Chicago Park District Board Receives Proposal to Rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Opens 45-Day Public Comment Period

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners received proposed code changes that would rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the district’s code, starting a 45-day public comment period before the board votes on the measure.

The board heard the proposal during its regular monthly meeting on October 14 at the ComEd Recreation Center at Jane Addams Park, 1434 S. Loomis Street. The changes would amend Chapter V of the Chicago Park District Code, which lists the holidays observed by the district.

The Park District said the rename would recognize the contributions of Indigenous people and advance understanding and kinship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents of Chicago. The district said the change would also correct narratives of erasure, appropriation, and replacement by more accurately reflecting the history and contributions of Indigenous communities.

Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Carlos Ramirez-Rosa said the district manages nearly 9,000 acres of parkland and has a responsibility to recognize the people who first cared for that land.

“As the caretakers of Chicago’s nearly 9,000 acres of parkland, it is critical that we acknowledge and celebrate the original stewards of our public park spaces,” Ramirez-Rosa said. He also credited district staff and community and cultural partners for work honoring Native American histories.

The proposal opens a 45-day public comment period. Residents can submit feedback during that period, after which the board can vote to approve or reject the amendment.

The Park District said the public can comment on the proposed code changes through its Chicago Park District Code page.

The district has already taken other steps to recognize Indigenous communities. In 2023, the Park District established a land acknowledgement. Since then, it has worked with its Indigenous Advisory Council and cultural partners to add events that celebrate Indigenous tribes.

At the same meeting, the board also approved a cooperative purchasing contract with Chicago United Industries LLC for diesel-powered equipment used in the district’s forestry operations. The Park District said it cares for more than 250,000 trees and needs specialized equipment to handle storm damage, diseased or compromised trees, and routine pruning.

The board also heard a presentation about youth athletes and the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park. The facility opened in 2021 and includes nearly 140,000 square feet of space, the only hydraulically banked indoor track in Illinois, eight sprint lanes, and seating for 3,500 people.

The Park District said the center gave Chicago student track athletes a place to train indoors after years of practicing in school hallways during winter months.

The next step in the holiday rename is the 45-day comment period, after which the board will decide whether to adopt the code change.