Chicago’s vibrant street culture seamlessly extends to its beautiful lakefront, creating unique spaces where city life meets the tranquility of the beach. One such location is Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and Park, a place that embodies both the energetic spirit of Chicago’s streets and the relaxing atmosphere of its beaches. Renamed in 2015 to honor the remarkable Margaret T. Burroughs, this 29.75-acre space within Burnham Park is more than just a beach; it’s a testament to a legacy of art, culture, and community engagement.
Margaret T. Burroughs (1917-2010) was a true Chicago icon. An artist, poet, educator, and historian, her influence resonates throughout the city’s cultural landscape. Born in Louisiana and raised in Chicago, Burroughs dedicated her life to fostering African American art and history. She co-founded the South Side Community Art Center in the late 1930s, a pivotal institution supported by Eleanor Roosevelt, and later, with her husband Charles Burroughs, established the DuSable Museum of African American History in the early 1960s. This museum, one of the nation’s first dedicated to African American history, started in their home before moving to a larger location in Washington Park, becoming a cornerstone of Chicago’s cultural scene.
Burroughs’ commitment to Chicago extended to its parks. As a member of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners, appointed by Mayor Harold Washington in 1986, she championed the creation of cultural centers within parks and advocated for naming parks after significant Chicago women. Her vision helped shape Chicago’s parks into vibrant community hubs, reflecting the city’s diverse cultural tapestry.
The location of Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and Park itself has a rich history intertwined with Chicago’s urban development. Burnham Park, within which the beach and park reside, is a product of Daniel Burnham’s visionary 1909 Plan of Chicago. Burnham envisioned a grand lakefront for the city, and this park is a significant part of that dream realized.
In the early 20th century, Chicago’s beaches were limited and far from the south side. Necessity became the mother of invention, and residents began using a sandy strip near 31st Street as an informal bathing beach. This grassroots demand for lakefront access led to the approval of a massive $20 million project in 1920 to create an extensive lakefront park, built entirely on landfill. Burnham Park was officially named in 1927, and it even hosted the 1933-34 World’s Fair, “A Century of Progress,” showcasing Chicago’s dynamism on a global stage.
Improvements continued in the 1930s with funding from the Works Progress Administration (WPA), resulting in playfields, walkways, tennis and basketball courts, and the formalization of 31st Street Beach with a beach house. Recent shoreline reconstructions by the Army Corps of Engineers in the early 21st century have further enhanced Burnham Park, expanding green space and creating new harbor areas.
Margaret T. Burroughs Beach and Park stands as a symbol of Chicago’s commitment to both its street-level communities and its stunning lakefront. It is a place where the legacy of a remarkable woman intersects with the city’s ongoing story of urban development and its residents’ enduring connection to Lake Michigan. Visiting this beach and park offers a chance to experience the heart of Chicago’s Street And Beach culture, while honoring a figure who profoundly shaped the city’s artistic and cultural soul.
