Sally Metzler

Stories

Chicago opens COVID-19 monument, first new Illinois Medical District park since 1946

Led the monument project to completion under the Hektoen Institute of Medicine

Chicago opened IMD Park on Tuesday, Oct. 27, with a ribbon-cutting for a one-acre, triangle-shaped park at Ogden Avenue, Damen Avenue and Polk Street. Officials say it is the first new public park in the Illinois Medical District in decades. Its centerpiece, the Global COVID-19 Memorial Monument, has three stainless-steel dandelion stalks representing honor, remembrance and resilience.

Updated Nov 1

Notable Quotes

"Now Chicago will be the physical place where the world honors front-line workers. If that's not a source of pride, I don't know what is."

from Chicago opens COVID-19 monument, first new Illinois Medical District park since 1946 · Updated Nov 1

"I woke up one morning thinking, 'Do people realize we are living history right now?' I knew this was momentous, and we need to really remember this."

from Chicago opens COVID-19 monument, first new Illinois Medical District park since 1946 · Updated Nov 1