In 1926, the Chicago City Council acquired a small plot of land along West Grand Avenue in the growing Humboldt Park community. Initially used as a ward yard, the property was later transferred to the City's Bureau of Parks and Recreation.

By 1950, the bureau had improved the site with a spray pool, a sand box, and playground equipment. Following its practice of the time, the bureau named the playlot for the adjacent street, Grand Avenue.

Originally known as Whisky Point Road, the street's more elegant name may have been borrowed from Colonel Thomas Jefferson Vance Owens (1801-1835), an early Chicago Indian Agent. Owens, elected the first president of the Town of Chicago in 1833, once proclaimed Chicago "a grand place to live."

In 1957, the City transferred Grand Park, along with more than 250 other properties to the Chicago Park District pursuant to the Chicago Park and City Exchange of Functions Act. Several years later, the Park District removed the spray pool and rehabilitated the park site. Further improvements came in 1991, with the installation of a new soft surface playground.

Grand Playground Park is located in the Humboldt Park community. The 0.39 acre park features a playground that was renovated in Fall 2014 as part of Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Plays! Program. It is an active community park. 

While there is no structured programming taking place at this location, we invite you to check out nearby Kedvale Park for recreation programs or to enjoy a game of soccer on the artificial turf.