LaFollette Park
Interactive Park Map
About the Location
Features and Facilities
LaFollette Park spans 18.70 acres in the Austin community of Chicago, Illinois. The park's centerpiece is a large fieldhouse containing an indoor pool, a gymnasium, a fitness center, an auditorium, and two kitchens, providing various indoor recreational options.
Outdoor amenities include basketball courts, baseball fields, tennis courts, and an artificial turf athletic field for football or soccer. Families with children can enjoy two playgrounds and an interactive water spray feature. A pavilion is also available for gatherings or shelter.
Programs and Events
The park hosts various programs throughout the year, including after-school programs during the school year and a popular six-week day camp for youth in summer. The LaFollette Park Junior Bears Football team, which has built an impressive record, calls this park home.
Special events such as pumpkin patches and Night Out in the Parks activities are organized regularly, providing entertainment for families and community members.
Historical Background
The park's history dates back to 1918 when renowned landscape architect Jens Jensen envisioned it as part of a new type of neighborhood center. The West Park District acquired the property in 1919, though it remained unimproved for several years.
In 1926, the park was officially named after Robert M. La Follette, a U.S. Representative, Senator, and three-term Wisconsin governor known for his Progressive reform efforts. The impressive Italian Renaissance Revival-style fieldhouse was constructed in 1927 following a voter-approved bond issue.
Today, LaFollette Park continues to serve as an important recreational and community space in the Austin neighborhood, offering a wide range of activities and facilities for residents of all ages.
