HISTORICAL 



The present multiplicity of park governments began about 

 1869, at which time the South, West and Lincoln Park Boards 

 were established. Prior to that time the public parks of Chicago 

 were under the control of the department of public works of 

 the city government. The entire park area was approximately 

 125 acres, of which only one-third was then improved. Today 

 the park area within the city is 3,220 acres, as shown in detail 

 in Table F of the Appendix. 



The first attempt to found the South Park system was made 

 in 1866. Two park bills were prepared; one providing that a 

 park area be selected as an addition to the city and the other 

 that the park area selected be both inside and outside of the 

 city limits, and providing also for government by a commis- 

 sion of five members to be appointed by the Governor. The 

 latter plan which provided also for taxing for park purposes 

 only that portion of the city to be benefited by the parks, was 

 adopted by the promoters and the bill passed the Legislature 

 in 1867. It was defeated, however, when submitted to a vote 

 of the people of the towns of South Chicago, Hyde Park and 

 Lake at the general election the next spring. Another bill con- 

 taining practically the same provisions was introduced in the 

 next Legislature (1869) and passed. It provided that the act 

 should be submitted to the people at a special election. A special 

 election for the purpose of voting upon this act was therefore 

 called soon after and the measure was approved. 



The bill which resulted in the establishment of the West 

 Park district, as originally drafted, provided for a system of 

 parks and boulevards throughout the entire city. When the 

 committee from the City Council which was sent to Springfield 

 to urge its passage found that representatives from the South 

 and North sides of the city had arranged for the passage of 

 bills to establish separate park systems in those portions of 

 the city, they modified their bill so as to include only the West 



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