The land has sat vacant, lined with fences, for more than 15 years. In 1987, Mayor Harold Washington set aside more than 3 acres of land northeast of Lake Shore Drive and the Chicago River, to be named in honor of the city's first non-native settler. Financial, developmental and artistic issues have kept the peninsula fenced off and unused. Now, four years after park proponents came together to champion DuSable Park, the park district's $55 million capital plan set for a vote in May includes funds for the park's design drawings. Additionally, establishing the park is key to completing the vision of Daniel Burnham to make the entire lakefront a series of parks accessible to the public.