A ribbon was cut today opening a new park in the Illinois Medical District on Chicago’s Near-West Side and dedicating what’s called the Global COVID-19 Memorial Monument.
The monument is the centerpiece of the new one-acre triangle-shaped park, bounded by Ogden Avenue, Polk Street and Damen Avenue.
Dr. Sally Metzler, of the Hektoen Institute of Medicine, who led this effort as chair of a commission, recognized the sculptor, Casey Schachner, an art professor at Georgia Southern University.
“Her concept unites the form of the corona virus with the dandelion puff, transforming an image of illness into one of hope, resilience and rebirth,” she said during a ceremony. “The commission expanded this and created three soaring stainless-steel dandelion stalks, representing honor, remembrance and resilience. They embrace a COVID-19 virus core that blooms with hundreds of crystal flowers.”
Illinois Medical DistrictMike Krauser
Dr. Metzler said it’s “the only monument in the world that honors frontline and essential workers, remembers those who we lost to COVID-19 and celebrates our resilience in the face of adversity.”
Benches are positioned at the base of the sculpture, "each dedicated to a continent and adorned with an etched silver globe," she said. "They remind us that no one was untouched by the pandemic."
There are five benches at the base of the sculpture, representing the five continents
Ribbon-cutting opening new park and unveiling COVID-19 memorial Mike Krauser
PRESS RELEASE:
CHICAGO — Elected officials and civic leaders from the State of Illinois, City of Chicago, hospital systems, non-profit organizations, and community members will gather for the ribbon cutting of a new park and opening of a COVID-19 memorial monument in the Illinois Medical District (IMD) on Tuesday, October 27 at 9 a.m.
Located at the intersection of West Ogden Avenue, West Polk Street, and South Damen Avenue — across from Jesse Brown Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center and John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County — the park and COVID-19 memorial monument combine to create a new public space in the heart of the IMD and West Side of Chicago.
This historic event will mark the creation of the first new public park in the IMD in decades since the Louis Pasteur Monument was relocated from Grant Park to its current location on West Harrison Street across from the Old Cook County Hospital Building in 1946.
This new park is the newest public space added to the IMD after the opening of a new Welcome Plaza at West Ogden Avenue and West Harrison Street in August 2024.
Present for the opening:
President of the Illinois Senate and 39th District State Senator Don Harmon
Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and 7th District State Representative Chris Welch
5th District State Senator Lakesia Collins9th District State Representative Yolonda Morris
27th Ward Alderman Walter "Red" Burnett
28th Ward Alderman Jason C. Ervin
Illinois Medical District Commission President Peter O'Brien and Commissioners Judith Frydland, Nicolas Guzman, Ann Kalayil, Michael Eaddy
Illinois Medical District Commission Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Allyson HansenCOVID-19 Monument Commission Chair Dr. Sally Metzler WHAT: IMD Park Ribbon Cutting and Global COVID-19 Memorial Monument Opening
2023 W Ogden Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
