A Brief History of the Berwyn Park District

A Brief History of the Berwyn Park District. . The Berwyn Park District became a special unit of local government commonly known as a park district on May 10th 1920 when the Honorable James T. Burns, Judge of the County Court of Cook County issued Judicial Order 43897 approving a petition to organize the Berwyn Park District following a referendum held to establish such a park district. , , According to court records 253 men's votes were properly cast for and 141 men's votes were properly cast against said park district. The court records further show that 214 women's votes were properly cast for and 88 women's votes were cast against said park district. The majority of votes cast represented a two-to-one majority in favor of forming the Berwyn Park District. , , The original territory of the District as established by referendum was as follows: "On the Northerly side by the right of way of the Illinois Central Railroad on the Easterly side by Ridgeland Avenue on the Southerly side by Ogden Avenue and on the Westerly side by Harlem Avenue all within the said City of Berwyn and Cook County." , , The court also decreed that the five persons who received the highest number of votes be elected as Commissioners of the Berwyn Park District. There names were Alban W. Coen, A.J. Dunham, Mrs. H.V. Church, Mrs. Frank Mellish, and Jerry Winholtz. , , The last increase in Berwyn Park District territory occurred in 1976 when the District territorial boundaries changed to the Northerly side the center line of Cermak Road on the Easterly side by Lombard Avenue on the Southerly side by Pershing Road and on the Westerly side by Harlem Avenue all within the said City of Berwyn and Cook County. , , Over the years the monthly Board of Commissioners meetings have been held at various locations including the Berwyn State Bank, Irving School, Berwyn City Hall, Proksa Park, Freedom Park, and the Liberty Cultural Center. The original administration offices were located at Proksa Park but were relocated to their current location at Freedom Park in 1985. , , Until 1976 the District owned and maintained one park, Proksa Park, when it purchased a lot on 34th and Kenilworth which would become Hessler Park. In 1979 the City of Berwyn deeded Smirz Park located at 34th and Highland and in the 1980's the District purchased the Freedom Park properties. In the 1990's the District acquired the Sunshine Park property located at 29th Street and Oak Park Avenue and Mraz Park located at 23rd and Oak Park Avenue. In 2004 the District purchased the Liberty Cultural Center on 27th Place from a former Sokol. , , The District has also assisted Berwyn School District 100 in building and maintaining several playground areas at Hiawatha, Piper, Komensky, and Emerson Schools. , , More information on Berwyn Park District is available at www.berwynparks.org.