The Tin Man (1995) by John Kearney installed in Oz Park. CC Image courtesy of ikrichter on Flickr
Chicago is as much a city of parks as it is a city of neighborhoods. The Chicago Parks District maintains a whopping 580 parks, not to mention 26 indoor pools, 51 outdoor pools, and 26 miles of lakefront, including 23 swimming beaches.
The Cowardly Lion (2001) by John Kearney installed in Oz Park. CC Image courtesy of Mysealia on Flickr.
While some parks are known for their major public art projects, namely Grant Park and Millennium Park, others contain lesser known work but are worth the visit just the same. Nestled just a few blocks away from Chicago’s largest public park, Lincoln Park, sits the petite, yet serene, Oz Park. Founded in 1976, the park was named in honor of L. Frank Baum, who penned the classic tale The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in 1899 while living just west of where the park stands today.
Scarecrow (2005) by John Kearney, installed in Oz Park. CC Image courtesy of Mysealia on Flickr.
The park contains standard amenities such as a playground, basketball courts, and baseball fields. What is most delightful, however, about this little park are the statues dedicated to Baum’s most famous characters: the Cowardly Lion, Tin man, Scarecrow, and Dorothy with her little dog, Toto.
Dorothy and Toto (2007) by John Kearney installed in Oz Park. CC Image courtesy of Mysealia on Flickr.
Artist John Kearney first created the Tin Man sculpture in 1995, and steadily added the other characters over the years, concluding with the much-loved Dorothy statue in 2007. The sculptures can be found at each corner of the park.
What: Wizard of Oz Sculptures
Who: John Kearney
Where: Oz Park, 2021 N. Burling Street