Bataan Park is a public park in Melrose Park, Illinois, with outdoor recreation facilities and a history connected to local soldiers deployed to the Philippines during World War II. It’s about a 17-minute drive from Hillside Manor Motel.
- Location: 1220 N. Ninth Ave., Melrose Park
- Park features: walking track, playground, pickleball courts and community gardens
- Park district: Veterans Park District
Finding Bataan Park from Hillside
Bataan Park is at 1220 N. Ninth Ave. in Melrose Park. The Veterans Park District lists the park among its facilities and parks.
The park is outside the Village of Hillside’s public parks, so search for Bataan Park in Melrose Park rather than assuming it appears under Hillside’s municipal park listings.
What to expect at a neighbourhood park
Bataan Park includes a walking track, a playground, pickleball courts, community gardens and outdoor exercise equipment. It also has a parking lot and an outdoor restroom facility.
The playground is an ADA playground with a poured-in-rubber surface. You can combine a walk with time at the playground or a game on the courts.
Facilities and park rules to check
Check the official site before you go for current facility information and park guidance.
Bataan Park’s name honors the local impact of the Bataan Death March and the Illinois National Guard armory in Maywood. In 1940, 122 men from the armory were deployed to the Philippines as part of a U.S. tank division.
After Bataan fell in April 1942, local soldiers were forced into the march; about one-third of the local men sent to the Philippines survived and returned home. The Villa Park Historical Society Museum is another nearby stop for local history.
Planning a short outdoor break
For a straightforward visit, head to the park’s Melrose Park address and choose how to spend your time among its facilities.
A walk on the track can be the main activity, or you can pair it with the playground, courts or outdoor exercise equipment. For a base for a park outing, Hillside Manor Motel is about a 17-minute drive away.
Melrose Park’s nearby heritage sites can add a historical stop to an outdoor outing.
Nearby Graue Mill offers another stop for a wider local itinerary, with a chance to learn about the area’s history while visiting Graue Mill.
FAQs
Where is Bataan Park?
It’s in Melrose Park, Illinois, at 1220 N. Ninth Ave.
What facilities does Bataan Park have?
Facilities include a walking track, an ADA playground, pickleball courts, community gardens, outdoor exercise equipment, a parking lot and an outdoor restroom facility.
Why is the park called Bataan Park?
The name honors the local impact of the Bataan Death March and the Illinois National Guard armory in Maywood.