The Chicago Park District transformed this once-vacant lot to parkland in 1969, and officially named it Buckthorn Park in 1974. In April of 2015, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners renamed Buckthorn Park in honor of Hadiya Pendleton, a 15-year-old girl who fell victim to gun violence standing with friends inside Harsh Park only one week after performing at events for President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. The Chicago Park District hired Planning Resources Inc. to design the enlarged park in a manner that honor the cultural heritage of Bronzeville and pay tribute to the park’s namesake. The new park includes a new playground, interactive water feature, a walking path, and fitness stations. Features such as a “musical staff path,” sculptural seating to emulate books and musical instruments, and inscriptions in planters and knee walls will symbolize Bronzeville’s cultural heritage. Located at 4347 S. Calumet Ave, the park also honors Vonzell Banks, a 17-year-old killed in the neighborhood in 2015.
In a speech at the grand opening for the park on October 8, 2016 Mayor Rahm Emanuel said “Hadiya Pendleton Park is a place for the community where neighbors can gather, children will play and memories are made”.
To this end, Hadiya Pendleton Park Advisory Committee’s has a vision for Hadiya Pendleton Park to be a major contributor to the revitalization of the Grand Boulevard community and neighborhood and Bronzeville neighborhood in Chicago’s Third. Hadiya Pendleton Park will be a safe place for diverse groups of local residents to convene for social, recreational, and wellness purposes. The park will also serve as a leader and example for community management of “unstaffed” parks in the City of Chicago.
The mission of the Hadiya Pendleton Park Advisory Committee is to create park programs that will positively impact the community.
We are furthermore committed to
• promoting ways for the Grand Boulevard community and Bronzeville neighborhood to most effectively utilize Hadiya Pendleton Park spaces and add value to the community
• gathering inclusive feedback from residents in the community, park district staff, elected officials, local law enforcement, local business and other interested stakeholders
• coordinating a variety programming that will increase responsible, continued use of the park as well as capture the distinct charm and historical significance of the Bronzeville community
• coordinating fund raising activities and locating additional funding sources to support park programs and enhance park facilities
• communicating park needs, concerns, and activities to the community, Chicago Park District staff, Chicago Police Department and elected officials
