Vivian Gordon Harsh Park (Chicago, Illinois)
USA /
Illinois /
Chicago /
Chicago, Illinois /
South Oakenwald Avenue, 4458-70
World
/ USA
/ Illinois
/ Chicago
park, murder site
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This small playground is located in the Kenwood Community. The park features a water feature, swings and playground.
The Chicago Park District began creating this park in 1960. It was officially named Beach Park in 1974, when a number of properties were named for trees and plants. In 2005 it was renamed Vivian Gordon Harsh Park as part of an effort by the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners to recognize the contributions of Chicago women. Vivian Gordon Harsh (1890 – 1960) was a librarian who established research collections related to African American history well before the public became aware of this topic and its importance. Ms. Harsh received a degree from Simmons College Library School in Boston and in 1924, she was the first African American ever appointed as the head librarian for a branch of the Chicago Public Library. Many prominent African Americans believed that blacks on Chicago’s south side were underserved by the library system, and in the 1920s, a movement was underway to open a full service branch in Bronzeville. Philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, who agreed to help finance the new library, awarded Harsh a traveling scholarship that allowed her to visit African American collections in other cities. The branch opened in 1932. It was named for Dr. George Cleveland Hall, Chief of Staff at Provident Hospital, who had served on the Chicago Public Library board of directors and pushed for the south side branch library to be built. Harsh continued to work for the Chicago Public Library for more than twenty-five years. This park is less than a mile from Harsh’s childhood home was located at 536 E. 44th Street.
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/harsh-park/
The park was also the site of the murder of Hadiya Pendleton, a student a nearby King College Prep, who was tragically killed inside the park a week after performing at President Obama's Second Term Inauguration Ceremony. The event sparked national news and First Lady Michelle Obama whose Chicago home is nearby attended the funeral.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Hadiya_Pendleton
The Chicago Park District began creating this park in 1960. It was officially named Beach Park in 1974, when a number of properties were named for trees and plants. In 2005 it was renamed Vivian Gordon Harsh Park as part of an effort by the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners to recognize the contributions of Chicago women. Vivian Gordon Harsh (1890 – 1960) was a librarian who established research collections related to African American history well before the public became aware of this topic and its importance. Ms. Harsh received a degree from Simmons College Library School in Boston and in 1924, she was the first African American ever appointed as the head librarian for a branch of the Chicago Public Library. Many prominent African Americans believed that blacks on Chicago’s south side were underserved by the library system, and in the 1920s, a movement was underway to open a full service branch in Bronzeville. Philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, who agreed to help finance the new library, awarded Harsh a traveling scholarship that allowed her to visit African American collections in other cities. The branch opened in 1932. It was named for Dr. George Cleveland Hall, Chief of Staff at Provident Hospital, who had served on the Chicago Public Library board of directors and pushed for the south side branch library to be built. Harsh continued to work for the Chicago Public Library for more than twenty-five years. This park is less than a mile from Harsh’s childhood home was located at 536 E. 44th Street.
www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/harsh-park/
The park was also the site of the murder of Hadiya Pendleton, a student a nearby King College Prep, who was tragically killed inside the park a week after performing at President Obama's Second Term Inauguration Ceremony. The event sparked national news and First Lady Michelle Obama whose Chicago home is nearby attended the funeral.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Hadiya_Pendleton
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivian_G._Harsh
Nearby cities:
Coordinates: 41°48'50"N 87°35'43"W
- Washington Park 2.1 km
- Jackson Park 2.4 km
- Midway Plaisance 3 km
- Meigs Field (site) 5.8 km
- Northerly Island 6.1 km
- Burnham Park 6.1 km
- Ping Tom Memorial Park 6.2 km
- Museum Campus 6.4 km
- Grant Park 8.6 km
- Douglas Park 11 km
- Kenwood 0.5 km
- Morgan Shoal 1.3 km
- Oakland 1.3 km
- Grand Boulevard 1.9 km
- Bronzeville 2.3 km
- 31st Street Harbor 2.6 km
- Lake Meadows Apartments 2.8 km
- Douglas 2.9 km
- IIT Residential area 3.4 km
- Illinois Institute of Technology 3.5 km