A Town Called Plainfield
Lambert: Village Green's History from One-Time Dirt Tract to Public Park
The land bordered by Des Plaines, Ottawa, Fox River and Chicago streets was donated as a "public commons" by Chester Ingersoll.
The Inquiry Jim, a Plainfield Patch reader, asked: “When was the Village Green park donated to the village? What, if any, restrictions have been placed on buildings in the public park? What is its history?” The Facts The Village Green is the oldest, dedicated public space in Plainfield. However, it was not originally envisioned in its present location. In August 1834, when Chester Ingersoll laid out “Planefield,” he proposed a formal public square that would be fronted by commercial and public buildings. Ingersoll’s original concept envisioned that present-day Lockport Street would have been interrupted one-half block east and west of Fox River Street. The orderly grid of streets he laid out south of “the Lockport Road” would have been …
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