Reyes (Guadalupe) Park

The Chicago Park District acquired this park property in 1970, originally naming it Rose Park. In 2004, the Board of Commissioners renamed the park in honor of Guadalupe Reyes as part of an initiative to recognize the contributions of Chicago women.

Guadalupe Reyes (1918- 2000) was an activist and community leader devoted to improving the lives of Chicago’s Hispanic residents. One of eight children born to a family of Mexican immigrants, Guadalupe Reyes had little formal education. Despite this, she devoted her life to improving the plight of children, seniors, and the disabled. After one of her eleven children suffered severe disabilities caused by spinal meningitis in the 1950s, she began a 50-year campaign addressing the needs of people with disabilities.

In 1969, Reyes established a school for children with developmental disabilities called Esperanza, which means hope in Spanish. In 1973, she founded El Valor, which means courage. This organization, still active today, provides many services to children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities. Reyes was also a leading force in the struggle to create Benito Juarez High School. She was active in the Pilsen Neighbor Community Council, and helped establish the Proyecto Maravialla, a Pilsen senior citizens’ center.

Reyes played a pivotal role in creating the Fiesta del Sol, an annual neighborhood festival in Pilsen. Over her lifetime, she received many honors and awards including a 1988 article about her achievements published in Reader’s Digest. Kraft Foods named a scholarship for her, and El Valor has a Children and Family Center named for her. It is appropriate to rename Rose Park in her honor as it lies in the heart of Pilsen.