Location
2051 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
Client
Clark Construction, Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority
Sector
Parks & Open Space, Urban Design
Team
Advance Consulting Group, Anne Kustner Lighting Design. Fountain Technologies, FRS Design Group, Goettsch Partners, Terra Engineering, Terry Guen Design Associates (concept design)
As part of the McCormick Square development, the new 0.5 acre Prairie District Pocket Park provides much-needed play and recreational space for the neighborhood. Completed in July 2017, the park was designed in close collaboration with an active community group, and is divided into three primary sections; a children’s play area, dog friendly area, and seating and gathering plaza to separate them. The play area features a custom splash pad with basalt columns and limestone blocks, as well as rubber play mounds and innovative play equipment for ages 2 through 12. The separated dog friendly area includes a continuously filling dog bowl, rounded concrete stones and limestone blocks, as well as an artificial turf mound with retaining walls that serves as a dog-friendly play surface and seating area for owners. The park is surrounded by lush, hardy, native and adapted plantings that buffer to the adjacent street and provide year round interest.