A New Monument for Chicago’s Founder
The Chicago Park District has officially selected sculptor Branly Cadet and architect Rodney Leon to design a centerpiece monument for the long-awaited DuSable Park. This site, located at 451 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, stands near the mouth of the Chicago River on an undeveloped 3.5-acre peninsula. The commission marks a significant step for a project first conceived in 1987 under the administration of Mayor Harold Washington.
Branly Cadet will handle the creation of a full-body statue of Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the city’s first permanent non-native settler. Rodney Leon will manage the technical components of the installation, including lighting, base fabrication, and interpretive writing. Both men are American-born artists of Haitian descent. This shared heritage was a priority for the Park District during the request for proposals, acknowledging the connection to DuSable’s own roots.
Historical Context and Site Development
The development of this park has spanned nearly four decades. Originally designated for this purpose by Mayor Washington, the land remained dormant for many years. Movement on the project accelerated due to the construction of the residential development at 400 N. Lake Shore Drive, situated at the site formerly intended for the Chicago Spire. Developer Related Midwest is providing $10 million in funding for the $15 million project.
Ross Barney Architects and Brook Architecture are the lead firms for the park. Their designs incorporate native landscapes that recreate the environment DuSable and his wife, Kitihawa, would have encountered upon arriving in the region around 1778. The park layout features walking trails, gathering spaces, and a boardwalk that wraps around the peninsula’s edge to offer views of the lakefront.
The Role of Art in Urban Space
Beyond the primary statue, the site will honor other figures of historical significance. Kitihawa, a Potawatomi woman and cultural ambassador, will receive dedicated art installations. The park design also accounts for the inclusion of other Indigenous voices through history timelines and informational signage. These elements aim to ground the park in the authentic history of the area before modern development defined the shoreline.
Chicago Park District CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa stated that the work of Cadet and Leon will provide a tribute to the city’s origins while highlighting its diversity. The project intends to serve as a bridge between the historical landscape of the late 18th century and the modern requirements of a downtown recreational space. Accessibility is a key requirement of the design, with connections planned to the lakefront trail and an extended Riverwalk funded by the nearby skyscraper development.
Construction is scheduled to begin later in 2026. If the timeline holds, residents and visitors can expect the park to open in 2027. The finished space will offer a mix of natural wetland-style planting and structured public seating, providing a tangible connection to the early era of Chicago’s settlement. This park represents a rare instance where large-scale private development directly funds public cultural infrastructure, a model that may influence future projects along the Chicago River.