By relocating many city streets and associated traffic below the surface of Washington Park, a new relationship between the neighborhood and the great natural tableau is engendered.  Immediately behind the viewer, children at the Burke Public School can be free to wander safely in the park.  A new urban campus is created, promoting synergies between the Burke School, the Dyett High School for the Arts, and the DuSable Museum of African American History.

Here at the north end of the complex, a serene space is crafted above South Dr. Martin Luther King Drive.  A formal reflecting pool, known as the Plaza of the President, is situated here, with statuary remembering President Obama and Chicago’s favorite daughter, first lady Michelle Obama.  To the right, the Arboretum Visitors’ Center is noticeable.  It is a modest pavilion, with background information and curated exhibits regarding the historic parkland space.  Also visible in the distance, at left, is the northern gateway to the Arbor Promenades, the formal overture to the Presidential complex and an open celebration of the glory of the forest.