Eugene Field Park

Eugene Field Park is a 16-acre public park on Chicago's Northwest side, where the North Branch of the Chicago River cuts diagonally through the grounds. The Albany Park District, one of 22 park commissions later merged into the Chicago Park District in 1934, bought the land in 1923 and began improvements in 1925. Landscape gardener Henry J. Stockmans prepared the original plan, and architect Clarence Hatzfeld designed the brick Tudor Revival field house and the footbridge across the river. The field house, finished in 1930, has steep cross-gables, half-timbering, patterned brick and a crenulated cornice, and once served as district headquarters and a community center. The park also holds a 1937 floodlight tower, tennis courts, a 1930s WPA river retaining wall, and early 1950s playground features. Newer additions include a bicycle trail and acquired parcels, which are counted as non-contributing. The park retains its naturalistic character and continues to serve the Albany Park community.