Originally located just to the East of State Street, roughly running from Brown Cemetery, down Logan Street to Cass Street, this park is now completely covered with houses. The park was established by the Chicago & Alton Railroad as a destination for city dwellers to get some fresh air before the advent of the automobile. Given that the Sanitary & Ship Canal is described as "new," it was probably established in existence from about 1900 until approximately World War I. With so many more trains running, wrecks were fairly common which may be why the ad covered the safety features of the railroad line.

An early ad touted: Alton Park is located at Lemont, Illinois, twenty-five miles from Chicago, on the main line of the Chicago & Alton Railway. The regular train service comprises twenty-two trains a day; the run consumes forty minutes. The line is double tracked, rock ballasted and protected by automatic safety signals for the entire distance, and can therefore comfortably care for any number of special trains which may be required to handle the largest crowds. Alton park is a beautiful natural grove of thirty acres, and occupies an eminence just back of the Chicago & Alton Passenger Station. It commands a fine view of the Desplaines Valley, through which flows the old Illinois and Michigan and the new Drainage Canals. In the early days the present park was the old Indian Fort where the pioneer missionary, Father Marquette first met and preached the gospel to the great Potawatomie Chief, Ash-Kum. Alton Park is the most interesting, as well as the most picturesque picnic gound in Cook County. The park proper comprises about twenty acres, enclosed with an eight-foot tight board fence; has the largest dancing pavilion in the State, plenty of pure, cold water supplied by an artesian well two thousand and twenty feet deep, fine restaurant and lunch room; ice house; plenty of stands; 250 tables and benches, bowling alley ; plenty of swings and all kinds of games. No gambling in any form is allowed."

The Chicago & Joliet Electric street car company also used a similar marketing strategy in setting up Dellwood Park in the south side of Lockport, Illinois.