Olson Park and Waterfall, Urban park with waterfall in Avondale, Chicago, US
Olson Park and Waterfall was an urban park in Chicago featuring a 35-foot waterfall, rock gardens, and a pond for waterfowl. The grounds were planted with thousands of perennials and evergreen trees that transformed the industrial surroundings into a verdant space.
Walter E. Olson created this park next to his rug factory in 1935 during the Great Depression. The space closed in 1978 when Marshall Field purchased the land for commercial development.
The space served as a gathering point where locals could escape the surrounding neighborhoods and connect with planted gardens and water features in an industrial area.
This former park no longer exists as the land was converted to commercial use decades ago. Those interested in its history can research archival photos and local records that document Chicago's lost green spaces.
The Chicago Tribune named this place the first of Chicago's Seven Lost Wonders because of how it brought nature and industry together in an unexpected way. Its opening marked a ceremonial return of land to Native American tribes, one hundred years after their displacement.
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