City of Chicago Department of Planning and Development
03/18/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/18/2026 15:45
Open Space Impact Fee Funds Would Support Washington Park Memorial for Torture Victims
Open Space Impact Fee Funds Would Support Washington Park Memorial for Torture Victims
March 18, 2026
312.744.9267
The construction of the planned Chicago Torture Justice Memorial in Washington Park would be supported by $280,000 in Open Space Impact Fee (OSIF) funding through a proposal introduced to City Council today by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
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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