History of the Park District of Oak Park

The Park District was established. The first elected Board of Commissioners included Henry A. Taylor, Harold H. Rockwell, Arthur D. Rehm, Edward McCready and George A. Miller

Land for Scoville Park was purchased for $135,637 from Charles B. Scoville. The park was designed by Jens Jensen, an internationally known landscape artist. The Scoville Mansion, built by James Scoville in the 1880’s, was demolished after the Park District purchased the property. The World War I Memorial is now located in this exact location.

Land was purchased from the Scoville Family for Ridgeland Common. At that time Ridgeland Common was known as the “Old Cricket Grounds.” Within a few years, the Park District purchased the block of land to the west of the Old Cricket Grounds.

Known for many years as “South Park” or “South Common”, Rehm Park was purchased for $27,940. The park was designed the following year. In 1941, the park was named after Park Commissioner Arthur Rehm.

Land was purchased for “North Park”, later named after Commissioner Henry A. Taylor. “North Park” was designed by Jens Jensen in 1914.

A “Small Parks Commission” was established by Village Board to select playground sites in Oak Park. Appointed commissioners included George R. Hemingway, Edward H. Duff, G. Whittier Gale and James P. Willing.

Land for Field Park, Andersen Park, Carroll Park, Stevenson Park and Longfellow Park was purchased and named after famous children’s authors. Field Park, originally called Woodbine Playground, was named after Eugene Field. Andersen Park, originally called Watts playground, was named after Hans Christian Andersen. Carroll Park, originally called Lincoln Playground, was named after Lewis Carroll. Stevenson Park, originally called Pyott Playground was named after Robert Louis Stevenson. Longfellow Park is named after poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

Land at the southwest corner of Maple Avenue and Randolph Street was also purchased for a “Junior Playground.” This property was sold to Elizabeth Charlton Day Nursery in 1925.

Playground Board established by Village Board to equip, maintain and operate playgrounds.

Residents petitioned for purchase of land at Harlem, Roosevelt, Maple and Lexington from the railroad. Now known as Maple Park, this property was purchased for $34,800. Later, the Park District sold the lot at the corner of Roosevelt and Harlem for $15,000. The park received its original name, Perennial Gardens, from the almost 400 varieties of perennials which were planted there.

Four playgrounds officially opened at Stevenson, Andersen, Carroll and at the “Junior Playground.”

Land at Oak Park Avenue and Jackson was acquired for $36,250 and developed with circular plantings around a skating rink. This park was named Fox Park in honor of Commissioner William H. Fox some time later.

Toboggan slides were erected at Ridgeland Common, Longfellow, and Rehm Parks and skating ponds were built at Ridgeland, Rehm, Maple, & Fox Parks.

Baseball was the most popular recreational pursuit followed by tennis.

Randolph Street “station” median strip properties from the old electric railroad, known as “No Man’s Land,” was assumed by the Park District.

Median strips on Kenilworth between Division and North Avenue, as well as on LeMoyne between Austin and Harvey were also acquired by the Park District.

Previously used as a refuse dump, the property on Greenfield including a sled hill was purchased for parkland at a cost of $51,405. Originally called “Green Fields,” the park was later named after Park District Superintendent and Commissioner Gustaf Lindberg in