Oz Park facts for kids
Oz Park is a fun public park in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of North Side, Chicago. You can find it at 2021 North Burling Street, close to Lincoln and Webster. This park is special because it has many statues of characters from The Wizard of Oz. The famous book was written by L. Frank Baum, who used to be a reporter in Chicago. The park is open from 6 AM to 11 PM, and you can even bring your pets!
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Park History
In the 1950s, the area where Oz Park now stands needed a lot of help. A group called the Lincoln Park Conservation Association got permission to improve the community. In 1974, the Chicago Park District bought the land. They started building the park soon after.
L. Frank Baum, the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, lived in the Lincoln Park area in the 1890s. To remember him, fans of The Wizard of Oz would gather at the park. They held an "Oz Festival" every year to celebrate the famous book, movie, and author. The park was officially named Oz Park in 1976. The Oz Park Advisory Council raised money for sculptures. These sculptures, made by John Kearney, show the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, Scarecrow, and Dorothy with Toto.
Park Features
This park is about 13.32 acres big. It has a walking and biking trail that is about 0.61 miles long. To fit the Wizard of Oz theme, the park's garden is called "The Emerald Garden." The playground is named "Dorothy's Playlot."
The Emerald Garden
The Emerald Garden is located at the corner of Webster and Larrabee. It has beautiful flowers that visitors can walk through. Volunteers from the Oz Park Advisory Council take care of these gardens.
Dorothy's Playlot
Dorothy's Playlot has swings and climbing equipment for kids to enjoy. While Dorothy is the main character of The Wizard of Oz, the playground is also named after Dorothy Melamerson. She was a retired gym teacher in Chicago. In 1994, Ms. Melamerson gave money to create an athletic field. This field has basketball courts, a volleyball court, and tennis courts.
In 1996 and 1997, a lot of her donation was used to fix up the athletic field. The field was named Melamerson Athletic Field in her honor. In 2006, more money was given for improvements to Dorothy's Playlot. By 2007, the playlot had a new rubber surface. Several pieces of play equipment were also replaced.
Oz Character Sculptures
After Oz Park was built and named, an artist named John Kearney was asked to create sculptures. An elderly woman wanted him to make statues of the main characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She passed away before the project was approved. About 30 years later, the original plans were found. In the early 1990s, Kearney was asked to create the first statue. He ended up making four sculptures in total. These include The Tin Man, The Cowardly Lion, The Scarecrow, and Dorothy & Toto.
The Tin Man
The Tin Man sculpture was put in place in October 1995. It stands at the northeast corner of the park. This statue is made from old car parts. This is a special style that artist John Kearney often used. A plaque below the statue welcomes you to Oz Park. It says the Tin Man is a "heartfelt salute to the community."
The Cowardly Lion
The Cowardly Lion statue joined Oz Park in June 2001. It is located in the southeast corner of the park. Unlike the Tin Man, this statue is made of bronze. Bronze was poured into wax molds to create the lion's shape. A plaque below the statue thanks the donors who made it possible.
The Scarecrow
The statue of the Scarecrow arrived in the park in June 2005. It stands close behind the Tin Man statue in the Emerald City Gardens. The Scarecrow statue is also made of bronze, just like the Cowardly Lion. The plaque below it is very similar to the Lion's. It also thanks the generous donors.
Dorothy and Toto
The statue of Dorothy and Toto was added to the park in May 2007.
This statue is on the west side of the park, near "Dorothy's Playlot." It is also made of bronze, using the same method as the Cowardly Lion and Scarecrow. The plaque below the statue thanks the donors. It says Dorothy and Toto became "citizens of Oz Park" in May 2007.
Park Events and Programs
Oz Park has hosted many fun public events. Some popular past events include:
- Movies in the Park - Oz Park is one of many Chicago parks that shows free outdoor movies on summer nights.
- Pumpkin Patch - This is a family-friendly event held every year. Kids can choose and decorate pumpkins.
- Art Therapy Connection's Chalk Festival - Children, adults, and artists create amazing art using chalk.
The Chicago Park District also offers many programs for children at Oz Park. These include day camps, golf lessons, "Kicker's Clinic," and t-ball.
Images for kids
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Children playing on the sidewalk by the park in 1989
