Scoville 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 1913, Scoville Park was named after Charles B. Scoville, the previous owner of the land and an advocate for the creation of the Park District. It was the first park built after the creation of the Park District in 1912. It serves as a village green with the installation of a “Liberty” flag pole in 1915, a World War I monument dedicated by the Vice President of the United States in 1925, and bronze marker noting the location of the home of Joseph Kettlestrings, the first white settler in Oak Park. Scoville Park was originally designed by Jens Jensen and is one of the parks that retain the most of Jensen’s design. The southeast corner features a replica of a fountain originally designed by sculptor Richard Bock and architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The play equipment was last replaced in 1991. In partnership with the Village of Oak Park and the Library, Grove Avenue was vacated in 2001 and a new plaza was constructed adjacent to the park. Scoville Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Located near the War Memorial is the Percy Julian Memorial Bust, unveiled in 2003 to celebrate the life and contributions of this world-renowned chemist, humanitarian, and long-time Oak Park resident. A plaque recognizing Joseph and Betty Kettlestrings, the first settlers in Oak Park, is located in the southwest corner of Scoville Park. The main gateway to the park, located at one of the busiest intersections in historic Oak Park, features a replica of the Horse Show Fountain, also known as the Wright-Bock Fountain named for its designer's sculptor Richard Bock and famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The original fountain was built by the Oak Park Horse Show Association in 1909 and located on the curb of Lake Street. Due to severe deterioration, the fountain was completely reconstructed and relocated in 1969 to replace the badly deteriorated original.
The tennis courts was resurfaced in 2005 and resealed in 2008. New benches were installed in 2007. The World War I memorial was fully restored in 2009/2010. The comfort station doors were replaced in 2010. A site master plan for Scoville Park was developed in 2010 and updated in 2018. Identifiable needs included renovating the southeastern entry plaza and area near the library entrance, improving the walkways and planters, creating a formal plaza area around the WWI memorial, evaluating possibilities for the performing stage, and replacing the playground equipment. Master plan improvements began in 2012, with the
assistance of a Park and Recreation Activity Grant in the amount of $1.6 million. These improvements completed the site master plan developed in 2010, which included updated entryways, tennis courts, plantings, and a permanent bandstand. In 2019, additional perennial plantings were added to the Lake Street planting bed as well as two game tables between the library and Scoville Park.
