Amundsen (Roald) Park

Amundsen Park is among the thirteen parks created by the Northwest Park District. The Northwest Park District began to purchase land for the park in 1925, on the recommendation of its Committee on Park Sites. By 1928, the Northwest Park District completed the land acquisition for the park and the North Austin Community Club was urging speedy improvement of the property. Before the end of that year, the Park District had acquired the remainder of the park's 13.33 acres, contracted for playground equipment, and approved fieldhouse plans. By 1931, some improvements had been made, but a plea by the North Austin Manor Neighborhood Club to move ahead with the fieldhouse could not be honored due to the District's financial condition.  

The Northwest Park District designated the park Roald Amundsen Park in 1933; two years after rejecting a petition to name the park for Norwegian-born football coach Knute Rockne (1888-1931). The Norwegian National League suggested the Amundsen name as a way to honor Norwegian polar adventurer Roald Amundsen (1872-1928). Amundsen led many scientific explorations in the Arctic and Antarctic, but is best known for discovering the South Pole on December 4, 1911. In 1928, Amundsen's plane disappeared near the North Pole as he led a search for a missing Italian dirigible.

In 1934, the Northwest Park District was one of the 22 park districts that were consolidated into the Chicago Park District, and Amundsen Park became part of the Chicago Park District’s portfolio.  The Chicago Park District eventually constructed the Amundsen Park fieldhouse in 1968.