History

The Fernwood community, established in 1883, is a neighborhood situated in the southeastern part of the Washington Heights community area. It was annexed by Chicago in 1891. Fernwood Park

Located at 10436 S. Wallace St., Fernwood Park spans over 12 acres and offers a variety of facilities, including a gymnasium, indoor pool, fitness center, and multi-purpose rooms. Outdoor amenities feature baseball and soccer fields, basketball and tennis courts, a spray pool, and a playground. 

Fernwood Park was established in 1908, when the Fernwood and Washington Heights Improvement Association acquired a 12-acre farm to create a community park. Initially, the site included orchards and barns, with a remodeled house serving as the fieldhouse. 

Fernwood community and Fernwood Park History

• 1883: The Village of Fernwood was incorporated.

• 1887: The Village of Fernwood created a wide green parkway between South 99th and 103rd Streets, known as Fernwood Parkway. 

• 1891: Fernwood was annexed by the City of Chicago.

• 1908: The Fernwood and Washington Heights Improvement Association successfully petitioned to form the Fernwood Park District. They acquired a 12-acre farm with orchards and barns, transforming it into a community park. 

• 1912: A branch of the Chicago Public Library opened within the park’s fieldhouse.

• 1919: The community donated a World War I veterans’ monument to the park.

• 1926: Additional acreage was acquired, and further landscape improvements were made to the park. 

• 1934: Fernwood Park became part of the Chicago Park District when the city’s 22 independent park commissions were consolidated. 

• 1947: In mid-August, the Fernwood Park Race Riot occurred when African American veterans and their families moved into the Chicago Housing Authority’s Fernwood Park housing project at 104th and Halsted. Violent opposition from some white residents led to a three-day unrest, requiring over 1,000 law enforcement officers to restore order. 

• Mid-1980s: The original fieldhouse was replaced with a modern facility to meet the community’s growing needs.

• 1996: A natatorium and swimming pool were added to the park, enhancing its recreational offerings.