In 1999, the park was renamed Sheila Kemper Dietrich Park for outgoing Park and Recreation Board member Mrs.

Over 500 people attended the dedication on June 30, 1949.

The neighborhood proposed the name of “Hawthorn Park” after the state flower of Missouri, which the Park Board accepted. The bond funds allowed improvements to the park, strongly supported by the local residents, so there would be several play areas and playground supervision. Several years later after some adjustments to the Gillham Road alignment were made the property was used for a simple play area for the neighborhood, mostly as a junior baseball field. The property had originally been acquired in 1899 as part of condemnation for a new roadway which became Gillham Road named for early Park Board Commissioner Robert Gillham. One of the playgrounds affected was located between 26 th and 27 th Streets, Gillham Road and Cherry Street. In 1947 city bonds were passed for improvements to playgrounds all over the city.