Multimedia
Photos & Videos
Gallery:
Date Posted:
The Turtle Fountain is made primarliy of Indiana Limestone, but it does have some bronze elements,…
Location:
1249 N. Astor St.
Chicago, IL 60610
Supervisor:
Lathrese Williams (Seward Park)
Phone Numbers:
Main
312.742.7895
Hours
Park Hours
Description
Goudy Square Playground Park is located in the Near North community. The 0.61 acre park features a soft surface playground that was renovated in Fall 2014 as part of Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Plays! Program. It is an active community park.
While there is no structured programming taking place at this location, we invite you to check out our great programs offered at nearby Seward Park for recreation.
History
Goudy Square, originally known as Union Square (and later Astor Square), came into the City's possession in 1847, when real estate developer H.O. Stone dedicated the site as parkland. Nearly fifty years later, in 1891, the City Council placed the park under the control of the Lincoln Park Board of Commissioners, but the board did not obtain actual title to the park from the City of Chicago until 1926.
The Chicago Park District took jurisdiction in 1934 of the park, with the consolidation of the City's 22 independent park commissions. Though the park had never been formally renamed, it was by this time known as Goudy Park, in honor of William C. Goudy (1824-1893). Goudy, a highly-respected attorney, acted as counsel to the Lincoln Park Board and served as its president between 1887 and 1893.
In 1877, Goudy went before the U.S. Supreme Court to argue the watershed Munn v. Illinois case, which established the authority of states to limit rates charged by private industries acting in the public interest. In 1991, the Chicago Park District created a custom-designed playground for Goudy Square Park. It includes ornamental metal fencing, period light fixtures, brick paths, and a limestone and bronze drinking fountain with a turtle, frog and fish produced by Walter Arnold.
Map & Facilities
Goudy Square Playground
