Wind Phone Offers Grief Memorial in Evanston
A disconnected phone booth at Canal Shores Golf Course provides a space for visitors to speak with deceased loved ones.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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A disconnected phone booth installed at the 11th hole of Canal Shores Golf Course allows visitors to express grief by speaking to lost loved ones. The project was funded by the family of Oliver Leopold, who passed away in December 2021.
Why it matters
The installation serves as a physical outlet for processing complex emotions, mirroring a concept that originated in Japan following the 2011 tsunami. It provides a dedicated sanctuary for residents to find comfort and connection.
There are currently over 400 wind phones established throughout the United States, with at least 12 of these memorials located in Illinois. The booth is situated at the 11th hole of the Canal Shores Golf Course.
The players
Oliver Leopold
He is the individual whose memory is honored by the installation of the Evanston wind phone following his death in 2021.
Mary Leopold
She is a family member of Oliver Leopold who contributed painted rocks to the memorial and is preparing to publish a book about grief.
Canal Shores Golf Course
This local golf facility serves as the public host site for the wind phone memorial in Evanston.
The details
Visitors use the disconnected phone receiver to conduct one-sided conversations as a method of processing loss. The memorial area also features a collection of hand-painted rocks created by Mary Leopold, who intends to release a book titled The Landscape of After in 2026.
Timeline
The original wind phone concept was created in Japan in 2011.
Oliver Leopold died in December 2021.
Mary Leopold is scheduled to publish a book titled The Landscape of After in 2026.
Market Landscape
The Evanston installation follows the precedent set by the 2011 Japanese tsunami wind phone memorial by adapting the concept for local grief support. This project expands a growing national trend of providing dedicated, unconventional spaces for public mourning.
The memorial is open to the public at the 11th hole of the golf course for anyone seeking a space to process personal grief. Visitors can contribute to the reflective environment or simply use the phone as a private tool for emotional expression.
The takeaway
Memorials like the wind phone provide a tangible way for individuals to navigate the grieving process in a communal setting. Families can implement similar traditions of shared remembrance to help reconcile with the loss of a loved one.
Further reading
Learn more about local site developments at the Evanston Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS News.
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Do you believe public memorial spaces like wind phones are helpful for processing personal grief?
