You’ve often seen the little park next to the Grand Avenue Community Center. But, do you know its origin?

Veterans Memorial Park Plaque

For many years, Western Springs was home to the Harry G. Maxted American Legion Post 154. It was named for Corporal Harry Maxted, the first Western Springs resident to die in World War I. Over the years, this veterans’ group became very active in civic affairs, supporting a variety of community projects.

Unfortunately, by the mid-1980s, the number of Legion members was dwindling and the cost of maintaining their meeting hall was getting to be a problem. So, the Legion offered to donate their building on the corner of Central and Burlington to the Park District. In turn, the Park Board agreed to maintain the building and allow the Legion to use it as long as their Post remained active. When not being used by the Legion, the hall could be used for the village’s growing recreation programs which, at that time, had no other indoor space.

Eventually, the Legion Post was dissolved. At the same time, a group of residents was trying to save the old Grand Avenue School by converting it into a community center. But, funding for the new center was limited. In fact, it appeared that, without more funds, the playground area north of the Grand Avenue building might have to be sold for residential development. But, the Park Board had a different idea.

Since the Grand Avenue Community Center would provide much more space for future recreational programs, the former Legion Hall would no longer be needed for this purpose. So, the Park Board decided to sell the former Legion Hall for use as a professional building. It would then use the resulting funds to help purchase the 1.2 acre playground for use as a public park. Another major contributor to the plan was Edward Butt, Jr., who lived on Lawn Avenue, directly across the street from the playground.

Once sufficient funds were raised and the school had been sold to the community center association, the Park District began developing the little park. This involved the installation of new playground equipment, new sod, a paved pathway, additional landscaping, a drinking fountain, and benches. And, since so much of the funding had come from the sale of the Legion Hall, the Park Board decided to install a commemorative boulder with a bronze plaque dedicating the park to the village’s veterans.

And, so, on November 11, 1987, a contingent of veterans and other officials assembled for the dedication of the new “Veterans Memorial Park”. And, now, every Veteran’s Day, a group of veterans meets at the park to remember all of those village residents who have served their country in uniform.