America 250

This year, the Park District launched two initiatives that examine historic park monuments in an inclusive way. In partnership with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Monument Response Project explores and reimagines select historic park monuments through site-responsive installations and performances intended to better reflect the diversity, history, and cultural narratives of Chicago’s communities.

Launched in April, 2026, the following two-year, site-responsive installations are currently underway:

• We Still Here, an intervention to the General Philip Sheridan Monument in Lincoln Park by artists Sonja Henderson and Sadie Woods.
• Tierra Nuestra / Our Land, an intervention to A Signal of Peace near Diversey Harbor by artist Hector Gonzales.

This Spring, the District also launched its Sculptural Diversification Project, a public engagement initiative focused on expanding representation within the District’s collection through new commissions and contextualization projects informed by recommendations from the Chicago Monuments Project, local artists, historians, and community stakeholders.

The Sculptural Diversification Project includes:

• Humboldt Park – proposed new artwork honoring Pedro Albizu Campos.
• Douglass Park – proposed new artwork honoring Frederick and Anna Douglass.
• Fuller Park – proposed intervention and contextualization related to the Melville Fuller bust.
• Sherman Park – proposed intervention related to the American History Series murals.

America 250: Chicago’s Parks, America’s Stage creates an opportunity to confront our nation’s complex past and continue the important, collective work to build a legacy that advances equity, justice and inclusion across Chicago’s communities and inspires progress beyond the borders of our city. 

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