Grant Park in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Maggie C. Daley Park

Established 2014

Photographed By Sean Flynn, June 30, 2024

1. Maggie C. Daley Park Marker

Inscription.

Maggie C. Daley Park. Established 2014. In 2012, the Chicago Park District began transforming the northeastern part of Grant Park into Maggie Daley Park. For many decades, an expansive surface parking lot occupied this site with a portion of the Illinois Central's sunken rail yard extending along the northwestern edge. In the mid-1970s, the Chicago Park District replaced the old park lot with the Richard J. Daley Bicentennial Plaza, a complex that provided a new 3700-car underground garage with major recreational facilities. Dedicated to Chicago's former Mayor Richard J. Daley (1902-1976), the facility included a new field house for indoor recreational programming as well as several outdoor amenities such as tennis courts, an ice skating rink, picnic areas, and Grant Park's first playground. , , The City of Chicago and the Park District began plans in 2009 to repair the waterproofing membrane of the underground parking garage and in doing so replace the entirety of the park landscape. Over the next several years, thousands of citizens participated in community workshops and meetings to help determine the programming for this prominent lakefront site. The Park District hired Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates to design the new park space. Serving as a counterpoint to the symmetry and formality of Grant Park, the design incorporates curvilinear forms, dramatic topography, and many whimsical elements. , , The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners renamed the site in honor of Maggie C. Daley (1943-2011), Chicago's longtime first lady, who was deeply committed to improving the lives of children and making the city culturally rich for all of its citizens. Maggie Daley was the co-founder of Gallery 37, a cultural arts program for teens in the summer. This led to the creation of After School Matters, a non-profit organization that offers Chicago teens innovative activities in the arts, communication, science, sports and technology. It is now the nation's largest out-of-school program of its kind for teenagers. , , A dynamic force behind many of Chicago's non-profit organizations, large and small, Mrs. Daley was a tireless advocate for her city. Today, she is remembered for her grace, perseverance, zest for life, and commitment to a better Chicago.

In 2012, the Chicago Park District began transforming the northeastern part of Grant Park into Maggie Daley Park. For many decades, an expansive surface parking lot occupied this site with a portion of the Illinois Central's sunken rail yard extending along the northwestern edge. In the mid-1970s, the Chicago Park District replaced the old park lot with the Richard J. Daley Bicentennial Plaza, a complex that provided a new 3700-car underground garage with major recreational facilities. Dedicated to Chicago's former Mayor Richard J. Daley (1902-1976), the facility included a new field house for indoor recreational programming as well as several outdoor amenities such as tennis courts, an ice skating rink, picnic areas, and Grant Park's first playground.

The City of Chicago and the Park District began plans in 2009 to repair the waterproofing membrane of the underground parking garage and in doing so replace the entirety of the park landscape. Over the next several years, thousands of citizens participated in community workshops and meetings to help determine the programming for this prominent lakefront site. The Park District hired Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates to design the new park space. Serving as a counterpoint to the symmetry and formality of Grant Park, the design incorporates curvilinear forms, dramatic topography,

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

and many whimsical elements.

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners renamed the site in honor of Maggie C. Daley (1943-2011), Chicago's longtime first lady, who was deeply committed to improving the lives of children and making the city culturally rich for all of its citizens. Maggie Daley was the co-founder of Gallery 37, a cultural arts program for teens in the summer. This led to the creation of After School Matters, a non-profit organization that offers Chicago teens innovative activities in the arts, communication, science, sports and technology. It is now the nation's largest out-of-school program of its kind for teenagers.

A dynamic force behind many of Chicago's non-profit organizations, large and small, Mrs. Daley was a tireless advocate for her city. Today, she is remembered for her grace, perseverance, zest for life, and commitment to a better Chicago.

Erected by Chicago Park District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 2014.

Location. 41° 52.867′ N, 87° 37.062′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Grant Park. Marker is at the intersection of DuSable Lake Shore Drive (U.S. 41) and East Monroe Street, on the right when

Maggie C. Daley Park Marker, front side image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Sean Flynn, June 30, 2024

2. Maggie C. Daley Park Marker, front side

The park is in the background.

traveling south on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The marker is at the southeast corner of Maggie Daley Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 337 East Randolph Street, Chicago IL 60601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Parkways Foundation (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Maggie C. Daley Park (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Maggie C. Daley Park (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Maggie C. Daley Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Columbia Yacht Club (approx. 0.3 miles away); Q.S.M.V. Abegweit (approx. 0.3 miles away); Historic Michigan Boulevard (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Historic Michigan Boulevard (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. An identical sign can be found near the southwest entrance to Maggie Daley Park. Two other smaller signs with the same text can be found on the northern edge of the park, along Randolph Street.

Regarding Maggie C. Daley Park. The 20-acre Maggie Daley Park, with a playground, miniature golf course, ice skating ribbon, rock-climbing wall, and tennis and pickleball courts, comprises an area in the northeast corner of the 300-acre Grant Park that had, for most of its existence, simply

Photographed By Sean Flynn, June 30, 2024

3. Maggie C. Daley Park Marker

The marker is visible near the corner of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and Monroe Street. Lake Michigan can be seen in the upper left.

been known as North Grant Park. The park, announced in 2012 and finished in 2014, replaced an earlier plan to place a children's museum on the site. That controversial plan, which would have gone against 1836 legislation (and affirmed four times since then by the Illinois Supreme Court) that declared the land east of Michigan Avenue to be "forever open, clear and free," was rendered moot when the children's museum decided to stay in its current Navy Pier location.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 36 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 1, 2024, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.