Loyola Park (Chicago)

Loyola Park was the sole park created by the North Shore Park District one of 22 independent park boards consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934 Unlike most of these park boards the North Shore District formed in 1900 was at first interested only in enhancing the area through boulevard improvements along Sheridan Road Pratt Boulevard and Ashland Avenue By 1905 however public pressure had prompted the district to consider park development The district spent several years mulling its options Finally in 1909 at the urging of the Rogers Park Woman s Club the North Shore District determined to concentrate its resources on purchasing land for a single beachfront park and boating basin known as North Shore Park Shortly thereafter noted landscape architect and engineer O C Simonds developed plans for a pier at the site but these were never realized By 1917 the North Shore District had acquired more than nine acres of lakeshore property A small fieldhouse built in 1923 soon provided game and club rooms Playfields were flooded for ice skating in winter in 1929 the local American Legion post erected a shelter house for skaters