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Andersonville Park

Address


5233 N. Ashland Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640

Jurisdiction

Chicago Parks

Description

This quaint park totals 0.19 acres and is located in the Edgewater Community Area (on Ashland Avenue, one block north of Foster Avenue). The playground was renovated in Spring 2015 as part of the Chicago Plays! renovation program.

While there is no structured programming taking place at this location, we invite you to check out our programs offered at nearby Winnemac Park.

Other

This section is reserved for future use.

History

The City of Chicago owned the property at 5233 N. Ashland, and in 1950 acquired the adjacent property, and then established Ashland Playlot. By the end of that year, the new park had a sandbox and a playfield that could be flooded for ice-skating in winter. Not long after, the City's Bureau of Parks and Recreation installed slides, swings, a merry-go-round, and a jungle gym.  In 1957, the park was transferred to the Chicago Park District pursuant to the Chicago Park and City Exchange of Functions Act. The Park District rehabilitated the playground in 1964, and again in 1992.

 

Known for years as Ashland Playlot for the adjacent street, the property was officially renamed Andersonville Park in 1993, at the request of neighborhood residents.  Andersonville Park is named for the Andersonville section of the Edgewater Community Area. The neighborhood began to develop rapidly in the early 1900’s, when the City's elevated trains first reached the area. Around World War I, large numbers of Swedish immigrants moved north to Andersonville from earlier "Swede Towns" on Chicago's Near North Side and Lake View Community Areas. After World War II, many early Andersonville residents moved on to the Rogers Park Community Area and northern suburbs, but the community still celebrates its Swedish heritage with ethnic shops and restaurants, and a Swedish American museum.