A petition and referendum to form the “Oak Lawn Park District” was an outgrowth of a project sponsored by the Cook Avenue P.T.A. led by Lucille Gaddis. On September 26, 1944 a petition was filed in County Court, Cook County, Illinois to organize the Oak Lawn Park District. Petition #108623 was filed in accordance with an act “to provide for the Organization of Park District, and the transfer of submerged lands to those bordering on Navigable Bodies of Water” (approved June 24, 1895, LI895, p. 272).
An election was held on November 28, 1944 with 144 votes cast for the formation of a park district and 53 votes opposing it. Roland J. Beckley, Lucille C. Gaddis, Harvey Bergeson, Albert Ver Schave and John C. Utz were elected as the first Oak Lawn Park District Commissioners. The results of the election were filed with the County Court, Cook County, Illinois on December 8, 1944. An order was filed October 1, 1945 declaring the park district as officially organized retroactive to December 8, 1944. At the first meeting John Utz was elected President, Albert Ver Schave, Vice President with the other commissioners, Roland Beckley, Lucille Gaddis and Harvey Bergeson in attendance. Meetings were held in the Village Hall until a park building could be erected, Lake Shore Park being the only park in the district’s possession at the time.
The Oak Lawn Park District was supported by the Oak Lawn Community Chest and by solicited funds; the Oak Lawn Lions contributing $987.00 by June 6, 1945. Presently, the Oak Lawn Park District is a separate taxing government body, and the facilities include owned and leased parks. The Oak Lawn Park District and the Village have the same boundaries, with the exception of 12.83 acres known as Chicago Ridge Prairie located in Chicago Ridge, Illinois.
