Hermosa Park

Hermosa Park takes its name from that of the surrounding neighborhood, originally known as Garfield's subdivision, and redesignated Hermosa in 1889 at the request of the City of Chicago. The park was created by the Northwest Park District, one of 22 park commissions consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934. The Hermosa Improvement Association asked the Northwest Park District to develop a park in its neighborhood, and the district purchased property in 1915. The park was slow to take shape, however. Increasing industrial development adjacent to the park site initially caused many to question the location, and there was talk of selling it. The community became frustrated by the slow pace of the park's development. In late 1917, 750 citizens petitioned the district to begin park development immediately. Still, no action was taken until mid-1919, when the park district implemented a few temporary improvements. Landscape architects were not hired until two years later. In the meantime, local groups had been making regular use of the Hermosa Park property. Between 1925 and 1927, the park district finally erected a permanent fieldhouse designed by Albert A. Schwartz, the architect for a number of Northwest Park District facilities.