Veterans Grove

What was here before?

The area was developed in the 1890s and was known as Newtown. Cord Meyer (1854-1910) and his brothers transformed it from a declining agricultural region into a middle-class residential area. They laid down streets, constructed a sewer system, brought in gas and electricity, built a bank, and set up a system of trolley cars. To reflect the change in Newtown’s fortunes, and to disassociate it from the polluted Newtown Creek, it was renamed Elmhurst for the groves of elm trees in the neighborhood. Elmhurst continued to develop through the 20th and 21st centuries and is now one of the most diverse communities in the United States, home to immigrants from Asia, South America, Europe, and Africa.

The home of humanitarian Walentyna Janta-Po?czy?ski and her husband, Aleksander, was adjacent to this park. During World War II, Walentyna translated reports from the Polish Underground State into English. They revealed Nazi atrocities, including the existence of concentration camps in German-occupied Poland, to the United Nations. Walentyna and Aleksander met in Buffalo, New York after the war and moved into the house in 1960, which became a haven for recent migrants from Poland. Walentyna stayed in the house until April 2020 when she died at the age of 107.

How did this site become a playground?

The City acquired this land from the Cord Meyer Development Company by condemnation in 1928. It was named Elmhurst Memorial Park at the request of the Elmhurst Post 298 of the American Legion and renamed Veterans Grove in September 1985.

In 2017, steel play equipment, swings, and fencing were installed as well as a new spray shower area for use during the summer months and the dog run was upgraded. Underground catch basins and plantings were also installed to capture rainwater and divert overflow from the City’s stormwater system and alleviate soil erosion.

What is this playground named for?

This parkland is dedicated to the memory of those soldiers from Elmhurst who lost their lives serving in World War I. A World War I-era howitzer once sat in the center of the triangle. Howitzers, which are light-to-medium weight artillery pieces, were used extensively during World War I as a means of providing support for both air and infantry units. Many Parks properties were adorned with them but at the onset of World War II, they were collected and melted down to be made into to weapons. The howitzer was replaced by a plaque celebrating all Elmhurst veterans.