Cornell Square Park

Cornell (Paul) Square Park is a public park located in the New City community area of Chicago, Illinois. Opened in 1905, the park was part of a revolutionary neighborhood park system created by the South Park Commission to improve living conditions in Chicago's congested tenement districts.

The park, which totals 8.85 acres, was named in honor of Paul Cornell (1822-1904), a lawyer and real estate developer who played a significant role in the creation of the South Park System. Cornell believed that parks would provide "lungs to the great city and its future generations" and served on the South Park Commission board for 14 years.

Designed by the nationally renowned landscape architects, the Olmsted Brothers, and architects Daniel H. Burnham and Co., Cornell Square Park was one of the first ten properties in the innovative park system. The park's design includes both indoor and outdoor facilities to cater to various recreational needs of the community.

The park features a fieldhouse with Beaux-Arts design, which includes two gymnasiums, an auditorium, and a kitchen. Outside, the park offers a range of recreational facilities for visitors of all ages. In 2014, the park's playground was renovated as part of Mayor Emanuel's Chicago Plays! Program.

Cornell Square Park hosts various programs and events throughout the year. These include after-school programs during the school year, a six-week day camp in the summer, and special events for families such as holiday celebrations and Movies in the Park.