Kitchell Park
Why it's listed
Kitchell Park is a 40-acre public park in southeastern Pana, Illinois, laid out on the site of the old Pana fairgrounds, where fairs and horse racing took place from about 1886. Captain and Mrs. J.W. Kitchell bought the land and donated it to the town in 1908, then funded landscaping, a playground, a lagoon, and row boats. The park hosted the annual Chautauqua, a nine-day program of lectures, music, opera, and other entertainment, from 1907 to 1931. Surviving features from that era include an umbrella-style auditorium built in 1911, a concrete arched bridge from 1910, an iron-arched gateway, a brick ticket booth, a memorial boulder to Kitchell, and a 1919 veterans memorial sculpted by Lorado Taft. Newer ball diamonds, tennis courts, a pool, pavilions, and restrooms do not count as contributing. The park is significant for its long role in local recreation and entertainment.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the park is significant under Criterion A for its recreation and entertainment role in Pana. It hosted the annual Chautauqua from 1907 to 1931 and has been the center of outdoor recreation in town since. The period of significance begins in 1909, when the park and lagoon were designed and landscaped.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92001538, listed November 5, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Ninth and Kitchell Sts., Pana |
|---|---|
| County | Christian County |
| Listed | November 5, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001538 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1909-1942 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | No style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Entertainment/Recreation |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The park is in year-round use for celebrations, picnics, youth sports programs, ice hockey on the lagoon, and walking. Swimming and boating in the lagoon are no longer allowed, but fishing continues. |
| Acreage | 40 |
| Coordinates | 39.38684, -89.07958 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92001538.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6417948
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.