Fuller Park is Chicago community area #37, a narrow South Side community between Pershing Road and Garfield Boulevard, just south of Rate Field. It is one of the city’s least populous areas, with an estimated 2,345 residents (CMAP, 2020–2024 ACS).
| Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Community area number | 37 |
| Side of the city | South Side |
| Population (2020–2024 ACS estimate, CMAP) | 2,345 |
| Neighborhoods within | Fuller Park |
| Main L stations | Red Line: 47th |
| Major parks | Fuller Park (opened 1912); Eden Place Nature Center |
Boundaries
Pershing Road forms the north edge and Garfield Boulevard the south edge. The Dan Ryan Expressway and Metra’s Rock Island line run along the east side, and the Chicago & Western Indiana Railroad forms the west side.
Neighborhoods within Fuller Park
The community area is a single neighborhood, wedged between rail lines and the expressway. It takes its name from Fuller Park, which honors Melville W. Fuller, Chief Justice of the United States from 1888 to 1910.
History
Irish workers for the railroads and stockyards settled here after the Civil War. The Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railroad built a roundhouse in 1871, and the Town of Lake, which included the area, was annexed to Chicago in 1889. Germans and Austrians arrived in the 1890s and African Americans after 1900.
The Dan Ryan Expressway split the community in the 1950s and displaced about a third of its residents. The Union Stock Yard closed in 1971, removing many jobs. Population fell from 17,174 in 1950 to 4,364 in 1990.
Landmarks and parks
- Fuller Park fieldhouse (1912), designed in Greek Revival style by D. H. Burnham and Company and listed on the National Register in 2002.
- Eden Place Nature Center, opened in 2003 on three acres of former brownfield.
- Queen Anne-style houses at 5029–5045 S. Princeton, designed by Henry Newhouse in the mid-1880s.
Getting there
The Red Line’s 47th station is the main L stop.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Fuller Park named after?
Melville Weston Fuller, a Chicago attorney who served as Chief Justice of the United States from 1888 to 1910.
How many people live in Fuller Park?
CMAP estimates 2,345 residents (2020–2024 ACS), down from 17,174 in 1950.
What split Fuller Park in two?
The Dan Ryan Expressway, built in the 1950s, which displaced about a third of residents.
What is Eden Place Nature Center?
An environmental education center that opened in 2003 on three acres of former brownfield land.
Related guides
- Armour Square (#34) community area guide
- Grand Boulevard (#38) community area guide
- New City community area guide
- Englewood community area guide
- CTA Red Line guide
- All 77 Chicago community areas
Sources
- CMAP Community Data Snapshot: Fuller Park (June 2026 release)
- Encyclopedia of Chicago: Fuller Park
- Wikipedia: Fuller Park, Chicago
- Wikipedia: List of Chicago “L” stations
Last updated: October 31, 2026