Remember Riverview Park? Picture it: a beloved Chicago amusement park. It thrilled locals from 1904 to 1967. Now, let’s turn our attention to the Riverview Sculpture.
This vibrant sculpture stands near the 19th District Police Station. Its address is 2452 West Belmont Avenue. The station stands on land once part of Riverview Park.
Jerry Peart created the Riverview Sculpture in 1980. Peart was born in 1948. He is known for his outdoor works in the Chicago area. He likes to mix colors. This creates a specific mood in his art.
The Riverview Sculpture is crafted from rolled aluminum plate. Peart cut and welded it in his Chicago studio. Then, he assembled the sculpture on site. Its circular arc and bright colors evoke the old amusement park. Think of the rollercoasters and carnival rides. Riverview Park had over 100 of them.
The Riverview Sculpture is seventeen feet tall. It features curvilinear forms and vivid enamel colors. The City of Chicago Percent for Art program commissioned it. Many Chicagoans feel nostalgic for Riverview Amusement Park. Peart named the sculpture after it.
Peart’s sculptures often invite interaction. People tend to climb or play on them. The Riverview Sculpture has no barriers. This encourages public engagement.
Riverview Park covered 74 acres. Its north end was at North Western and West Belmont Avenues. William Schmidt founded it in 1904. The Schmidt family operated it throughout its existence.
Riverview was famous for its wooden roller coaster, The Bobs. Other popular coasters included The Comet and The Silver Flash. Aladdin’s Castle was a classic fun house. The Beach Boys even mentioned the park in their song “Amusement Parks U.S.A.”
Urban myths surround Riverview Park’s closing in 1967. Some claim a seedy atmosphere led to its demise. However, black publications reported racism against black patrons. A “Dunk the Nigger” attraction existed. The NAACP successfully lobbied to shut it down.
White flight and financial decline contributed to the park’s closure. The land became more valuable than the park itself. Today, Riverview Plaza shopping center and DePaul College Prep High School occupy the grounds. Also, the Chicago Police Area 3 Detective Division is here.
The Riverview Carousel now operates at Six Flags Over Georgia. It was the only ride saved. Bally Manufacturing and Williams Electronics created pinball machines inspired by Riverview Park rides. Fireball, Comet, and FunHouse are examples.
The Riverview Sculpture stands as a colorful tribute. It reminds us of Riverview Park’s joyful past. It connects the present to fond memories of Chicago’s amusement park era.