Chicago’s Steelworkers Park Advisory Council is opening the naming process for Park 566, located at 7901 S. Farragut Drive on the city’s Southeast Side. The 70‑acre parcel, once part of the U.S. Steel South Works plant, has been transformed into a thriving birding destination and natural‑area park.
How to submit a name
Residents are asked to submit suggestions that reflect the area’s rich history, cultural significance, or thriving nature by Dec. 31. Submissions can be made through an online form provided by the advisory council.
Potential naming themes
Council president Brandi Kishner says the group is considering several themes. Some proposals aim to honor the labor heritage of the site, such as naming the park after Frank Lumpkin, a former steelworker and labor activist who championed workers’ rights on the Southeast Side. Other ideas seek to recognize the Indigenous peoples who lived in the region long before Chicago’s founding.
Guidelines and process
Under Chicago Park District naming guidelines, preference is given to names that reflect a neighborhood’s history or physical features. Parks may also be named after individuals who have been deceased for at least one year and made an extraordinary contribution to civic betterment. After the Dec. 31 deadline, the advisory council will review all suggestions, select a shortlist, and forward a recommendation to the Chicago Park District for final approval in early spring.
Park history and ecology
Park 566 sits on land formerly occupied by the South Works steel mill, which operated from 1882 until its closure in 1992. Remnants of the industrial past—scrap cement, slag piles, and a rugged shoreline—remain alongside restored prairie vegetation and native plantings. The park’s shoreline was recently identified as the most endangered of 63 lakefront segments evaluated by the Park District, prompting recommendations for improved access and recreational amenities.
Since 2017, the Park District has undertaken restoration work, including invasive‑species removal, controlled burns, and prairie planting, as documented in birder Dan Lory’s March State of the Birds report. The effort has helped the park rank 10th among Cook County birding hotspots, with 270 bird species recorded to date.
Future connections
Park 566 neighbors Steelworkers Park, another former steel‑plant site slated for a comprehensive improvement plan. A draft framework includes a bridge over the former North Slip, linking the two parks and enhancing lakefront connectivity.
“In my personal opinion, it’s the best park in Chicago,” Kishner said, emphasizing the community’s pride in the natural environment, wildlife, and lakefront views.
Residents who wish to influence the park’s future identity are encouraged to submit their name ideas by the Dec. 31 deadline.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
