History of the Park District of Oak Park

The Administration Building at 218 Madison Street was named for John L. Hedges who served the Park District as Executive Director from 1980-2000.

Rehm Playground was renovated.

The Park District Infrastructure Committee, a group of 30 citizen volunteers, inventoried and assessed the condition of the park infrastructure and developed a report which included recommendations on immediate and long-range capital planning.

The Oak Park Conservatory Fern Room Lead Abatement Project, funded by the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory and a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, was completed in September 2002.

Scoville Park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior on November 21, 2002.

The Park District Citizen Committee was formed to assist and support the development of the Oak Park Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan which was initiated in September 2003.

Phase 1 of the Stevenson Park Restoration Project was completed.

A new Park District website was unveiled at www.oakparkparks.com.

The Oak Park Parks & Recreation Comprehensive Plan was completed. As part of this planning process, a random needs and interest survey was conducted and the Park Board adopted a new Mission, Vision, and Values Statement.

The Oak Park Conservatory and Cheney Mansion were designated Oak Park Landmarks by the Village of Oak Park Board of Trustees.

A Grand Opening of the Active Sports Area at Stevenson Park was held on Saturday, October 2.

The Oak Park Conservatory celebrated its 75th Anniversary.

A Parks Referendum passed, by a vote of 4,757 to 2,977, which will fund the newly approved five-year Capital Improvement Plan and replace an annual $1.6 million transfer from the Village.

Site master plans were completed for Austin Gardens and Carroll and Andersen Parks.

The Oak Park Conservatory was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior on March 8, 2005.

On April, 2006, the transfer of properties was completed with the Village of Oak Park. As a result, The Park District now owns Andersen, Carroll, Field, Fox and Longfellow Centers and possess a 99 year lease for Barrie and Stevenson Centers. In return, the Village of Oak Park now owns Randolph, LeMoyne and Kenilworth Parkways.

The Andersen Park Renovation Project was the first park renovation project completed utilizing funds from the successful "Renew Our Parks" Referendum passed in April 2005. The Park Grand Re-opening Celebration was held on Saturday, September 16, 2006.

The Recreation Department Reorganization was completed with new staff hired and many current staff assuming new job responsibilities.

The Recreation Center Historical Stewardship Committee submitted a final report to the Park Board in October. The Committee was organized to evaluate Field, Andersen and Carroll Centers, designed by John Van Berger, and make recommendations to the Park Board to be considered when making future decisions regarding these facilities.

The Ice Rink at Ridgeland Common was renamed the Paul Hruby Ice Arena at a dedication ceremony held on Saturday, September 29, 2007.

The Infant Welfare Society Designer Showcase House opened at Cheney Mansion on Sunday, September 9 and ran through September 30 with over 5,000 ticket holders enjoying the beautifully decorated rooms and lovely gardens.

An Intergovernmental Agreement with School District 97, the first of its kind, was approved by the Park Board.

The transfer of Austin Trust from Chase Bank to the OPRF Community Foundation was completed.

The Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation, in partnership with the Park District, successfully secured a $220,000 grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to improve accessibility at Longfellow Park and establish an endowment to fund future accessibility improvement projects.A $235,000 grant from the "Good Heart Work Smart" Foundation was also awarded to the Park District for the Longfellow Renovation Project.

Master site plans for Fox, Maple and Longfellow parks were developed.

The Field Park Renovation Project was completed.

The Carroll Park/Lincoln School playground was renovated throughout the summer and reopened in September.

The East Growing House project, which included lead abatement, painting, the installation of rolling benches, and automated climate control system and a retractable thermal shade device, "moved the Growing House forward about a century". stated Conservatory Manager John Seaton.

Longfellow, Stevenson, Fox and Barrie Centers were renovated to improve accessibility and customer service.

Pleasant Home was awarded $5,000 from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation as part of the Partners in Preservation program.

Our gratitude to Nancy Norton whose history of the Park District was used for the basis of this information.