Oak Park station (CTA Douglas branch)
| Company type | Rapid transit terminal |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transportation |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Defunct | 1952 |
| Headquarters | Berwyn , United States |
Area served | Chicago "L" Douglas Park branch |
Oak Park functioned as a rapid transit terminal on Chicago's "L" system, marking the western endpoint of the Douglas Park branch located in Berwyn, Illinois, from 1924 until 1952. Although construction of the branch was initiated in 1896 by the Metropolitan West Side Elevated Railroad Company, the line did not extend to Oak Park until March 16, 1924, following the Metropolitan's consolidation into the Chicago Rapid Transit Company (CRT). Proposed plans to continue the branch westward to Harlem Avenue were abandoned due to inadequate development in that area.
The station consisted of a modest clapboard structure with a pitched roof situated on an island platform, with tracks terminating sharply on both ends.
Operations were transferred to the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) in 1947, which sought to improve efficiency. By mid-1951, the CTA recommended shortening the Douglas branch and introducing skip-stop service beginning December 9, in addition to other modifications such as closing the Westchester branch. Legal action was taken by Berwyn and nearby Cicero to prevent these cutbacks; however, their suit was unsuccessful. Consequently, on February 3, 1952, the branch was truncated to terminate at 54th/Cermak station.