“Attractive nuisance” is a legal doctrine that refers to property features that attract children and could cause injury. After attending a meeting at Whittier Elementary School concerning the proposed Percy Julian Streetscape on Chicago Avenue from Austin to East Avenue, I am convinced we are immersed in a fool’s errand that will ultimately fall short of its goal to honor a great man.
Banners, pillars, and interactive screens placed on a narrow parkway in close proximity to a heavily trafficked thoroughfare is not a safe, viable solution. The Percy Julian home sits on a huge corner lot with ample room for a fun, interactive park that would not detract from the view of the home or cause any potential danger.
Percy Julian, our first African American millionaire, invested in his gorgeous property and worked tirelessly in a violent post-Jim Crow America to keep his family safe and prosperous in his new Oak Park home. Faith, the daughter of Percy Julian, who still resides in the home, has expressed a preference that the home be used as a “museum, gathering place, and a hub of inspiration” according to a 2022 article in Chemical and Engineering News. She has over 80 boxes of Percy Julian documents in the home.
The birthplace of Hemingway and the Home & Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright were preserved through foundations. We need to dedicate our efforts to a Percy Julian Foundation that will help restore the majestic home of our exceptional local hero and inspire future generations in his spirit.
A park on the lot could feature benches, a garden that addresses Percy Julian’s horticultural endeavors, interactive screens that explain his scientific advancements, and pillars that inform and inspire scientific curiosity and encourage community activism.
The budget for the streetscape is still unsettled, but the village has put aside one million dollars to help preserve the property, which remains vulnerable.
We need to honor Percy Julian with the dignity and perseverance that truly reflects his legacy. The suggestions presented at the meeting would not honor Percy Julian. But they would add unsightly clutter and obstruction to commercial as well as private property along more than a mile at an undetermined and unnecessary expense.
The village board and community need to focus on the preservation of the home and the development of a museum. A streetscape is not the answer. It may even be an unattractive nuisance.
Naomi Hildner
Oak Park