Eugene Field Park
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Eugene Field Park
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Eugene Field Park
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| Location | Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States |
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| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | Henry J. Stockmans, Clarence Hatzfeld |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| MPS | Historic Resources of the Chicago Park District Multiple Property Submission |
| NRHP Reference # | 06000677 |
| Added to NRHP | August 8, 2006 |
Eugene Field Park is a public park located along the North Branch of the Chicago River in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago. The park was platted, designed and constructed between 1923 and 1930, with the Clarence Hatzfeld-designed field house completed in 1930 under the auspices of the Albany Park District. The Chicago Park District was consolidated in 1934 and took over Eugene Field Park. The park has seen numerous changes and improvements over the years. Eugene Field park has tennis courts, athletic fields, a playground, two bridges and 60 foot tall light tower. Together, the park, and its historic features were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
Eugene Field Park is located on 16 acres of land along the North Branch of the Chicago River in the Northwest Side neighborhood of Albany Park. The river cuts a diagonal path across the park site. Originally, the park was one of 2 parks commissioned by the now defunct Albany Park District. The Albany Park District made the first land purchases for what was then known as Central Park in 1923, but park improvements were not undertaken until 1925. The Albany Park District officially changed the park's name from Central Park to Eugene Field Park in November 1926. The park is named for Eugene Field, an important American writer; Field's name may have been selected through a contest held by the park district. He was born in St. Louis but lived in Chicago after 1883 where he worked as a journalist. Field is best known for his work as a children's poet (Wynken, Blynken, and Nod, Little Boy Blue).
By 1930 nearly half of Albany Park's population was Jewish, about 23,000 people. Much of Albany Park's Jewish population was concentrated in a small area bounded by the Chicago River (east), Pulaski Road (west), Foster Avenue (north) and Montrose Avenue (south). Eugene Field Park, along with Bohemian National Cemetery, was one of the several open tracts of land in that area. As such, Jewish residents of Albany Park would often use Eugene Field Park as a gathering point. The elderly would congregate at the park to play pinochle. For the younger generation, dances at Eugene Field Park's field house were a common event. Many Jewish organizations utilized Eugene Field Park's field house during the Depression years. Some of those groups include: Congregation B'nai Sholom, the Albany Park Hadassah, the Kimball Bryn Mawr Hebrew School, and the National Home for Jewish Children of Denver. Additionally, Christian groups used the facilities at the field house as well. Groups such as Ainsile Baptist Church, the Albany Park Presbyterian Church, and others used the field house throughout the 1930s. Other, non-religious, groups used the park's field house during this time too. For example, the 39th Ward Civic Club and Chicago Public Library; and the building was sometimes used by needy families trying to raise funds or by groups holding a benefit such as the Albany Park Employees Association.
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