“Suitcase Mary,” they called her. That’s how we remember Mary Bartelme Park. It stands as a testament to a remarkable woman. This 2.71-acre park blends history with modern design.
Mary Bartelme Park was once the site of an old infirmary. Now, three diagonal paths intersect. These paths create distinct zones within the park. You will discover a fountain plaza here. Also, there is a children’s play area and a sunken dog park. An open lawn, a viewing hill, and an enclosed seating area are here too.
In 2006, the Chicago Park District acquired this land. It came from the University of Illinois. The park was officially named in 2010. It honors Mary Bartelme. She was Illinois’s first woman judge. Bartelme devoted her life to reforming the court system. She focused on the treatment of women and children.
Born near Fulton and Halsted Streets, Bartelme was a Chicago Public School teacher. She became one of the city’s first women lawyers. Admitted to the Illinois Bar in 1894, she became Public Guardian of Cook County three years later. Bartelme helped establish America’s first juvenile court in 1899. In 1923, she was elected as a judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County.
At the fountain plaza, five stainless steel gates greet you. They stand at the northwest entry. These gates act as a gateway to the park. Each gate emits a fine mist of vaporized water. It uses only three gallons a minute. The cooling mist is perfect for hot Chicago days.
The children’s play area offers ADA accessibility. It allows for inventive play. This is achieved without traditional play equipment. Dogs can enjoy their unique sunken park. It features a continuously filling dog bowl. Ramps, ledges, and artificial canine grass offer exercise.
The viewing hill rises six feet high. It provides a stunning view. See the entire park and the Chicago skyline. The enclosed seating area is surrounded by native plants. It creates a contemplative space. Weathering steel walls raise the park’s largest planter beds. Architectural terracotta artifacts are embedded in the seat walls. These salvaged pieces reference the site’s history.
Bartelme donated her own house to establish “Mary’s Club”. It was a group home for girls. Here, they could be safe and learn life skills. She established three “Mary’s Club” homes. One was for African-American girls. She also formed a program to provide suitcases. These suitcases were filled with clothing and toiletries. This helped young women leaving the court system. It helped them start respectable lives.
Mary Bartelme Park captures stormwater. The main paths are permeable pavers. This water is stored on-site. Mary Bartelme’s legacy lives on here. It reminds us of her dedication. She helped those in need. The park is a space for everyone. It is a place for reflection and enjoyment.