Grand Crossing Park and its

surrounding community take their

name from a historic train wreck

which occurred less than a

mile away from the site of the

park. In 1853, a terrible collision between Illinois Central and

Michigan Southern Railroad trains resulted in 18 deaths and 40

injuries. Public officials responded

by forcing all trains to come to a complete stopat 75th Street and

South Chicago Avenue, the site

of the accident. By 1907, the South 

Park Commission began efforts to create a park for the expanding population. Bolstered by the recent success of its ten revolutionary

parks, the South Park Commissioners wanted to provide similar facilities for Grand Crossing, including a playground, a playing field, wading

and swimming pools, and a

field house.