Woodhull (Ross) Park

In 1916, the City of Chicago purchased land along East 73rd Street on which to construct a pumping station for the rapidly-growing South Shore community. The Water Department never built the pumping station, and, in 1927, the City Council authorized the Bureau of Parks and Recreation to use part of the property for park development. The park was improved with playing fields, a sand court, playground, wading pool and a frame building which housed the supervisor's office flanked by open shelters. The following year, the City Council named the new park for Ross A. Woodhull (1878-1944), who served South Shore as 7th Ward Alderman from 1917 through 1928. After 1924, Woodhull was chairman of the council's finance committee. In 1928, Woodhull was elected to the Chicago Sanitary District Board of Trustees, serving as board president from 1934 until his death in 1944. By 1930, The Chicago Park District began to managethe park which was officially transfered in 1959. It was later updated has since a running track and improved playground. The original oval-shaped wading pool was also later converted to a spray pool.