Richard Hunt Sculpture at Jonquil Park.
Richard Hunt Sculpture at Jonquil Park.
Water Spray Feature at Jonquil Park.
Water Spray Feature at Jonquil Park.
Location:

1001 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614

Supervisor: Ariel Hernandez (Wrightwood Park)
Phone Numbers: Main (312) 742-7816

 

Hours

Park Hours
Day Time slot Comment
Sunday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Monday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Tuesday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Wednesday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Thursday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Friday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Saturday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm

Description

Located in the heart of Lincoln Park at the intersection of Wrightwood, Lincoln, and Sheffield - Jonquil Park is 3.25 acres and it is the gathering place for community residents. With a large open grass area, families gather and baseball is played.

Kids enjoy the soft-surface/ADA accessible playground that features play areas with swings, slides,activity panels and climbing elements that keep children busy. Plus, spray area to cool off in on those warm summer days. Adjacent to the playground is an open plaza area that features a garden, game table area and green space.

History

In 1969, the Chicago Park District began leasing this property, a former storage area for salt and snow removal equipment, from the Chicago Transit Authority. In 1981, the Park District acquired this park site from the CTA. Park facilities included baseball fields, volleyball courts, and tennis courts.

The Park District officially designated this site Jonquil Park in the mid-1970s, when a number of properties were named for plants and trees. The jonquil, a spring-blooming bulb that produces yellow or white flowers, is a type of Narcissus. According to Greek mythology, the vain Narcissus was so taken with his own reflection in a pond that the gods turned him into a flower. Jonquil Park features a bronze sculpture created in 1988 by internationally-known artist Richard Hunt, whose studio lies across the street in a converted street car barn. Inspiration for Hunt's Eagle Columns came from a Vachel Lindsay poem about Illinois governor John Peter Altgeld (1847-1902), an early proponent of neighborhood playgrounds, who once lived nearby. Funds raised in the surrounding Lincoln Park community, together with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, paid for the sculpture. Recent (2009/2010) sculpture conservation addressed bronze corrosion, graffiti residue, and staining. Stone losses at the granite bases were repaired, sinking sections of plaza paving were raised to level positions, and accessibility to the raised plaza was provided with the construction of a new ramp. Richard Hunt also designed new sculptural elements to eliminate potential damage from skateboards.

Advisory Council

Contact: Courtland Hickey,   President
Meeting Details:

3rd Thursday of the month at 6pm

Out of an abundance of caution Park Advisory Council Meetings will be held virtually for the near future. Please contact the Jonquil PAC for details.

Parking/Directions

For directions using public transportation visit www.transitchicago.com.

Map & Facilities

Eagle Columns | Artwork

1001 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Jonquil Baseball Field

1023 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Jonquil Playlot Playground

1023 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Jonquil Playlot Tennis Courts

1023 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Jonquil Playlot Water Spray

1023 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Eagle Columns
Eagle Columns | Artwork

1001 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Show on Map
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Jonquil Baseball Field

1023 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Show on Map
Jonquil Playlot Playground
Jonquil Playlot Playground

1023 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Show on Map
default image
Jonquil Playlot Tennis Courts

1023 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Show on Map
default image
Jonquil Playlot Water Spray

1023 W. Wrightwood Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
United States

Show on Map