In 1916, the City of Chicago purchased land along East 73rd Street on which to construct a pumping station for the rapidly-growing South Shore community. The Water Department never built the pumping station, and, in 1927, the City Council authorized the Bureau of Parks and Recreation to use part of the property for park development. The following year, the City Council named the new park for Ross A. Woodhull (1878-1944), who served South Shore as 7th Ward Alderman from 1917 through 1928. After 1924, Woodhull was chairman of the council's finance committee. In 1928, Woodhull was elected to the Chicago Sanitary District Board of Trustees, serving as board president from 1934 until his death in 1944.

By 1930, Woodhull Park had playing fields, an open-sided shelter, a sand court, and a wading pool. The Chicago Park District began to manage the park in 1959, and has since added a playground and a running track. The original oval-shaped wading pool has also been converted to a spray pool.

Woodhull Park features a walking path - 0.11 miles.