Jackie Robinson Park
History Jackie Robinson Park is jointly operated by the Chicago Park District and the Board of Education. The park comprises ten acres of land owned by the park district and another six acres leased from the Board of Education. The park district began to purchase land for the park in 1946, but ten years passed before the process was complete. Park improvements began in 1957. Both the park and the adjacent school were originally named Mount Vernon, for George Washington's Virginia home. In 1999, the park district renamed Mount Vernon Park for baseball great Jackie Robinson (1919-1972). When he signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, Robinson became the first African-American to play major league baseball. He was voted "Rookie of the Year" for his part in Brooklyn's pennant-winning season. Two years later, he led the league in batting and stolen bases, and was named most valuable player. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 and remains a role model for children across the nation.
