Norwood Circle Park

Did the name Norwood Circle Park ever strike you as a little…circular? Here we stand, at the edge of this 2.63-acre triangular park, a place seemingly defying its own name. Norwood Circle Park is a tranquil escape nestled within the bustling Norwood Park neighborhood of Chicago. It sits on Peterson Avenue, just a block east of Harlem Avenue. The park’s story, much like its shape, has some interesting twists. Norwood Circle Park’s roots trace back to the aftermath of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Norwood Land and Building Association, established before the fire, envisioned a village northwest of the devastated city. They christened it Norwood, inspired by a novel by Henry Ward Beecher, and laid out a unique circular street, Circle Avenue. As Chicago rebuilt, Norwood flourished. The triangular plot designated as parkland in 1870 became Norwood Circle Park. The village of Norwood, including the park, was annexed into Chicago in 1893. By 1909, the park fell under the care of Chicago’s Special Parks Commission, eventually transferring to the Chicago Park District in 1957. So, while the “Circle” in Norwood Circle Park might refer to the original street plan of Norwood, the park itself is decidedly triangular. It’s a quiet spot, perfect for peaceful contemplation. Though it offers no structured programming, the nearby Norwood Park provides plenty of activities. Norwood Circle Park stands as a testament to a planned community that rose from the ashes of a great fire, a triangle of green in the heart of Norwood Park.