Oz Park

Created in 1976 as part of a larger neighborhood revitalization project, Oz Park is a tribute to renowned children's author and former Lincoln Park resident L. Frank Baum, creator of the Oz book series. Statues of beloved characters from the Land of Oz, designed by local artist John Kearney, are scattered around the park for the enjoyment of residents and tourists alike. There is also a green space called the Emerald Gardens and a playground called Dorothy's Playlot.

The Lincoln Park neighborhood was initially part of Lake View Township, which was annexed to Chicago in 1889. Over the decades, it became a popular home for incoming immigrants, especially Kashubians, a West Slavic people from the Polish region of Pomerania. They brought their distinct culture and language, sharing their traditions with their German immigrant neighbors and giving Lincoln Park a reputation as one of the city's "Polish Patches." However, the neighborhood struggled during the Great Depression and deteriorated over the following decades.

In 1954, the Lincoln Park Conservation Association was founded to prevent the neighborhood and its historic homes from deteriorating further. Using urban renewal funds, the LPCA quickly set about revitalizing Lincoln Park, but there was more to this process than simply keeping buildings from deteriorating anymore. New life had to be given to the neighborhood, or it would simply decline all over again. The LPCA accomplished this by opening a series of public parks, the most famous of which is Oz Park. Oz is a tribute to author L. Frank Baum, the renowned author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and the beloved Oz series, who had lived in Lincoln Park before becoming a famous writer.

Around the park are four statues created in honor of Baum and the Oz books. The statues of the books' beloved main characters, including Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man, and the Cowardly Lion, were all designed by John Kearney, a local artist. Over the years, the park has given a safe space for residents and tourists alike. Today, Oz Park is credited with much of the revival of the Lincoln Park neighborhood, which is today considered a well-off part of the city.

Capturing Childhood Whimsy at Chicago's Oz Park, A Little Time and a Keyboard. January 31st, 2021. Accessed March 18th, 2023. https://www.alittletimeandakeyboard.com/2021/01/Oz-Park-Chicago.html.

Oz Park, Atlas Obscura. Accessed March 18th, 2023. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/oz-park.

Lincoln Park, Chicago, Wikipedia. Accessed March 18th, 2023. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Park,_Chicago.