Chicago’s lakefront is a treasure trove of parks and beaches, and among them lies a gem with a rich history: 31st Street Beach, now officially known as Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and Park. This beautiful space, located in the Burnham Park area, offers more than just sun and sand; it’s a place imbued with the legacy of a remarkable Chicagoan.
Margaret T. Burroughs (1917-2010) was a true Chicago icon. Her life was dedicated to art, education, and community empowerment. Born in Louisiana and migrating to Chicago during the Great Migration, Burroughs became a driving force in the city’s cultural landscape. She honed her skills at Englewood High School and the Chicago Teachers College, later earning degrees from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and an honorary doctorate from Lewis University. Her commitment to nurturing artistic talent led her to establish the South Side Community Art Center in the late 1930s, a landmark institution dedicated by First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt in 1941. Burroughs’ influence extended across Chicago’s African American art scene for decades. Her own artwork graced national museums and galleries, and she championed cultural initiatives, even serving as art director for the Negro Hall of Fame.
Beyond art, Burroughs, alongside her husband Charles, pioneered the preservation of African American history. In the early 1960s, they founded the DuSable Museum of African American History from their very home in Bronzeville. This institution grew from humble beginnings to become a significant cultural landmark, moving to the historic Administration Building in Washington Park in 1973. Burroughs’ dedication to public service was further recognized when Mayor Harold Washington appointed her to the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners in 1986. In this role, she championed the creation of cultural centers within parks and advocated for naming parks after influential Chicago women, leaving an indelible mark on the city’s park system.
Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and Park is nestled within the expansive Burnham Park. Burnham Park itself is a sprawling 609-acre green space along Lake Michigan, a testament to Daniel Burnham’s visionary 1909 Plan of Chicago. Burnham envisioned a continuous lakefront park system, and this area is a key part of that dream realized. Interestingly, in the early 20th century, Chicago had limited beach access, particularly on the South Side. Residents began to unofficially use a sandy stretch between 25th and 29th Streets for recreation. This grassroots demand for lakefront access fueled the 1920 voter approval of $20 million to develop the extensive lakefront park system we enjoy today. The land that became Burnham Park, including 31st Street Beach, is entirely man-made, created from landfill. Named Burnham Park in 1927, it even hosted Chicago’s second World’s Fair, the Century of Progress, in 1933 and 1934.
The 31st Street Beach itself emerged as part of Burnham Park’s development. With funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the mid-1930s, the Chicago Park District undertook significant improvements to Burnham Park. These enhancements included further landfill expansion, playfields, walkways, tennis and basketball courts, and crucially, the creation of 31st Street Beach and its original beach house. As time passed, the lakefront infrastructure required maintenance. In the early 2000s, the Army Corps of Engineers initiated a reconstruction of the shoreline revetments from 26th to 56th Streets in Burnham Park. This project not only reinforced the shoreline but also allowed for the expansion of lakefront green space and the development of the new harbor just south of 31st Street Beach.
Today, 31st Street Beach, or Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and Park, stands as a testament to both Chicago’s forward-thinking urban planning and the legacy of a remarkable woman. Visiting this beach offers a chance to enjoy the beauty of Lake Michigan while reflecting on the contributions of Margaret T. Burroughs to Chicago’s art, culture, and community. It’s more than just a beach; it’s a place where history and recreation meet on the shores of Lake Michigan.
