Parks and Recreation, Landscaping and Tree Planting, Recreation Halls. In 1926, the South Park Commission created a new 30-acre park in the growing Auburn Gresham community, including many of the features originally envisioned by its long-time superintendent, Frank Foster. Because the commissioners had to make 50 separate land purchases between 1921 and 1932, the park developed slowly. By the early 1930s, Foster Park’s improvements were only an athletic field, tennis courts, and a comfort station (restroom). In 1934, the newly-formed Chicago Park District improved Foster Park’s landscape and constructed a small recreation building with the aid of federal relief workers (probably from the Civil Works Administration).