Douglas Boulevard was built in 1870 as part of architect William Le Baron Jenney’s commission for the West Park District. Jenney designed the boulevards connecting Douglas, Garfield, and Humboldt Parks as formal promenades for strolls and carriage rides. To break up the formality of these formal paths, Jenney dotted the boulevards with impressive squares. Squares such as Independence, located at the corner of Douglas and Independence Boulevards, provided people with a spot to rest and relax along the boulevards.