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Ping Tom Memorial Park
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Ping Tom Memorial Park
Ping Tom Memorial Park is a 17.24-acre (6.98 ha) public urban park in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood, in South Side, Chicago. It is part of the Chicago Park District (CPD). The park was dedicated in honor of Ping Tom (1935–1995), a leading Chinatown businessman and civic leader, on October 2, 1999.
Located on the south bank of the Chicago River, the park is divided into three sections by defunct Santa Fe rail track and 18th Street. It was designed by Ernest C. Wong of Site Design Group and features a pagoda-style pavilion, bamboo gardens, and a playground. A bronze bust of Ping Tom is installed near the park's pavilion. Phase I was completed in 1999, and Phase II was completed in 2011. The fieldhouse was completed in 2013.
In 1962, the construction preparations for the Dan Ryan Expressway demolished the only two parks in the Chinatown area (Hardin Square and Stanford Park). Sun Yat-sen Playlot Park, a small, 1⁄3 acre (1,300 m2) park, was created in the mid-1970s; however, the community wanted a larger open park space.
The Chinese American Development Corporation, a private real estate firm formed by Ping Tom then purchased a former 32-acre (13 ha) rail yard in 1989. After construction of Chinatown Square began on this property, the CPD purchased approximately 6 acres (24,000 m2) of unused land along the Chicago River in 1991, along with an additional 6 acres (24,000 m2) that extended along the river north of 18th Street.
The southern-half of the area then underwent significant renovation, as the retaining wall along the river was repaired and an at-grade rail crossing was installed at the park's western boundary. Construction then began in 1998 and concluded in fall 1999 at a total cost of $5 million. The park was officially opened on October 2, 1999.
In 2002, the Chicago Park District acquired an additional 5 acres (20,000 m2) immediately east of the park's then-undeveloped northern half. The second stage of development, covering 11 acres (45,000 m2) north of 18th Street was completed in 2011, and included the area's shoreline and access points. In September 2009, a $10 million budget was approved to start development on the 6-acre (24,000 m2) area along the Chicago River. The boathouse was opened on June 9, 2013, while the field house was opened later that year on October 14, 2013.
The park is served by a water taxi operated by Wendella Boats (Chicago Water Taxi). It is the southernmost stop, with other stops at Madison Avenue (Ogilvie Station), Chicago Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue, Goose Island, and River North.
In 1962, construction preparations for the Dan Ryan Expressway necessitated the demolition of Hardin Square and Stanford Parks, the only two public parks that serviced the Chinatown community. In the mid-1970s, a small, 1⁄3 acre (1,300 m2) park was developed on a strip of land between 26th Street and the Stevenson Expressway; the Chicago Park District purchased the park in 1977 and named it Sun Yat-sen Playlot Park. However, in a 1992 study, 75 percent of Chinatown's community leaders and 49 percent of business leaders felt that "the lack of open space in the Chinatown area is one of the most serious problems facing the community", and both groups ranked it first among 15 community issues, including crime, education, housing, and employment. Community efforts to construct a larger park were impeded both a lack of funds and the absence of any suitable site.
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Ping Tom Memorial Park
Ping Tom Memorial Park is a 17.24-acre (6.98 ha) public urban park in Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood, in South Side, Chicago. It is part of the Chicago Park District (CPD). The park was dedicated in honor of Ping Tom (1935–1995), a leading Chinatown businessman and civic leader, on October 2, 1999.
Located on the south bank of the Chicago River, the park is divided into three sections by defunct Santa Fe rail track and 18th Street. It was designed by Ernest C. Wong of Site Design Group and features a pagoda-style pavilion, bamboo gardens, and a playground. A bronze bust of Ping Tom is installed near the park's pavilion. Phase I was completed in 1999, and Phase II was completed in 2011. The fieldhouse was completed in 2013.
In 1962, the construction preparations for the Dan Ryan Expressway demolished the only two parks in the Chinatown area (Hardin Square and Stanford Park). Sun Yat-sen Playlot Park, a small, 1⁄3 acre (1,300 m2) park, was created in the mid-1970s; however, the community wanted a larger open park space.
The Chinese American Development Corporation, a private real estate firm formed by Ping Tom then purchased a former 32-acre (13 ha) rail yard in 1989. After construction of Chinatown Square began on this property, the CPD purchased approximately 6 acres (24,000 m2) of unused land along the Chicago River in 1991, along with an additional 6 acres (24,000 m2) that extended along the river north of 18th Street.
The southern-half of the area then underwent significant renovation, as the retaining wall along the river was repaired and an at-grade rail crossing was installed at the park's western boundary. Construction then began in 1998 and concluded in fall 1999 at a total cost of $5 million. The park was officially opened on October 2, 1999.
In 2002, the Chicago Park District acquired an additional 5 acres (20,000 m2) immediately east of the park's then-undeveloped northern half. The second stage of development, covering 11 acres (45,000 m2) north of 18th Street was completed in 2011, and included the area's shoreline and access points. In September 2009, a $10 million budget was approved to start development on the 6-acre (24,000 m2) area along the Chicago River. The boathouse was opened on June 9, 2013, while the field house was opened later that year on October 14, 2013.
The park is served by a water taxi operated by Wendella Boats (Chicago Water Taxi). It is the southernmost stop, with other stops at Madison Avenue (Ogilvie Station), Chicago Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue, Goose Island, and River North.
In 1962, construction preparations for the Dan Ryan Expressway necessitated the demolition of Hardin Square and Stanford Parks, the only two public parks that serviced the Chinatown community. In the mid-1970s, a small, 1⁄3 acre (1,300 m2) park was developed on a strip of land between 26th Street and the Stevenson Expressway; the Chicago Park District purchased the park in 1977 and named it Sun Yat-sen Playlot Park. However, in a 1992 study, 75 percent of Chinatown's community leaders and 49 percent of business leaders felt that "the lack of open space in the Chinatown area is one of the most serious problems facing the community", and both groups ranked it first among 15 community issues, including crime, education, housing, and employment. Community efforts to construct a larger park were impeded both a lack of funds and the absence of any suitable site.
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