Sunken Gardens Park

Tucked away in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood lies Sunken Gardens Park. It’s a quiet, unassuming space, a mere 0.31 acres. But don’t let its size fool you. Sunken Gardens Park holds a unique story, a whisper of Chicago’s rich park history. Sunken Gardens Park wasn’t always part of the Chicago Park District. It began in a time when neighborhoods forged their own green spaces. In 1914, residents of Ravenswood Manor and Ravenswood Gardens voted to create their own independent park district. Resources were tight. This newly formed Ravenswood Manor Gardens Park District could only collect a small percentage of property taxes. Grand plans for expansive recreation areas gave way to smaller parks focused on landscape beauty. This is where Sunken Gardens Park enters the story. In 1917, the park district acquired a piece of land just east of the Chicago River’s North Branch on Sunnyside Avenue. The following year, this plot was transformed. A sunken lawn took center stage, surrounded by a walkway, three pergolas, and an ornate fountain. Urns and a variety of flowers and shrubs completed the picture, creating the park we know as Sunken Gardens. The park became a neighborhood gem. However, Sunken Gardens Park’s independent existence was relatively short-lived. In 1934, the Chicago Park District was born, consolidating the city’s 22 independent park agencies. Sunken Gardens Park became part of this larger entity. The Chicago Park District made efforts to maintain the park’s beauty, planting over 300 new shrubs in the late 1930s. Unfortunately, time and vandalism took their toll. By the early 1950s, the original garden features were gone. The pergolas, the fountain, the urns, all vanished, leaving behind a simplified version of its former glory. Today, Sunken Gardens Park serves as a space for passive recreation. It’s a tranquil spot to enjoy nature within the bustling city. While it no longer boasts its original elaborate design, its history remains, etched in the landscape and the memories of those who know its story.