October 31, 2024

Piecing together a bit of park history

Before Frisbee golf, Highland Park in Joliet had a much different look

July 28, 2019 at 5:30 am CDT

Barry didn't have photos of Highland Park the way I knew it, and he didn't have specific historical information. But Barry, who grew up near Highland Park from 1942 to 1954, did share a few of his Scouting memories from the former Boy Scout log cabin. (Denise Unland)

Two Boy Scout Troops used that cabin: Ridgewood Troop 2 and the former Senior Scouts. He recalled when the totem pole, which now stands outside the nature center in Pilcher Park, stood outside the Boy Scout cabin.

The cabin was a place where the Scouts conducted meetings and square dances. — Two Boy Scout Troops used that cabin: Ridgewood Troop 2 and the former Senior Scouts. He recalled when the totem pole, which now stands outside the nature center in Pilcher Park, stood outside the Boy Scout cabin. The cabin was a place where the Scouts conducted meetings and square dances. (Photo provided by Joliet Area Historical Museum)

He also recalled an old dance hall up on the hill. Barry also is happy to see Snake Hill is now repaired and open to pedestrians.

"They did a good job with it," Barry said. — He also recalled an old dance hall up on the hill. Barry also is happy to see Snake Hill is now repaired and open to pedestrians. "They did a good job with it," Barry said. (Denise Unland)

Debbie Greene, who is the former director of natural resources and grant administration for the Joliet Park District and current development director for the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park, said the former Boy Scout cabin eventually was torn down. (Denise Unland)

"It went away around 1996 or 1997," Greene said. "They had replaced the roof five to 10 years prior, but the building was destroyed." (Denise Unland)

Greene speculated the dance hall also was torn down because of disrepair. My mother, when I asked her, recalled a fire, which perhaps led to its disrepair. My father said the hall was a simple building: a slab, metal roof and exposed beams. (Denise Unland)

In the 1960s and 1970s, the area on top of the hill also had two playground areas. The park also used to have a swimming pool and tennis courts. (Denise Unland)

Thanks to information from Greene and the Joliet Area Historical Museum, who shared Joliet Park District reports from the 1920s,

and information from the book "Gougar's Crossing & Vicinity," which the New Lenox Historical Society shared, I've pieced together some of Highland Park's former glory.

Highland Park consisted of 45 acres, which the city of Joliet purchased in 1899 and developed as a recreational park. (Photo provided by Joliet Area Historical Museum)

The Joliet & Southern Traction Company built a "branch spur line" in 1908 for cars to reach the park. A dam built across Hickory Creek in 1920 allowed for boating, swimming, ice-skating and fishing. (Photo provided by Joliet Area Historical Museum)

An entrance road from Cass Street, Highland Park Drive, connected Highland and Pilcher Parks. (Photo provided by Joliet Area Historical Museum)

The Highland Park booklet said the boat house had 25 boats, which one could rent for 25 cents an hour.

By 1924, Highland Park had shelters, drinking fountains, swings and tables. It also offered skating in winter and baseball in summer. (Photo provided by Joliet Area Historical Museum)

The dance pavilion was acquired from a street car company. Electric wires were added to the caretaker's cottage. (Photo provided by Joliet Area Historical Museum)

Work had also begun on the 142-foot long Boy Scout log cabin, with the help of the Joliet Kiwanis Club. Highland Park's drives, their "sharp turns, narrow roads and steep grades," built originally for horse-drawn vehicles, were widened and modernized.

By 1925, the park was a popular location for band concerts and construction on the Scout cabin had continued. In 1926, a three-net tennis court and five large pieces of playground equipment, along with a playground attendant, were added to Highland Park.

The log cabin was completed in 1927 and by 1929, 35 Boy Scout troops in Joliet, along with six Girl Scout troops and six troops from nearby towns, were using the log cabin for their meetings. — Work had also begun on the 142-foot long Boy Scout log cabin, with the help of the Joliet Kiwanis Club. Highland Park's drives, their "sharp turns, narrow roads and steep grades," built originally for horse-drawn vehicles, were widened and modernized. By 1925, the park was a popular location for band concerts and construction on the Scout cabin had continued. In 1926, a three-net tennis court and five large pieces of playground equipment, along with a playground attendant, were added to Highland Park. The log cabin was completed in 1927 and by 1929, 35 Boy Scout troops in Joliet, along with six Girl Scout troops and six troops from nearby towns, were using the log cabin for their meetings. (Photo provided by Joliet Area Historical Museum)

I'm not certain [yet] when the swimming pool came and went or when the playground equipment went away. (Denise Unland)

But Highland Park did become a Frisbee golf course in 2009.

(All color photos by Denise M. Baran-Unland. All black and white photos courtesy of the Joliet Area Historical Museum). — But Highland Park did become a Frisbee golf course in 2009. (All color photos by Denise M. Baran-Unland. All black and white photos courtesy of the Joliet Area Historical Museum). (Denise Unland)

Joliet Joliet Area Historical Museum

Denise M. Baran-Unland

Denise M. Baran-Unland is the features editor for The Herald-News in Joliet. She covers a variety of human interest stories. She also writes the long-time weekly tribute feature “An Extraordinary Life about local people who have died. She studied journalism at the College of St. Francis in Joliet, now the University of St. Francis.