City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
04/15/2026 | Press release | Archived content
Open Space Funds Will Support Washington Park Memorial for Torture Victims
Open Space Funds Will Support Washington Park Memorial for Torture Victims
April 15, 2026
312.744.9267
The construction of the planned Chicago Torture Justice Memorial in Washington Park will be supported by $280,000 in Open Space Impact Fee (OSIF) funding approved by City Council today.
Planned for a .54-acre site at 5520 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, the $4.6 million memorial will honor survivors of torture committed under the command of former Chicago Police Department officer John Barge. Plans also include a workforce development program for survivors of state violence, public art and educational opportunities for CPS students.
Land for the memorial was acquired through a City land write-down approved by City Council in December 2025.
The OSIF program allocates fees paid by residential construction projects for open space improvements that offset the impact of new residents on community parks and related resources.
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