Scottsdale Playground Park
History
During World War I, Ashburn Flying Field, a pilot training facility and Chicago's first airport, was established in the sparsely-settled Ashburn community. By the late 1940s, the area's population was beginning to surge, but residents had few recreational opportunities. In 1952, builder/developer Raymond Lutgert subdivided the old air field, creating the new community of Scottsdale, named for Lutgert's son, Scott.
Among the significant institutions in the quickly-growing subdivision was St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Parish, which built a temporary church at West 83rd Street and South Scottsdale Avenue before the end of 1953. Only a year-and-a-half later, St. Bede Parish had outgrown its first home, and the Bishop of Chicago sold the church property to the Chicago Park District for park development. The park district soon remodelled the temporary church for use as a recreation building, and improved the site with playground equipment, a softball diamond, and a basketball and volleyball court. In 1979, the park district demolished the original church structure to make way for a new fieldhouse, dedicated in September, 1981. More recently, the park district added a combination football/soccer field and a new soft surface playground.
