Margaret Hie Ding Lin Park
Margaret Hie Ding Lin Park
Margaret Hie Ding Lin Park
Margaret Hie Ding Lin Park
Location:

1735 S. State St.
Chicago, IL 60616

Supervisor: Taqui Dufelmeier (Haines Park)
Phone Numbers: Main (312) 882-5274

 

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

This small playground is located in the Near South community area. The park is 0.51 acres and it features basketball courts and has been featured in several soft drink beverage commercials with Chicago Bull's MVPs Michael Jordan and Derrick Rose. It is an active community park. 

While there is no structured programming taking place at this location, we invite you to check out our great programs offered at the nearby Haines Park

History

In 1968, the City of Chicago’s Department of Public Works began transforming property under an elevated portion of the Dan Ryan Transit line to create a small park for the surrounding Near South Side community area, which was in dire need of recreational space.

Under a lease agreement with the Chicago Transit Authority, the Chicago Park District assumed operation and maintenance of the site in 1972, after the City installed a playground and basketball courts. In 1991, after determining that the park was not well utilized by younger children, the Park District removed the playground and added a second basketball court. The Park District continues to operate this site as park with a current agreement with the CTA.

The Chicago Park District named the park in honor of Margaret Hie Ding Lin in 2004 as part of a system-wide effort to recognize the contributions of Chicago women. Margaret Hie Ding Lin (1888–1973), one of Chicago’s first Chinese physicians, played an active role in providing medical services to the residents of Chinatown. Margaret graduated from Fuzhou College (a Chinese university founded by Western missionaries) in 1907. She then came to the United States to attend medical school. She was one of the nation’s earliest Chinese immigrants to attend medical school, and of course few women became doctors at that time.

Margaret received her medical school training at the University of Illinois in Chicago. She went on to an internship at the Mary Thompson Hospital for Women and Children in Chicago. After completing her internship, she returned to China where she had a prestigious career as a doctor and hospital president.

In 1941, more than twenty years after her return to China, she came back to Chicago. She worked at the University of Illinois Medical Center for several years and then began working for the Illinois Dept. of Public Welfare. To help Chicago’s Chinese residents, Margaret established a medical practice in Chinatown. On weekdays, Margaret took care of patients at the Cook County Tuberculosis Hospital, and during the weekends she attended to her patients in Chinatown. She was revered by the Chinatown community, and in 1964, area residents successfully nominated her to the Senior Citizens Hall of Fame in Chicago.

Margaret Hie Ding Lin Park is less than a mile away from Chinatown, the community to which she devoted much of her life and professional energies.

Parking/Directions

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

Map & Facilities

Margaret Hie Ding Lin Basketball Courts - Outdoor

1735 S. State St.
Chicago, IL 60616
United States

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Margaret Hie Ding Lin Basketball Courts - Outdoor

1735 S. State St.
Chicago, IL 60616
United States

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