Pulaski Park
History
The West Park Commissioners created Pulaski Park in 1912, as part of an effort to expand neighborhood parks throughout the congested west side. Several years earlier, Dvorak, Eckhart, and Stanford Parks opened, providing tenement districts with breathing spaces and social services including public bathing, branch libraries, children's playgrounds, athletics, and inexpensive hot meals. Sites were soon identified for new parks including a 3.8-acre parcel in West Town, a crowded, predominantly Polish neighborhood of factories and workers' housing. To make way for the park, the West Park Commission had todisplace 1,200 people, demolishing some buildings, and moving others to nearby locations in the neighborhood. After filling the low site, thecontractors beganimprovements following the plans of renowned landscape designer Jens Jensen.
A large fieldhouse and outdoor swimming facility were constructed in 1914. Incorporating elements such as tile roofs, half-timbering, a tower, dormers, and verandahs, architect William Carbys Zimmerman designed the three-story brick fieldhouse to emulate Eastern European architecture familiar to the immigrant community.
In 1919, Jens Jensen met with officials at the Art Institute of Chicago to discuss the idea of a competition for art students to paint a mural on the semi-circular proscenium above the stage in the Pulask Park field house. The park commissioners provided the prizes of $100, $50, and $25 and instructors at the School of the Art Institute selected the winners. The first prize went to James G. Gilbert, who received $200 for materials as well as the $100 prize. In 1920, Gilbert painted his mural composed of a dramatic series of allegorical figures. A second mural, hidden in the upper tower room, portrays Polish themes. A Chicago Park District arts and crafts class created this painting in the late 1930s.
The park pays tribute to Casimer Pulaski (c. 1748-1779) a Polish war hero who fought for the American cause in the Revolutionary War. After distinguishing himself in the Battle of Brandywine, Pulaski was appointed by Congress as Brigadier-General. Pulaski died in action at the Battle of Savannah.
