Midway Plaisance

Midway Plaisance Park is a unique public space located on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois. This linear park stretches one mile long and 220 yards wide, connecting Washington Park on the west to Jackson Park on the east. It runs along 59th and 60th streets, effectively dividing the Hyde Park community area to the north from the Woodlawn community area to the south.

Originally conceived as part of the Chicago boulevard system, the Midway Plaisance gained prominence during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. It served as the entertainment section of the fair, hosting popular amusements including the world's first Ferris Wheel. This historic event lent the term "midway" to areas at county and state fairs and amusement parks with sideshows.

The park's design has evolved over time. Initially envisioned by Frederick Law Olmsted to include a Venetian canal down its center, the plan was never fully realized. Instead, the Midway features a fosse, a lawn-covered depression where the canal would have been. The landscape includes long vistas and avenues of trees, reflecting part of Olmsted's original vision.

Today, Midway Plaisance Park serves as a multi-functional space for the community and the adjacent University of Chicago. It offers various recreational opportunities throughout the year. In winter, parts of the grounds are transformed for ice skating, while in warmer months, the park's fields are used for activities like soccer and frisbee.

Recent improvements to the park include the development of new gardens on the north side, such as the Winter Garden and the Readers' Garden. The park also features an ice rink located in the center, just west of S. Woodlawn Ave., which stands on the exact location of the historic Ferris wheel from the 1893 exposition.

Midway Plaisance Park not only provides recreational space but also serves as a significant historical landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, recognizing its importance in Chicago's urban landscape and American cultural history.