Lindberg Park
Continued investment in our parks and facilities is critical to the District’s mission. The Park Board’s policy states that each park site plan will be revisited and updated within a 10-year period. The Park District is in the process of revisiting each park site plan per this policy in order to identify additional park amenities desired by our residents, to budget strategically for these improvements and to be prepared for grant opportunities.
If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on park plans currently in progress, please contact Bill Hamilton, Superintendent of Parks & Planning. (opens email app)
Current Plan
Past Plans
Acquired in 1925, this park was originally called “Green Fields” but was subsequently named after Gustav A. Lindberg, the first Superintendent of Parks at the Park District of Oak Park. In 1972 the Oak Park River Forest Community Foundation established the Presidential Walk in Lindberg Park with the planting of 17 sugar maples, one for each of the 17 former Village of Oak Park Presidents. This tradition continues with a new tree planted as each village president ends their term in office. One of the ball fields is named for Merritt Lovett, a former Park Board Commissioner.
In the late 1990’s, the gardens were restored to their original layout as designed in the 1930’s by Mr. Lindberg. This project was a joint effort between the Garden Club of Oak Park and River Forest and the Park District of Oak Park with funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The original design had included water gardens and roses transplanted from gardens dismantled after Chicago’s Century of Progress World’s Fair in 1934. Other improvements completed in 2000, included: remodeling the comfort station and concession stand, resurfacing the tennis courts, installing irrigation under the fields, and replacing 120 trees. The tennis courts were resealed in 2009. A site master plan for Lindberg was completed in fall 2010, and updated in 2018. Identifiable needs included adding paths on the north and east sides to complete a walkway around the park, replacing backstops and fencing, improving security lighting, renewing the comfort station, improving field drainage, and adding “health-walk” medallions around the park. In 2014, with the help of a $400,000 OSLAD grant, the District was able to complete improvements to the sports fields, added a picnic shelter and new playground, and improved the tennis courts and walkways. In 2015, landscaping work on the west side of the Trial Gardens took place to create a wonderful wildlife refuge. In 2024 the District resurfaced the tennis courts.
