Simons Park is a

municipal park An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a municipal park (North America) or a public park, public open space, or municipal gardens ( UK), is a park in cities and other incorporated places that offer recreation and green space to re ...

located at 1640 N. Drake Avenue in the Humboldt Park community of

West Side, Chicago The West Side is one of the three major sections of the city of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, along with the North Side and the South Side. The West Side consists of communities that are of historical, cultural, and ideological importance ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockf ...

. It is administered by the

Chicago Park District The Chicago Park District is one of the oldest and the largest park districts in the United States. As of 2016, there are over 600 parks included in the Chicago Park District as well as 27 beaches, several boat harbors, two botanic conservatorie ...

, and contains full facilities for activities including baseball, boxing, and outdoor basketball. It also contains a full gymnasium, meeting rooms, a children's playground and a spraypool (operated during the summer months).

History

The property currently occupied by Simons Park was originally farmland, owned and planted by early settlers Edward and Laura Sprague Simons. The original land was bordered by Armitage Avenue, North Avenue, Central Park Avenue and

Kedzie Avenue Kedzie Avenue is a major north–south street in Chicago, Illinois. Both Kedzie streets in Chicago and suburban Evanston are named after John H. Kedzie, an early Chicago real-estate developer. Kedzie Avenue extends more than from the southern ...

. In 1916, the Fullerton Avenue Business Men's Association proposed creating a public park to serve the neighborhood, however the plan was put on hold until after

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

was over. The Northwest Park District (consolidated into the new Chicago Park District in 1934), made a purchase of land in 1920 to establish the park, and within 8 years, a new fieldhouse had been constructed to finish the park. The fieldhouse was designed by Walter W. Ahlschlager. It was remodeled in 1990 and renovated in the early 2000s.

Simon City Royals

A 1950s Chicago greaser gang called Simon City originally took their name from the park, as it was the most prominent feature in their territory at the time. After merging with another gang, this gang would eventually become the infamous

Simon City Royals The Simon City Royals, also known as the Almighty Simon City Royal Nation, are a street and prison gang which began in Chicago during 1952 as Simon City, a greaser gang. They named themselves for Simons Park, which is located on the corner of ...

street gang. As the neighborhood began to change, the Simon City Royals eventually left the area, leaving their territory behind.

References

{{Chicago Parks Parks in Chicago West Side, Chicago 1920 establishments in Illinois