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7
Sports In the 1950’s
Local sports were
important in Mount Prospect for people of all ages. With the tremendous
growth of suburban communities open space for recreation became a norm for
many in the Chicago area. With the great rise in the number of children
there was a need for activities in the community. Because of these factors,
different leagues and outdoor sports became very popular in Mount Prospect.
Opportunities on the golf course abounded. The Mount Prospect Country Club was a semi-public 18 hole golf course that was referred to as the “sportiest course in Cook County.” Old Orchard Country Club also provided playing opportunities for local golf enthusiasts. In the area there was a total of 2 public golf courses and 2 private golf courses for local residents to chose from.
In 1955 a local park district was created, The Mount Prospect Park District. A year later the Park District built a pool at Lions Memorial Park. The new pool was almost $260,000 dollars and was one of very few 50 meter pools in the Chicago area.
With the opening of Prospect High School in 1959 school sponsored sports became popular. Prospect High School sports history started successfully. The Prospect High football team went 4-1 in conference games in 1959, losing only once to Glenbrook with several players being named to the all-conference team. The 1959 Prospect High basketball team started off even better then the football team, going 22-2 which included a win in their first ever game against St. Charles.
Mount Prospect Midget Football and Little League were extremely popular in the 1950’s. Parents were heavily involved in both and they were a huge social activities for both the parents and children. Midget Football would hold a dance each year and, as shown by the budget for alcoholic beverages being twice the amount for juice and soda pop, the festivities were not just for the children.
