Hickory Playlot Park (c/o Broadway Armory Park)
History
The Chicago Park District purchased this park site in 1967, and officially designated it Hickory Park in 1973. The park was one of a number of properties named for trees and plants at this time. A member of the walnut family, the Hickory tree produces nuts that are an important source of food for squirrels, other mammals, and larger birds. Until the mid-20th century, the Shagbark Hickory, common in Chicago and the surrounding area, was the most popular material for making skis. Surprisingly, a cord of Shagbark wood produces almost as much heat as a ton of anthracite coal.
