History of St. Joseph Park
Our energetic young pastor, Mgr. Matthias Butala, outlined plans for a parish park on the grounds neighboring the new cemetery. During March, 1939, the men of the parish helped grade the grounds; they planted over one hundred trees and erected buildings so that the park was ready for use in the summer. The Most Rev. Bernard J. Sheil, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago blessed the grounds on July 9th.
In 1940, the hall was erected with just walls, a roof, and a floor to be used for summer purposes only. In 1941, a cyclone demolished most of the walls of the building. It was a blessing in disguise as we were able to reconstruct the hall with the insurance money, adding the kitchen and stage area to the hall proper with a gymnasium floor. In 1943, the Legion Bar area was added to the hall. Heat was installed in 1946.
In 1941 the park altar in memory of the Golden Jubilee of the parish was installed in the cemetery. In September of 1947, a grotto (erected in memory of 19 parishioners who died in WWII) was designed by Fr. Kuzma at the parish cemetery on Raynor Avenue. It sits opposite the Golden Jubilee Altar.
In 1950, St. Joseph Park completed a new softball diamond that was illuminated for night use. This new field utilized the additional property bought last year on Theodore Street. This was added to the already existing tennis courts, 2 basketball courts, a hard ball diamond, and children's playgrounds.
To this day summer picnics at St. Joseph Park are a very popular tradition for people in Joliet and surrounding towns.