One of the first Fourth of July celebrations on the Village Green, c. 1880s.
When the first permanent settlers arrived in Winnetka, most of the area was marshland, forest, and prairie. As they increasingly “improved” and developed the land, many recognized the value of designated parks as shared spaces for bringing residents together and creating a sense of community.
In 1869, Winnetka’s first park was created when Charles Peck donated the plot of land now bordered by Elm, Maple, Oak, and Cedar streets to the village. Peck’s donation was not without stipulations – in the deed, he specified that the land had to remain park land in perpetuity.
Originally called the Village Common, the first park is now known as the Village Green and has been the central meeting place for community events for over 150 years. The village’s Fourth of July celebration has taken place there since 1886, the idea for the Community House was born there, and several school and sporting activities have been held on the Village Green as well. The park is also home to the Cenotaph, which honors the Winnetkans who have died fighting for their country.
The Village Green, as well as Winnetka’s many other parks and beaches, is managed by the Winnetka Park District. Founded in 1904, the Park District aims to protect the village’s park lands so that Winnetkans can continue to come together, enjoy, and share these special spaces for years to come.
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Speech on the Village Green
On July 25, 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a historic speech on the Village Green in Winnetka thanks to the efforts of the North Shore Summer Project, a group of activists focused on addressing systemic racism and housing inequality on the North Shore. Dr. King spoke to a crowd of over 8,000 – the largest to ever assemble on the Village Green.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks to the crowd on the Village Green, 1965.
In Pursuit of Play
Winnetka’s parks and beaches have drawn residents to the village since the first park was created in 1869. These shared spaces have provided numerous recreational activities, such as boating, fishing, swimming, biking, sledding, and ice skating, to name a few. Winnetka’s green spaces and lakefront have also served as places for people to come together as a community amidst the village’s natural resources. View a gallery of images below.
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