OUR FIRST PLAYGROUND PARKS 



Three park sites were selected, originally known as Small Parks Nos. 

 1, 2 and 3, and acquired under and in pursuance of said Act, as follows: 



"An Act to enable Paik Commissioners to issue bonds to raise 

 funds for the acquisition and improvement of small parks and pleas- 

 ure grounds, and to provide a tax for the payment of the same," 



approved and in force May 18, 1905, $1,000,000 Small Park bonds 

 being issued and sold for this purpose. 



SITE NO. 1— BERNARD A. ECKHART PARK 



Selected: September 26, 1905. 



Located in a Polish section of the Seventeenth Ward; population, 1910 

 census: 107 people per acre. A mass of congested, dilapidated buildings had 

 to be removed before this site could be improved. 



Formally opened to the public, August 1, 1908. 



Named in honor of Bernard A. Eckhart, President of the West Park 

 Board, 1905-1907. 



SITE NO. 2— STANFORD PARK 



Selected: July 10, 1906. 



Formally opened to the public: February 22, 1910. 



Located in the Ghetto district. Site covered with 57 houses and stores, 

 housing 597 people. But one bath tub in the block. 



Named in honor of George W. Stanford, first President of the West 

 Chicago Park Commissioners. 



SITE NO. 3— DVORAK PARK 



Selected: July 10, 1906. 



Formally opened to the public: June 25, 1908. 



Located in a crowded, Bohemian district of Chicago. Density per acre, 

 95 persons. 



Named in honor of Antonin Dvorak, the Bohemian composer. 



HOLSTEIN PARK 



Turned over to the Park Board by ordinance of the City of Chicago, 

 May 6, 1901. 



Accepted by the West Chicago Park Commissioners, July 9, 1901. 



Field House constructed and playground facilities provided, June, 1912. 



Holstein Park has been under the jurisdiction of the West Chicago Park 

 Commissioners since 1901, but it was not until 1912 that it was provided with 

 playground facilities. It has done excellent service during its first full 

 year of playground activity. 



EQUIPMENT 



In each of these playground Parks, a Field House was erected. 



THli IXDOOR A( TIVITIES INCT.UDK: 



Field House, with Assembly Hall, 

 Refreshment and Rest Room, 

 Separate gymnasiums for men and women. 

 Separate locker and shower rooms for men and women, 

 Separate club rooms for men and women, 

 Libraries, 



Children's playroom. 

 Season: October 15th to May 15th. 



