Originally known as Lake Park, Lincoln Park’s transformation began in 1860, evolving from a former public cemetery. By 1865, it was renamed to honor President Abraham Lincoln. The management transitioned to the Lincoln Park Commission in 1869, marking a new era for this significant Chicago landmark. At that time, Lincoln Park stretched from Diversey Parkway to North Avenue. The late 1870s saw the inception of Lake Shore Drive, envisioned as a scenic boulevard along Lake Michigan. Interestingly, it was the property owners south of Lincoln Park, residing near Lake Michigan and Ohio Street, who played a crucial role in extending Lake Shore Drive southward from Oak Street. These residents, understanding the value of enhanced lakefront access, agreed to relinquish their riparian rights and contribute financially to the landfill extension. This extension was essential, incorporating a breakwater to protect the newly formed lakeshore and roadway from the relentless erosion of Lake Michigan.
The project to extend Lake Shore Drive, completed in the 1890s, was ambitious and comprehensive. It featured a fifty-foot wide roadway, complemented by a beautifully crafted granite-paved beach. Stone sidewalks invited leisurely strolls, while dedicated paths catered to both cyclists and horseback riders. Expansive lawns and double rows of elm trees lined each side of the roadway, creating an aesthetically pleasing and functional public space. This development significantly enhanced the area near Ohio Street, making it a more accessible and desirable part of Lincoln Park.
As the 20th century dawned, ambitious proposals emerged from City of Chicago officials to establish a bathing beach specifically at Ohio Street. However, the Lincoln Park Commission initially resisted these plans. By 1913, Mayor Carter Harrison, recognizing the growing need for public recreational spaces, directed the city’s Special Park Commission to create a modest sand beach at the foot of Ohio Street. This early iteration of Ohio Street Beach was equipped with dressing rooms and lockers, and even provided bathing suits for men. A policeman was stationed there, highlighting the city’s commitment to managing this new public amenity. However, this small beach was considered provisional, and its operation was limited to a couple of seasons. Throughout this period, the paved promenade connecting Oak Street and Ohio Street remained a popular feature, offering continuous lakefront access.
The early 1920s witnessed a surge in popularity at Oak Street Beach, Lincoln Park’s adjacent but smaller beach. Overcrowding became a concern, prompting citizens to advocate for a permanent, larger sand beach at Ohio Street. In response, the City Council allocated $25,000 in 1923 to realize this project. Concerns were raised about the angular design of the proposed beach and its potential impact on water circulation, which could lead to public health issues. City engineers conducted studies to assess these concerns and concluded that the planned beach configuration should not pose significant problems. Despite these findings, the project stalled. In 1931, the City undertook improvements to Lake Shore Drive just north of Ohio Street and subsequently transferred ownership of the area to the Lincoln Park Commission.
In 1934, the Lincoln Park Commission was integrated into the newly formed Chicago Park District. Further enhancements to Lake Shore Drive in the late 1930s and early 1940s included the development of the long promenade on the east side, stretching from Oak Street to Ohio Street. During this period, a small triangular beach emerged at the southern end of the promenade, further enhancing the appeal of the Ohio Street area. The Chicago Park District continued to operate the small Ohio Street Beach until 1958. Its closure was necessitated by the construction of the city’s new central filtration plant, built on a man-made peninsula just north of Navy Pier. Completed in 1965, this massive undertaking resulted in a 10-acre park, later named Milton Olive Park in honor of the African-American war hero Milton Olive, III. Crucially, this project also led to the creation of an enlarged and improved Ohio Street Beach, solidifying its place as a cherished recreational spot within Lincoln Park and the broader Chicago landscape.
