In addition to the playground areas and splash pad, Longfellow Park features the only full court basketball area in Oak Park and also provides lighted tennis courts. (A water wheelchair is available for use in the splash pad. Please give one week notice to reserve.) The field at Longfellow Park was named the 2017 National Soccer Field of the Year by the Sports Turf Managers Association.
In response to ever rising water costs, a desire to conserve water and the recognition of the energy consumed pumping and treating water from Lake Michigan, the Park District has evaluated and selected a number of sites for the installation of cisterns including Longfellow Park. The 9,000 gallon reservoir, located southeast of the Center, allows the District to capture water from the splash pad and roof to use for irrigation.
View the virtual tour of Longfellow Center.
History
Longfellow Park was one of the earliest properties purchased by the Park District. Like several other parks in our community, it was named after a famous author/poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
