3 ACRES

DuSable Park Proposal Project: Collaborative text from Design Workshop

"Access"

Initial discussions listed several possible themes for the project: Access, Du Sable Marker/ commeration, sculpture, homelessness, natural environment. Our charrette group opted to work on the theme of "access," in part because it seemed to encompass all these topics and more.

Access was interpreted as being able to get to and from the park by land and by water and by sight. Its landscaping and art should provide access to the history of the site, and, if named for Du Sable, the history of this pioneering man (and his wife, Catherine).

It was felt that the current, indigenous flora that currently covers the site was a welcome relief from the more heavily landscaped, sterile, monoculture of the surrounding parkland. The wild flowers and grasses are also reminiscent of the landscape that probably greeted DuSable when he first arrived in the area (minus the smelly wild onions). The beauty and complexity of the ecology of the site is a point of access conceptually and experientially.

The ecological complexity can lend itself to certain experimental artworks, temporary or long-term.

BY AIR: Located in the shadow of the Lake Shore Drive overpass, the park is overlooked by two decks of multi-lane automobile traffic, and a narrow, obstacle-ridden sidewalk for pedestrian, bicycle and other wheeled transport. Access to the park from north and south could be through a dedicated ped/bike bridge that is cantilevered from the LSD overpass. This type of bridge could offer a ramp down to the park, while continuing on to the mainland over the Chicago River and the Slip, joining up with the existing bike path.

BY LAND: Within the actual site, access could also be determined through a layering of paths through the flora. Similar to the landscaping on Wooded Island in Jackson Park, there could be 3 levels of intensity for paths: paved for the high-traffic route (ie. where the bridge ramps down), woodchip for a more intimate walk that is still "official" and then footpaths that would be created by individuals who dared to stray and create their own encampment.

BY WATER: Access to the lake could be made via canoe, kayak and scull rentals, docking at the eastern edge of the park in a model revetment with a gentle slope into the water. The shelter of the LSD overpass for could be used for boat storage and temporary parking for loading and unloading boats.

BY SIGHT: The cantilevered LSD bridge could be designed with "bump-out" overlooks that allow one to pause and look over onto the park without being in traffic.

BIRD MIGRATION: Access for species other than humans was considered important. Retaining the prairie-like vegetation would provide another site for migrating birds to rest and feed.

Ginger Krebs, Ned Baxter, Barbara Koenan, and Michael Piazza collaborative working group at public design workshop in Chicago, June 2001
DuSable Park Proposal Project: Collaborative text from Design Workshop "Access" Initial discussions listed several possible themes for the project: Access, Du Sable Marker/ commeration, sculpture, homelessness, natural environment. Our charrette group opted to work on the theme of "access," in part because it seemed to encompass all these topics and more. Access was interpreted as being able to get to and from the park by land and by water and by sight. Its landscaping and art should provide access to the history of the site, and, if named for Du Sable, the history of this pioneering man (and his wife, Catherine). It was felt that the current, indigenous flora that currently covers the site was a welcome relief from the more heavily landscaped, sterile, monoculture of the surrounding parkland. The wild flowers and grasses are also reminiscent of the landscape that probably greeted DuSable when he first arrived in the area (minus the smelly wild onions). The beauty and complexity of the ecology of the site is a point of access conceptually and experientially. The ecological complexity can lend itself to certain experimental artworks, temporary or long-term. BY AIR: Located in the shadow of the Lake Shore Drive overpass, the park is overlooked by two decks of multi-lane automobile traffic, and a narrow, obstacle-ridden sidewalk for pedestrian, bicycle and other wheeled transport. Access to the park from north and south could be through a dedicated ped/bike bridge that is cantilevered from the LSD overpass. This type of bridge could offer a ramp down to the park, while continuing on to the mainland over the Chicago River and the Slip, joining up with the existing bike path. BY LAND: Within the actual site, access could also be determined through a layering of paths through the flora. Similar to the landscaping on Wooded Island in Jackson Park, there could be 3 levels of intensity for paths: paved for the high-traffic route (ie. where the bridge ramps down), woodchip for a more intimate walk that is still "official" and then footpaths that would be created by individuals who dared to stray and create their own encampment. BY WATER: Access to the lake could be made via canoe, kayak and scull rentals, docking at the eastern edge of the park in a model revetment with a gentle slope into the water. The shelter of the LSD overpass for could be used for boat storage and temporary parking for loading and unloading boats. BY SIGHT: The cantilevered LSD bridge could be designed with "bump-out" overlooks that allow one to pause and look over onto the park without being in traffic. BIRD MIGRATION: Access for species other than humans was considered important. Retaining the prairie-like vegetation would provide another site for migrating birds to rest and feed.

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