Chinatown in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Ping Tom

譚繼平

— 1935 - 1995 —

Ping Tom Marker, Side One image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 28, 2025

1. Ping Tom Marker, Side One

Inscription.

Ping Tom. 譚繼平. , [English text on the north-facing side of the base:] , Ping Tom Memorial Park was named in honor of the leading force behind its creation, Chinatown's most noted civic leader, Ping Tom. A lifelong resident of Chinatown, Ping Tom became president of several businesses in the community after earning degrees in Economics and Law from Northwestern University. In 1984, he and other business leaders formed the Chinese American Development Corporation. This private real estate firm transformed a 32-acre rail yard site into Chinatown Square, a one hundred million dollar residential and commercial expansion of Chinatown. Ping Tom was Founding President of the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, a past President and Director of the Chinese American Civic Council, and an advisory board member of the Chinese American Service League. Ping Tom served as trustee for a number of important civic and cultural institutions He was also an advisor to US Senators, Illinois Governors and Chicago Mayors. , , Sculptor: , Liao Huilan. , [Chinese language text on the south-facing side of the base:] , 譚繼平紀念公園的命名,是為了紀念這個公園的發起及創始人,華埠杰出的華領譚繼平先生。譚繼平先生,其父譚贊追隨孫中山先生革命為民國功臣。譚繼平終身在華埠居住,畢業于西北大學,獲經濟及法律學位後,在社區內任數家商業機構的總裁。一九八四年,他與其他商界領袖組織了華埠發展有限公司。這家私營的地產公司將三十二英畝鐵路車廠發展成華埠廣場, 成為華埠一項價值一億美元的住宅及商業發展計劃。一九八三年,譚繼平先生創辦芝城華商會及擔任會長之職。他曾是中美協進會的會長及董事,及華人諮詢服務「處顧問委員會會員。此外,譚繼平先生也是數個重要民間及文化機構的信托董事曾任美國國會參議員亞裔顧問,伊利諾州政府亞裔顧問及芝加哥市政府亞裔顧問。中國雕塑家: , 廖慧蘭.

[English text on the north-facing side of the base:]
Ping Tom Memorial Park was named in honor of the leading force behind its creation, Chinatown's most noted civic leader, Ping Tom. A lifelong resident of Chinatown, Ping Tom became president of several businesses in the community after earning degrees in Economics and Law from Northwestern University. In 1984, he and other business leaders formed the Chinese American Development Corporation. This private real estate firm transformed a 32-acre rail yard site into Chinatown Square, a one hundred million dollar residential and commercial expansion of Chinatown. Ping Tom was Founding President of the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, a past President and Director of the Chinese American Civic Council, and an advisory board member of the Chinese American Service League. Ping Tom served as trustee for a number of important civic and cultural institutions He was also an advisor to US Senators, Illinois Governors and Chicago Mayors.

Sculptor:
Liao Huilan
[Chinese language text on the south-facing side of the base:]
譚繼平紀念公園的命名,是為了紀念這個公園的發起及創始人,華埠杰出的華領譚繼平先生。譚繼平先生,其父譚贊追隨孫中山先生革命為民國功臣。譚繼平終身在華埠居住,畢業于西北大學,獲經濟及法律學位後,在社區內任數家商業機構的總裁。一九八四年,他與其他商界領袖組織了華埠發展有限公司。這家私營的地產公司將三十二英畝鐵路車廠發展成

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華埠廣場, 成為華埠一項價值一億美元的住宅及商業發展計劃。一九八三年,譚繼平先生創辦芝城華商會及擔任會長之職。他曾是中美協進會的會長及董事,及華人諮詢服務「處顧問委員會會員。此外,譚繼平先生也是數個重要民間及文化機構的信托董事曾任美國國會參議員亞裔顧問,伊利諾州政府亞裔顧問及芝加哥市政府亞裔顧問。中國雕塑家:
廖慧蘭

Erected 2005 by Chinese American Development Corporation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists:

Ping Tom Marker, Side Two image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 28, 2025

2. Ping Tom Marker, Side Two

Asian Americans • Industry & Commerce • Political Subdivisions. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.

Location. 41° 51.417′ N, 87° 38.095′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Chinatown. It can be reached from 19th Street near Wells Street. The memorial is in Ping Tom Memorial Park, just south of the park's pavilion near the Chicago River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1700 South Wentworth Avenue, Chicago IL 60616, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: All As One Mural (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Ping Tom Memorial Park (about 500 feet away); Laura Cha-Ya Liu (about 700 feet away); Chinese American Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Nine Dragon Wall in Chicago's Chinatown (approx. 0.3 miles away); Confucius (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hilliard Towers Apartments (approx. 0.4 miles away); Hilliard Apartments (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Nine Dragon Wall in Chicago’s Chinatown (was approx. 0.3 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Regarding Ping Tom.

Ping Tom Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 28, 2025

3. Ping Tom Marker

The youngest of eight children, Ping Tom grew up in Chinatown and attended Chicago-area schools his whole life, including a local grammar school in Chinatown, high school at the elite Francis W. Parker School in Lincoln Park, and Northwestern University. He led and/or owned a variety of businesses based in Chicago's Chinatown and was an active civic leader, including in the creation of this park along the Chicago River. He died in 1995 of pancreatic cancer.

Also see . . . Chicago Park District: Tom (Ping) Memorial Park.

Excerpt: "The park was named in honor of the leading force behind its creation, Chinatown's most noted civic leader, Ping Tom (1935-1995). A lifelong resident of Chinatown, Ping Tom formed the Chinese American Development Corporation in 1984. The private real estate firm transformed a 32-acre rail yard site into Chinatown Square, a $100 million dollar residential and commercial expansion of Chinatown."

(Submitted on February 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Ping Tom bust image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 28, 2025

4. Ping Tom bust

The bust is next to the pavilion; the 18th Street Bridge is in the background, with Chicago's skyline behind that.

Ping Tom Memorial Park entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 28, 2025

5. Ping Tom Memorial Park entrance

The bust can be seen in the far background, left of center.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 28, 2025

6. Ping Tom bust

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 208 times since then and 19 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on February 28, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.