Humboldt (Alexander von) Park

In 1871, after the establishment of Chicago’s West Park System, the plans for Humboldt Park (along with Garfield and Douglas Parks) were finalized and construction went underway. By that point in time, the land that would be developed had already been named Humboldt Park. Residents of the neighborhood had requested two years earlier that the Park, as well as the community itself, honor Alexander von Humboldt, an early nineteenth-century geographer, naturalist, and botanist.

The original plans for Humboldt Park were engineered by William Le Baron Jenney, who many know today as the father of the skyscraper (chicagoparkdistrict.com). Despite the intricate and French-inspired designs, only the northeastern section of the park followed Jenney’s plans. Jens Jensen took over as the superintendent of the project in the last decade of the nineteenth century but was promptly fired in 1900 due to the political corruption in Chicago. However, once political reforms remedied (most of) the corruption, Jens returned to the construction of Humboldt Park, which remained unfinished and even neglected in some areas. Nevertheless, construction resumed. The park’s Fieldhouse was not constructed until 1928, and the park was not incorporated into the Chicago Park District until 1934.

Today, the park serves as a central location for community events, such as art walks and summer kickbacks. In the summer there are art camps, boxing classes, swim classes, and even a junior lifeguards program at the park’s small beach. With nature trails and historic buildings, Humboldt Park also functions as a serene study space during the warmer months of the school year. If you find yourself wanting to “get away from it all” and see a tree or two, don’t hesitate to stop by the beautiful Humboldt Park.