Lombard Park District

Introduction Districtwide Comprehensive Master Plan 11 Colonel and Mrs. Plum were fond of travel, and on one of their trips abroad they visited the famous Lemoine Lilac Gardens in Nancy, France. They brought back two of the famous French Lilac creations--the beautiful, pure white Mme Casimer Perier, and the lovely double, light purple Michel Buchner. Thus, the famous Lilacia Park and its collection of French lilacs had its beginning. These beautiful shrubs were the start of an extensive collection of fine lilacs, which Colonel Plum would nurture and enlarge upon until his death. Upon his death on April 28, 1927, he left his entire estate, even then known as Lilacia, to the Village of Lombard. The residence was to serve as a library in the memory of his wife, who had preceded him in death. The grounds would also serve as a public park, with the stipulation that a park district be formed to care for and add to his already famous collection of lilacs. The estate was accepted by a referendum vote and by court order the Lombard Park District was established and incorporated on September 26, 1927. The Park District encompassed approximately two square mile and was about one-third larger than the village. By 1998, the Park District encompassed approximately 18 square miles, covering most of the Village of Lombard and portions of Glen Ellyn, Villa Park, and unincorporated DuPage County. In 1927, the population of Lombard was close to 3,000 and residency within the Park District was 3,500. In 1998, the service population of the park district was nearly 48,000. The iron deer located on the western edge in Lilacia Park, was cast in a Pennsylvania foundry in 1888. It became the property of A.H. Andrews and his family, who lived on the southeast corner of Main Street and Parkside Avenue (DuPage Theatre). Their gardener, Karl Hillman, who had a deep love for nature, placed the iron deer and a large metal dog in the yard and kept the yard "like a beautiful park." In 1926, the family moved away from Lombard, and Mae Tinee, a movie critic for the Chicago Tribune, purchased the home. During the same year, the house caught fire. The house, along with a fortune in antique articles and furniture, was totally destroyed. The iron deer was moved to Colonel Plum's estate. Many Lombard residents have fond memories of sitting upon the iron deer for photos giving 'him' fond hugs and caresses. In May 1928, Jens Jensen, a noted landscape architect, was chosen to lay out and supervise the ground arrangement of Lilacia Park in an effort to showcase the 200 varieties of lilacs. Jensen was well known for his work at New York's Central Park and the development of many showcase sites for the Chicago Park District. In subsequent years, additional property was purchased adjacent to the Plum Estate, thus, enhancing the acreage of Lilacia Park and its lilac collection to eight and one half acres. Lilacia Park serves as the center of festivities for Lilac Time, Lombard's annual May festival, and other celebrations relative to community pride and heritage. Lilacia Park is now home to the Lombard Park District's administrative offices, which relocated from the Helen Plum Library in June of 1998. Successful referendums led to the purchase of more properties on which to develop programs and facilities. On October 13, 1952, the district hired the first recreation employee, and thus the recreation department was created. Park maintenance had been in existence since 1927 with the initial acquisition of Lilacia Park and later land purchases. Lombard Common, Sunset Knoll, and Madison Meadows were purchased in 1952. Sunset Knoll and Madison Meadows were eventually expanded in 1971 and Sunset Knoll recently underwent a renovation after winning an OSLAD grant in 2010. Lombard Common Park now serves as the home for the Paradise Bay Water Park, built in 2010 after a successful referendum vote. Lombard Common Park has been home to the district's swimming facilities since the first pool opened in the 1950s. Lombard Common Park is also home to the Lombard Community Building and the beautiful 'sunken garden' surrounded by a flowering display of crab apple trees.

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