so shall it float. 😂 never ending Lightfoot legacy 🤦🏻♂️
Looks interesting. Lots of features packed into a relatively small area, but creating connections to the flyover and the riverwalk will certainly liven up this dead zone. Chicago’s continuing celebration of the semi-mythical DuSable (who left this area for Missouri and lived more of his life there) is a bit puzzling when you look into the little that is known about him with any certainty, but this park will definitely enhance the waterfront.
Awesome! I think it took 400 Lake Shore finally being built to spur DuSable Park’s approval. Now there won’t be a massive circular hole by the park!