City would chip in $5 million for DuSable Park under mayor’s proposal

(Above) Rendering that imagines an overhead view of DuSable Park when completed.

July 27, 2020 – The long-awaited DuSable Park would get $5 million from “Open Space Impact Fees” proposed by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. The fees would be paid by residential construction projects.

The three-acre park, on the east side of Lake Shore Drive, will have landscaping, lighting, a plaza, and seating areas. As part of another agreement, DuSable Park will get $10 million from Related Midwest, which is building two residential towers on the other side of Lake Shore Drive.

Steven Dahlman is the editor and publisher of Loop North News. With over 40 years of experience as a journalist and 20 years as a commercial photographer, his career includes work as a radio news director, reporter, and anchor. He is the co-author of three books on Chicago’s evolution, including Chicago’s River: At Work And At Play and Changing Chicago: A Portrait in Postcards and Photos. His first solo book, Marina City: The Definitive History of a Chicago Landmark, is scheduled for publication by Trope Publishing Co. on October 28, 2026.