DuSable Park, Urban park in Near North Side, Chicago, United States.
DuSable Park is an urban park on Chicago's Near North Side located at the confluence of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River. The space occupies a former industrial site between Navy Pier and Lake Point Tower, providing open grounds for public recreation and access to the waterfront.
The land emerged from natural lake deposits in 1857 when Illinois sold acres to the Chicago Dock and Canal Trust for industrial development. The site later became the planned location for the Chicago Spire project before being transformed into this public space.
The park honors Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, Chicago's first non-Indigenous settler, and recognizes the important contributions of African Americans to the city's founding story. Walking through the space, visitors encounter a name that connects them to an early figure often left out of mainstream historical accounts.
The park sits along the waterfront with clear views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River, making it easily accessible from Navy Pier and surrounding neighborhoods. Visitors will find paved paths and open grassy areas that work well for walking, sitting, or informal gatherings.
The site underwent environmental cleanup to remove radioactive thorium contamination left from its industrial past, with the EPA providing funding for the restoration work. This transformation demonstrates how polluted industrial sites can become usable public spaces.
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