Sports & Recreation

Founded in 1919, the Des Plaines Park District is one of the oldest park districts in the area.  The formation occurred during the Progressive Era when both the Playground Movement, ensuring a safe place for kids to play, and the Recreation Movement, ensuring that residents have healthy outlets during their free time, influenced leaders to establish and fund the Des Plaines Park District.  In 1929, the development of Rand Park and pool was a project supported through the Works Progress Administration (WPA), and American New Deal agency, where local labor and resources were employed.