Bogan Park
History
Bogan Park and neighboring Bogan High School honor William J. Bogan (1870-1936), Superintendent of the Chicago Public Schools from 1928 until his death in 1936. Born on Mackinac Island, Michigan, in 1870, Bogan began his career in the Chicago school system in 1893, teaching at Washington Elementary School until he was named principal there in 1900. Between 1905 and 1924 he served as principal at Lane Technical High School, and then was promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Schools, overseeing high schools and night schools. Bogan became Head Superintendent in 1928. A leading authority on vocational education, Bogan placed special emphasis on educating non-college-bound students - those he termed "the forgotten 90 percent."
The Chicago Park District began planning Bogan Park in 1954, in the face of a dramatic southwest-side building boom. Actual improvements did not begin until 1959 because several property owners were reluctant to sell, and some buildings needed to be removed from the site before work could begin. A small recreation building with three club rooms, an artcraft shop, and a music room was constructed in 1961. The park district now operates the 13-acre park, together with nearly 6 acres of adjacent school land, jointly with the Board of Education.
