Gooseberry Playlot Park (c/o Chase Park)
History
The Chicago Park District purchased this once-vacant lot in 1969, with the help of funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Officially designated Gooseberry Park in 1974, the playground was one of a number of parks named for trees and plants at this time. The edible gooseberry has been widely celebrated in festival and song. Gooseberry fairs and shows were common entertainments in Elizabethan England. Since at least 1700, "gooseberry fool" has been a favorite British dessert. This fruit trifle is made from crushed stewed or scalded gooseberries mixed with milk, cream, or custard.
