Like West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park gets its name from Garfield Park, previously Central Park, which was renamed after the assassination of President Garfield. The Chicago Park District manages approximately 20% of the neighborhood due to the park which occupies the neighborhood.
Though it was incorporated into Chicago in 1869, it was sparsely populated for decades. The extension of railroads into the area brought industry and commerce, and numerous settlers.
The principal tourist attraction of the neighborhood is Garfield Park, which is also home to the Garfield Park Conservatory, among the largest and most notable conservatories in the country. The Conservatory housed glass sculptures by famed artist Chihuly who installed glass flowers and art throughout the Conservatory. Coincidentally, the Conservatory itself is sometimes referred to as “landscaped art under glass.”
Two of Chicago Transit Authority’s train lines, the Blue Line and Green Line, serves this neighborhood
