Have you ever heard of a park with a watery soul? Now stand right here, in front of Ogden Park, and let me tell you a story about it. Ogden Park, named after Chicago’s first mayor, William B. Ogden, opened in 1905, one of ten revolutionary parks designed to give relief to densely packed neighborhoods. This park, like many others, was designed to provide fresh air and healthy recreation for its inhabitants. But look closely, Ogden Park has endured quite a transformation, and it’s not always a happy story. The park, at one point, had a beautiful waterway that snaked through a meadow full of ballfields, but in 1940, the waterway was filled in during a change to the park.
Ogden Park is a place with a past, a present, and a future. It was once a place of beauty and refreshment, but that beauty was changed. Now it’s a park with a new purpose, one that is all about community. Come back with me at the end of the tour and we can talk about the incredible, enclosed playground!