FP Review Articles about the Founder of Forest Park - Ferdinand Haase

Also comparing the original vision for Forest Park with the Cultural Park Plans and Vision. Read the articles; let's make this happen!


A couple articles by John Rice.


Article: Whatever Became of the Haase Clan?


Editorial: Haase and DiFebo, Dreaming Big


"Ferdinand Haase was the "Daniel Burnham" of Forest Park. He was a visionary who made no small plans. He wrote a letter in 1863 describing his dream for Haase's Park and for establishing a German settlement here. It's a remarkable document advocating for a park, back when access to green space could be a matter of life or death. He described Chicago as a disease-ridden city with open sewers, plagued by poor air and water quality. He could picture city dwellers flocking to his park, "a piece of country with fresh air" and a wooded area with a bathing beach on the Des Plaines River. 


"We are trying to create a place similar to Haase's dream," Ralph said, "a green space that all could come and enjoy. The Cultural Park seeks to keep this property in the public domain forever." Haase didn't have the luxury of preserving all of his property as a park. Burdened by debt, he sold off large parcels that became Concordia Cemetery and Jewish Waldheim Cemetery. He replaced Haase Park with Forest Home Cemetery.

"They both dreamed of a community-sponsored park that could be rented out for picnics and performing arts. Haase imagined a site for German festivals, while Ralph proposes a music venue, along the lines of the Ravinia Festival, each a potential money-maker for the village. "Without doubt, the park would bring big interest in money value," Haase wrote. Ralph also foresees concerts and rentals providing a revenue stream for the park. 

"However, making money is secondary to providing a "grandiose woods park" for the public. Haase imagined even "rich Americans looking longingly at Haase's Park, as a country estate for themselves." In Ralph's case, he is hoping to obtain donations, or corporate sponsorship to provide seed money for the project. He also has the support of local political leaders, who spoke of providing government funding for the project.