Seneca Park & Eli M. Schulman Playground

Seneca Park began as the eastern portion of Lake Shore Playground in 1907, but in 1915, an armory was built in the middle of the park, permanently separating Seneca Park from the rest of Lake Shore Playground. The park features two sculptors by nationally-recognized artists: Ben, a bronze horse created by sculptor Debra Butterfield, and Farmer’s Dream, an abstract piece by sculptor Richard Hunt. In October of 1988, the Chicago Park District designated half of the park as the site of a playground in memory of Eli M. Schulman, a local restaurateur and founder of The Eli’s Cheesecake Company. On May 7, 1990, Governor Thompson, Mayor Daley, and Eli Schulman’s son, Marc, officially dedicated and opened the Eli M. Schulman Playground. Today, Seneca Park & Eli M. Schulman Playground provide a safe and quiet escape from city-life for the people of Chicago.