Gillson Park Named Among 'Most Endangered' Sites In Illinois

WILMETTE, IL — A preservationist nonprofit has named Gillson Park in Wilmette one of the five "most endangered" historically and culturally significant sites in the state.

Landmarks Illinois included the 107-year-old lakefront park on its 2022 Most Endangered Historic Places in Illinois list, citing possible changes to the 60-acre site as part of the Wilmette Park District's comprehensive planning process.

The park was originally designed by Benjamin Gage, one of the first superintendents of the Wilmette Park District.

In 1938, it was expanded in a naturalistic style by C.D. Wagstaff and Robert Everly, who were influenced by prominent Prairie School landscape architect Jens Jensen, according to Landmarks Illinois President and CEO Bonnie McDonald.

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"Prairie-style elements of the park include a stone council ring, stratified stone walls and steps, curvilinear roadways and walking paths and informal tree plantings and open space," McDonald said. "It is also home to wildfire gardens, swimming and sailing beaches, a native bird habitat, picnic and play areas and more."

The park also includes the 8,900-square-foot Lakeview Center building, which includes offices and room for summer camps and community events, as well as Wallace Bowl, the outdoor venue built as part of the Works Progress Administration in 1939, she noted.

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"There is a comprehensive planning process being done right now by the Wilmette Park District board that is currently considering changes to the park that would alter its passive design," McDonald said. "Amongst the possible changes are adding roadways, parking areas, and other intrusive surfaces that put old growth trees and other open green space at risk."

Consultants from The Lakota Group hired by park district officials to develop a comprehensive plan for the park proposed five design concepts last year. According to the consultants' presentation, "Site Plan Concept 1" is the most popular overall of the five plans.

"Concept 1 is strongly preferred by park enthusiasts, as it would be the least intrusive, and maintain the park's historic landscape, while still making many long-needed improvements," McDonald said. "Despite widespread public support for Concept 1, the park district has delayed selecting an option and instead sought further cost estimates for all five options — including those that would be the most destructive to the park's passive and naturalistic design."

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Park District Executive Director Steve Wilson provided answers to questions from the community about the progress on a comprehensive plan for Gillson Park last year. At the time, he said it was too early to say what, if any, new structures would be added to the park.

"Once it is developed, the Comprehensive Plan will include a Landscape Plan," Wilson said. "Our approach is to first identify where all infrastructure, such as roads and pathways, would be located and then create a landscape plan that compliments all other elements of the Comprehensive Plan."

Last year, village residents formed a group called Keep Gillson Green to advocate against any possible intrusive changes to the park, McDonald said.

"[Keep Gillson Green] has also urged the Park district to make only minimal changes necessary to repair existing infrastructure and to adopt a mass landscaping plan for Gillson Park," McDonald said. "In October of 2021, again, despite resident objections, the Park District Board voted to expand Lakeview Center in the park, which residents believe will continue the park district's efforts to expand roads and parking."

Renovation of the Lakeview Center is tentatively due to begin in June, according to minutes from a February park district committee meeting.

Keep Gillson Green co-founder Mary Shea provided a statement to accompany the park's inclusion on Landmarks Illinois' list of endangered sites, which for the first time included fewer than 10 locations.

"The park is so beloved and well used by many people, not just Wilmette residents, and shows that the naturalistic character of its design has stood the test of time. The original architects had an understanding and appreciation of the land and its unique location. The original design reflects how people today continue to use and enjoy the park for walking, swimming, bird, watching and simply being in nature," Shea said.

"The features which give the park its great appeal have so far been retained with an optimum traffic flow," the resident continued. "While it is important to maintain the park, significant design changes are not needed, especially those that would alter its natural character with its majestic trees and open green space."

Landmarks Illinois has had success raising awareness about threatened historical sites on the North Shore in recent years, although that has not always translated into their preservation.

In 2018, it included the Stran-Steel House, a "House of Tomorrow" from the 1933 World's Fair that was unintentionally purchased by a developer, on the list. No one was interested in relocating the house, so it wound up being dismantled later that year.

In 2019, the nonprofit included two sites in Glencoe: the 12.2-acre Hoover Estate at 1801 Green Bay Road and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Booth Cottage.

While the Hoover Estate was purchased by a developer for $10 million and demolished to make way for a new residential subdivision, the Glencoe Historical Society and the Glencoe Park District managed to coordinate an effort to relocate the cottage down the block to park district land after its owners sought to demolish it.

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