Photo captured by Adrian Naves.
The month of May is starting to warm up Chicago, with plenty of rain, folks want to head out and soak up the warm weather…especially that winter is the rear-view mirror. Some folks enjoy the weather by spending their time being out and about, some enjoy strolling through parks or visit a museum. Driving through Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable (formally Lake Shore Drive) and nearing the Museum of Science and Industry, by the edge of the lake is one of Chicago’s historical landmarks located in Burnham Park neighborhood – Promontory Point. Some Chicagoans refer to Promontory Point as “The Point.” The Point offers a breathtaking view of the lake, the waves crashing on the front, and of the Chicago skyline – it’s quite a unique view of the city. If you wondered what or how The Point came about, now’s the time to plan a visit.
Photo captured by Adrian Naves.
Promontory Point is located on the Chicago Park District land at 55th Street on Chicago’s south side of the Hyde Park neighborhood, The Point was opened to the public in 1937. Alfred Caldwell designed the landscape of the park, his design featured an elevated “meadow” section in the center of the peninsula and also included hundreds of flowers, trees, and shrubs. Around the lakefront of The Point has some stone sitting rings, called “council rings” that were created by Caldwell in 1938, most Chicagoans today use them as fire pits. Quite a few of Caldwell’s original designs and plantings still remain today.
Photo captured by Adrian Naves. |
Photo captured by Adrian Naves. |
The park can be accessed by the Lakefront Trail and by a tunnel which passes under Lake Shore Drive near the end of 55th Street. Near the 55th Street tunnel is the David Wallach Memorial Fountain. In 1939, Elizabeth and Frederick Hibbard designed the fountain – which is in the shape of a fawn. During the Cold War, Promontory Point Park also housed a radar tower for the Nike Hercules missile defense system…which was later disassembled in 1971.
Photo captured by Adrian Naves. |
Photo captured by Adrian Naves. |
In 1937, a field house was built in the park and the exterior of the house is made of Lannon stone from Wisconsin. Because of views of the lake and the cityscape, it’s become a popular wedding and corporate event location for Chicagoans. The field house does have competition with the larger Jackson Park Street Beach House on 63rd and the other larger South Shore Cultural Center as beachfront facilities for events. The Point also offers a view for the local residents during the frequent summer fireworks displays at Navy Pier, especially on Independence Day, who frequently gather there.
Photo captured by Adrian Naves. |
Photo captured by Adrian Naves. |
Activists are hoping for the best and that the city officials will stick to their word. The landmark designation is far from the end for the Save the Point campaign, which is part of a wider South Side movement for park equity. Advocates will continue efforts into community input on the Point, as well as on the futures of the South Shore Cultural Center, Jackson Park, the Midway Plaisance, Washington Park and others nearby. There’s mounting pressure for these parks to become commercialized and developed, but local residents have opposed those decisions and don’t want the Park District to make money from the parks at the expense of the community.
Photo captured by Adrian Naves. |
Photo captured by Adrian Naves. |
If you have passed Promontory Point and always wondered what it looked like and have set foot in the park – then do yourself a favor and plan a visit. Nothing beats that gorgeous backdrop of the lake and of the city, especially during the peak hours of the morning, when the orange glow of the sun reflects the surface of the water and cuts through the dark of the night – it’s truly a sight of wonder. Also, the Museum of Science and Industry is only steps away from the park, if you mind does hunger for more knowledge.
For more information about Promontory Point Park, please visit: chicagoparkdistrict.com.
