Public parks should be a shared common wealth that uplift the whole community.
That is the philosophy of Project 120, a private-public partnership working in conjunction with the city of Chicago to revitalize Chicago’s South Parks: Jackson Park, Washington Park and the Midway Plaisance.
The South Parks were originally established for the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. Though the fair only lasted a few months, the parks were meant to endure as cultural and communal gathering places. Unfortunately, over time, the parks fell into cycles of renewal and disrepair.
Founded in 2013, Project 120 has brought together an interdisciplinary team of professionals to develop improvements that respect, preserve, and renew the character of the parks as designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The latest efforts have focused on restoring the Garden of the Phoenix, which was the site of the original Phoenix Pavilion, a gift to Chicago from Japan. The park will also be home to SKY LANDING, an art installation by artist Yoko Ono and her first permanent public work in the Americas. Garden of the Phoenix is set to open June 2016.
Watch this video we created to learn more about Project 120’s mission and work.
Project 120 – South Park Revitalization Through Partnerships from Project 120 Chicago on Vimeo.
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