Parkside Square Park

Parkside Square Park stands as a testament to the influence of the Parkside District Improvement Club, a powerful neighborhood organization founded in 1908. In the early twentieth century, this area was a remote expanse of sand dunes and scrub with more rabbits than people. Residents, feeling isolated and lacking basic city services, successfully lobbied the municipal government for years to transform empty lots like this one into essential community spaces. The square was officially dedicated on April 24, 1938, becoming a focal point for local celebrations including May Day pageants and parades that drew hundreds of neighbors together. Today, it features the Bob Cheney Baseball Diamond, named for a local figure, and serves as a quiet recreational hub for a neighborhood that built its own identity from the ground up.