Columbus Park (Chicago)

Summary

Columbus Park is a 135-acre (55 ha) park located on the far West Side of Chicago, Illinois, in the Austin neighborhood. It is considered the finest work by landscape architect Jens Jensen and was consequently named a National Historic Landmark in 2003.

Columbus Park
Columbus Park Boathouse
Columbus Park (Chicago) is located in Chicago metropolitan area
Columbus Park (Chicago)
Location500 S. Central Ave Chicago, IL
Coordinates41°52′26″N 87°46′11″W / 41.87389°N 87.76972°W / 41.87389; -87.76972
Built1915
ArchitectJens Jensen, Chatten & Hammond
Architectural styleLate 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Prairie School
MPSChicago Park District MPS
NRHP reference No.91000567
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 20, 1991[1]
Designated NHLDJuly 31, 2003[2]

History edit

The concept of Columbus Park was first pitched in 1912 by the West Park Commission as a way to develop recreational facilities for densely populated neighborhoods. At the time, the West Side of Chicago had a population of nearly 900,000, but only two small playgrounds. The commission had acquired the property a year earlier from the Catholic church for $560,000; the church had recently abandoned plans to build a seminary on the site. It was the first large park conceived by the commission since 1869. Jens Jensen was a Danish immigrant who joined the commission in the 1880s as a laborer and rose to the rank of chief landscape artist and general superintendent of the system by 1905. Columbus Park was Jensen's first large park, and he began designing it in 1915.

The park was largely completed by 1920, when Jensen was removed from his position by Illinois Governor Frank Lowden. The only uncompleted section was the refectory and boathouse. The new West Park Commissioners ignored Jensen's plan and instead hired local architectural firm Chatten & Hammond, who completed the structure in 1923. Although a contradiction to the rest of the park, the refectory was well received. Works Progress Administration funds in the late 1930s allowed for the conversion of an old stable building into a gymnasium. The funds also allowed for the replanting of the landscape. In 1953, the southern 9 acres (3.6 ha) of Columbus Park were demolished to make way for the Eisenhower Expressway. The waterfalls and surrounding landscape were restored in 1991; the refectory was restored a few years later. The park was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 20, 1991, and designated a National Historic Landmark on July 31, 2003.[2] It is considered one of "150 great places in Illinois" by the American Institute of Architects.[3]

In celebration of the 2018 Illinois Bicentennial, Columbus Park was selected as one of the Illinois 200 Great Places [4] by the American Institute of Architects Illinois component (AIA Illinois).

Landscape edit

The 135-acre (55 ha) park reflected Jensen's Prairie School approach to landscape design. This method emphasized the area's natural beauty and was inspired by the prairie landscape's horizontality. Jensen preferred to use native plants in his designs, a technique that was rare at the time. Inspired by natural rock outcroppings in the Midwest, Jensen's stonework is exemplified by his waterfalls, council ring, and stone paths. Buildings in the part constructed prior to 1920 also reflect his Prairie approach. Schmidt, Garden & Martin designed massive entry lanterns for the east entrance in this motif, and evidence suggests that noted Prairie School architect John S. Van Bergen may have designed a small playground shelter.

External links edit

  • Chicago Park District page
  • "Chicago's Columbus Park:The Prairie Idealized", a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan
  • Illinois Great Places - Columbus Park
  • Society of Architectural Historians SAH ARCHIPEDIA entry on Columbus Park

Notes edit

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ a b "Columbus Park". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2007-10-06.
  3. ^ "Columbus Park". American Institute of Architects. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
  4. ^ Waldinger, Mike (January 30, 2018). "The proud history of architecture in Illinois". Springfield Business Journal. Retrieved 30 January 2018.