New COVID-19 memorial unveiled in Illinois Medical District
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The new COVID-19 memorial by artist Casey Schachner, located in the Illinois Medical District. Photo: Carrie Sepherd/Axios
A new monument in the Illinois Medical District honors essential workers, first responders and victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why it matters: Located in the center of the IMD on Chicago's Near West Side, the memorial anchors a public park that invites health care workers, patients and community members to rest and reflect.
What they're saying: "Today, we stand witness to the only monument in the world that honors frontline and essential workers, remembers those whom we lost to COVID-19, and celebrates our resilience in the face of adversity," Illinois Medical District Commission CEO and executive director Allyson Hansen said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Zoom in: The sculpture by Casey Schachner transforms the coronavirus into a dandelion puff, changing the symbol of illness into hope and rebirth. The "spikes" on the virus feature LED lights that illuminate the memorial.
- Five concrete benches, accentuated by steel globes, surround the sculpture.
State of play: The monument anchors a park bounded by Damen Avenue, Polk Street and Ogden Avenue, that will include green space, a fitness track, a healing garden and a play area.
- Each area of the park provides a space for social, mental and physical health.
What they said: "As a former healthcare worker myself, I know the weight that our medical community carried during those hard times," said state Sen. Lakesia Collins, whose 5th District includes the district.
- "This statue stands as a beacon, lighting up this park, honoring those we lost, and reminding generations to come of the courage, the resilience, and the profound love that our healthcare heroes demonstrated when we needed them the most."
By the numbers: The monument and park cost $4.95 million, with more than $4 million of that from the state.
- The district employs more than 30,000 health care workers, educators, researchers, and facility staff, and more than 90,000 people pass through the district daily, Collins added.
What's next: The COVID-19 memorial is now open, and the park is slated to be finished this fall, an Illinois Medical District Commission spokesperson told Axios.