Riverview: Gone but Not Forgotten 1904 - 1967

by Chuck Wlodarczyk

Riverview Park was a favorite summertime destination for Chicago children and their families. Although it was a long trip from the Southeast Side to Riverview, it was a rewarding journey on a warm summer day; an event to be savored over the cold winter. Let's make a nostalgic visit. Riverview Park was located at the northwest corner of Western Ave. and Belmont Ave. on Chicago's Northwest Side. When Riverview opened on July 2, 1904, it was the world's largest amusement park. Located on 74 acres, the west side of the park was bounded by the North Branch of the Chicago River. To the north stood the campus of Lane Tech High School. The former grounds are now home to Riverview Plaza shopping center, the Belmont District Police Station, DeVry University, a manufacturing company and Richard Clark Park, part of the Chicago Park District. The south end of Clark Park has a wooded area where many of the Riverview Park foundations are still visible and is currently used as a bicycle dirt jump and pump track park maintained by the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers. A sculpture entitled Riverview by local artist Jerry Peart stands in front of the police station.

117 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This nostalgic book of a magical place - Riverview Amusement Park - was delight to read, from beginning to end. It is filled with many photos, from the origin of the park, through its heyday, to its unexpected end. There are pictures of the many rides, especially the ever-popular roller coasters. Also included are pictures of other attractions, as well as the vendors, the workers, and most of all, the happy people visiting the park. Much of the charm of this collection stems from the author’s delightful narration and his reminisces of his experiences at the park. He fondly remembers spending time there, and encourages readers to see if perchance, they might spot their own image in the many shots of the crowds in the park. Much information about the park, and photos of various items of memorabilia are included. This well-researched book also details the park’s rides, the safety records, the inspections and testing of the rides and other technical information. Included, too, are some pictures of its surprise demolition. Much speculation exists as to its sudden closing, but the people who really knew never divulged that information. This book was a delightful, if virtual, walk through the park, the one and only Riverview, billed as “The World’s Largest Amusement Park.” This book is recommended to everyone who wants to see what a great amusement park was really like.

[Randee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know about Riverview. Great pictures!

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d call this a niche project — a very lovingly done niche project. The author took some amazing photographs of Riverview, especially in the 1960s, and he couples them with his own deeply nostalgic memories of the park (and some great photos from others, plus memories from folks who worked there.) I suspect for many people who loved Riverview this is precisely the book they want: big detailed photos and fun, shared memories (“did you like to ride in the back or the front?” “Remember the flower garden out front?” “Did you like the old entrance or the new one?”). It’s not really a complete history of Riverview, though, in the sense that only modest attention is paid to the early years, either in photos or in the text. But for a reader wanting a detailed and deeply nostalgic snapshot of the park, especially as it specifically existed in the 60s, this would be the perfect pick.

[Mark · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolute garbage. The best use for this book is toilet paper. It feels like a bunch of notes were written and piled in a garbage can and a group of monkeys put everything together and this is what came out. It's poorly researched, it's extremely poorly written, it's made by a cheap publisher, most likely because everyone saw it for the garbage and didn't want to handle it and the author bribed someone on the brink to help him. Stay away from this trash, go read Riverview Amusement Park (Images of America) which is far superior and doesn't sound like some kid wrote it over a weekend.