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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.
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