Super cute park. Walked around with my dog to see everything this park has to offer. Surprised to see tennis courts, swimming pool and baseball fields. The little free library was stacked with books. I ended up borrowing a novel. Excited to get back to this park to play some tennis. read more

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This park is super cute. Not super crowded in the evening so it's a nice place for a picnic or a chill place to hangout. It looks like the facilities are well kept and the pool seems to be the main attraction but I did not check it out. read more

I remember playing in the playground as a pup. In my teens,I swam at the pool during the summer. It sucks how they remodeled the Men's locker room. read more

The was really nice, shaded area across the street with some tables. We had a picnic and then went to the playground. It was small by clean. A lot of families on the weekend. It was great for smaller kids, not bigger kid area. The pool at the park looked really nice and I was able to take my grandson in to go potty. A real plus when kids are small. I would take him back. read more

This is a great park. Someone decided to plant a crab apple tree which doesn't make sense because it is so messy in the fall when the apples fall and get wet and kids step on them etc. it really just wasn't thought through very well. But it's a cute place and a fun park for kids. read more

Holstein Park - Holstein park community center - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Since Maplewood Park closed down, its been hard to find another dog park. Holstein Park is the next best thing! It's well used and loved. The park is not completely fenced all the way around. It is also not a real "dog park". Pets must be leashed at all times, which I hope will change soon. Majority of people use it for a dog park, anyways. There are also no trash cans, so people just leave their dog poop bags on the side. It's a large area, considering most smaller parks are crammed. There's even a pool in the summer!! read more

This review is just for the pool. The pool is surrounded by a nice park, so it's more scenic than some of the other park district pools. That's about the only kind thing I can say about it, though. The pool deck is small with limited chairs/chaises. And, because there is no dedicated "adult swim" time on the weekends (aside from early morning lap swim) and childless adults aren't allowed in until afternoon (the lifeguards will deny you entry before then, even if you aren't planning to go in the water), good luck getting one of the few chairs. They are all scooped up by the parents and children during the family swim time and continue to be taken through open swim, even though half of them aren't actually being used because the parents and kids are in the water the whole time. So, if you're a childless adult who just wants sit and get a little sun, you're better off going to one of the other pools that don't treat adults without kids like second-class citizens. Also, as many of the other reviewers have noted, most of the lifeguards there are smug teens and 20-somethings on a power trip. I've been going to Chase Park Pool the last two summers instead, and it's so much more pleasant. Not as crowded, chaises are usually available, and decent, chill staff. read more

My wife and I try to take our kids to this pool once or twice a year on hot summer days. I am usually somewhat annoyed by their rules even though it is a free pool. However, today was special. We wanted to swim today around 11:00 am. Looked up the times online and it said it was adult swim at that time and then after that they would be closed until 12:45. At 12:45 family swim would begin. No problem. Went to lunch before and then will go to family swim. We got in the pool a little after 12:45 and they blew the whistle a little over 20 minutes later for a 15 minute break. Everyone got out of the pool and had to leave the pool area. Someone blew the whistle too early. Once the break was over they called adult swim again. Seems like a lot of adult swim in the middle of the day. Not to mention they just let families stand in line with kids waiting to get back in the pool with no communication that it was going to be adult swim again. Their online schedule does not match what the lifeguards have. We pointed this out and were told they would let their boss know. Another lady said she had just called and was given conflicting information. In a total of 4 hours kids got to swim approximately 20 minutes. I get nostalgic for this place because I have taken my kids there for years and the backdrop is better than other city pools we drive by. That is why it is a two star review and not one. Just be warned that the schedules may not match up and it may end up being a total waste of your time. read more

This beautiful park is the home to the Bucktown Arts Festival, but that's another (5-star) review. There's a great kids playground here with a tiny fountain for the li'l ones. But the star of Holstein Park (mooo!) is the sparkling blue pool! I was a bit confused as to where to enter after 1pm, as the Rules say something different than the Lifeguards or Staff had setup. Don't dare set foot anywhere but the locker room or face certain death! But just talk about Michael Phelps and that certain death should be swiftly avoided. I set up near some lazy sunbathers, since that was my goal for the day. We were all splashed by some poor high school swimmers who apparently haven't been taught not to kick above water and also favored cannonballs as a means to enter the pool. But all was peaceful, and having the Blue Angels entertain us on their fly-overs for the Air and Water Show was just icing on the cake! Didn't care to be shuttled out at 3:45pm for 4pm Family Swim. Why clear the pool area just to fill it again? There is a nice little wading pool for really little ones and Adult Lap Swim twice a day. And to boot, swimming is free!!! Holstein Poooooooool! read more

Rachel and I have spent many summer days here, lounging, people watching, and most importantly, swimming. Here are a few highlights from my most memorable moments The time that one of the lifeguards decked me the nose with a football, ala marsha brady style. Isn't it reassuring that lifeguards can't follow their own rules of "no horseplay" The guy in the short terry cloth robe, who was lathering himself in baby lotion, he motioned us over to talk to him. We were scared. Later on when he was attempting a backstroke we realized he was mentally challenged. One time Rachel and I were competing to see who could touch the bottom of the deep side first. I plummeted all the way to the bottom and when my toes touched the bottom of the pool I wasn't touching the bottom of the pool, i was stepping on some kid's crotch that was swimming by! There are obviously far too many fantastic stories to list. My recommendation is to come on a weekday, when they have more open swim time. Bring your flip flops, sunscreen, sweet beach towel and enjoy one of the largest pools the chicago park district has to offer. Just please don't trust the lifeguards with your life! read more

Holstein Park - Head Jumper - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great 50-meter pool. Lots of serious swimmers go here because swimming in this long of a pool is a luxury. For people complaining about Chicago Park District (CDP) rules I agree some leniency should occur occasionally, but many of the rules exist for your safety. You don't want to swim in a pool where someone has urinated or defecated. Also if you wear clothing in the pool you will damage the filtration system. If the filtration system will is damaged we're all going to get sick. Check the pool schedules online or at the park so you know when you can be there. If you don't like the schedule, go to a different pool. It's imperfect but Chicago has an incredibly extensive pool system. Be grateful. read more

Since our son was born, I've tried to go to the pool at Holstein about a dozen times. We've actually been in the water once. It's either closed due to the threat of rain, or their hours never make sense. Today we woke up to beautiful weather and decided to go to the pool. I checked their website, and the hours for the pool are difficult if not impossible to find. They have lots of times for programs, but nowhere does it say when the pool is "open" or "closed". So I call the park, but no one answers. Figuring the pool must be open by 10 AM on a Saturday, we decide to go to the park. Once at the park I look for some sort of sign to determine when the pool is open, but I could not find one. I asked three different parents at the playground and no one seemed to know, and one guy mentioned the pool has odd hours. Finally, I track down a park employee and ask him when it opens. With a huff and a puff, he tells me 11 for the kiddie pool (about 6 inches of water) and 12 for the main pool. I ask him why it opens so late, and again he acts annoyed, as if he isn't there to serve the public. I'm thinking, "Hey jerk, put up a sign or something!?" Trying to figure out what we should do....wait an hour to sit in 6 inches of water....wait two hours to go swimming in an actual pool my taxes helped pay for....or find another park that is more dedicated to making their pool accessible to the public....the park manager comes in and mockingly asks the first parks employee "what time does the pool open?", as if it's an inside joke between them. Douche bags. By now my son has peed through his swim diaper and he needs to be changed. No changing table in the men's room. I ask the parks manager where I should change him. The parks manager didn't seem to know where there was a changing room, except in the women's room. Thanks for that bit of information. At this, I'm extremely annoyed and I suggest I change my son on their ping pong table. Instead he suggests the men's locker room. I point out to him, the manager, that it's locked because the pool isn't open yet. Fortunately for my son, he was nice enough to unlock it for us. While we're talking I ask the manager why the pool schedule is so weird. He blames it on the Friends of Holstein Park group, who he claims demand the pool open at 7 AM every weekday morning so they can swim laps, and with a limited budget, they can't open earlier on the weekend. Fantastic. Great idea. Don't worry about young children who need to learn how to swim, and whose parents work during the week. My son naps at 12:30. Opening a pool at 12:00 on the weekends is idiotic. I'm beginning to understand why people move to the suburbs. Rahm Emanuel can make city data available on the web, but our local park can't post their ridiculous hours. Can I please have my taxes back? read more

I walk past this park every day on my way to the El. Currently, the trees by the entrance gates are in flower, so I walk slowly to breathe in the heady, floral scent. Ah, Spring. ::Sigh:: In addition to a lovely (free!) pool, Holstein Park also boasts a large, grassy expanse on the other side of the fieldhouse. As the weather warms up, the grass fills with children and dogs (and folks like me, sitting on a bench in the shade, reading and people-watching). The grass was recently re-seeded, so it is new! and improved! The fieldhouse itself is an interesting structure; large and old with unexpected touches of stained glass. This past December, it hosted a pretty awesome craft fair, and as I walk past it in the evening I hear the squeak of gym shoes on a basketball court. The Park District really does a commendable job using this building to house programs for Chicago kids. read more

I almost don't want to review this place, since it is a nicely-hidden secret in the summer. When you wake up and you're stuck to your bed like you've been pasted to it, throw some trunks on and head up Oakley Avenue, two blocks north of Armitage. You'll find a small, crowded, but refreshing community park with a POOL! For free. Only downside is that the park is postage-stamp sized. No more need to deal with Lake Michigan's beach closings or your friend's kiddie pool he filled with ice water and floating PBR cans. read more

The pool is nice and brand new locker rooms. Unfortunately this pool is run by kids who have some strange affinity for stupid rules. Rules rules rules. That is the deal here. If you are an adult who enjoys being treated like a child, then you will dig this place. Rules about clothes, drinks, where you can put their lounge chairs and the list goes on and on. You are being looked at, watched, judged and disciplined by the staff. And it is not done in a kind respectful manner. Really strange and unfortunate. This is a public park, not a private health club. I am all for keeping the place clean but wtf?? Bag the staff or retrain them and whoever is running the pool, reassign them. read more

When we arrived at the park I was a bit surprised to see a boy (prob 6yo) standing by the play structures with his pants down around his ankles... Aside from that, it was a fun playground! My daugher fell in love with slides again and was eager to play on the older kid play structure. A fabulous place to expend some kid-energy! read more

I thought I had reviewed the pool here before but that's obviously not the case. Let me unfold the tale of two pool times: Open Swim: Martha Z and I have had many crazy times here at open swim, tanning, people watching, getting hit on by a mentally challenged man in a terry cloth robe...what could be a more entertaining way to spend a hot summer afternoon with no money? Keep in mind that you will get kicked, stepped on, jumped on and yelled at, and the lifeguards don't give a rat's ass about you, but it's a small price to pay for the non-stop entertainment and refreshing water. Adult Lap Swim: This is my new obsession. Holstein Pool has not one, but two adult lap swims per day, every day. Now that my former teammate on the Y swim team won a silver medal last night and shamed me back into the pool, I will be spending a ton of time here. In fact I woke up at 6:45 AM thanks to the inspiring TV viewing that Matt Grevers and Michael Phelps have provided me the past few days. Believe it. The water is not cloudy, not hot, not too full of boogers, and minus one slowpoke in my lane, not too crowded with jackasses. A+ read more

This review is for the pool. The park itself is beautiful and perfect for little league, kickball games, or just bringing your kids to play at the park. I live a short walk away from the pool so it's mucho convenient for me in the summer. The area is beautiful with the new playground and the historic park district but the pool rules, times, and frigid cold water leave much to be desired. In addition to the sometimes rude pool staff, the hours change on a regular basis and the staff's response to the ever-changing rules/hours. I will say that you can find the hours on the website but don't count on them being updated. They will also call breaks at random times throughout the day (sometimes I think they call it just minutes after Open Swim just to annoy us) where everyone needs to completely leave the deck for 15 minutes. All-in-all, I complain about the above but there isn't another pool within walking distance from my place so I'll suck it up for a little sun. With a little bit of management, consistency and organization, this pool can be one of the best in the neighborhood! read more

Fantastic public access park and pool. I frequent the pool all summer long with my children and have never once had an issue with the lifeguards. We appreciate their commitment to safety and the work that they put in so that we can enjoy the public pool. Thank you!! read more

Holstein Park is spectacular! Great pool, packed with people all summer long. Events galore! The Bucktown Apple Pie contest is one of the highlights of the Chicago summer. Kick back at Holstein, one of our beautiful city parks! read more

Love this park and the lovely pool. I would give it 5 stars, if not for the locker rooms, which are rather worn down. Worth noting: I wanted to know the size of the pool and couldn't find the info anywhere online so I used Google Earth to measure the pool. It is apparently 50 yards in length, which is 45.7 meters. read more

Another gem that I've only recently found in this beautiful city. Holstein Park has a great pool with lots of kids and people. I was there on a Thursday afternoon and it was packed with families and young people all trying to get there "bronzage" on. The deep end is huge. And it isn't crowded because there's no Las Vegas type stoop for people to sit on and pimp themselves out or try hard to look cool with their friends. Only negative - no flips. Whaaaack. The rest of the park is beautiful as well. There's a huge open field that doubles as softball field. There were people laying out on it, playing with their dogs on it, even one person meditating or something. So cool. The playground looked like McDonald's Playpen on steroids, with full water sprinkling areas and colorful climbing contraptions we'd all love to have had when we were younger. It looked like all the moms and their kiddies were having fun. What else...there's an indoor court, a gym and probably lots of leagues and programs too. One of the nicest parks in the city...and kind of hidden in a cute way. I know. I said, "cute." Ugh. read more

The lifeguards are so grouchy and awkward and the hours are decided by a random number generator, but the pool is so pool!!!! And it's free! And it's full to the brim with cold water and dads playing with their babies and moms laying out- the place is awesome!!!! I found these hours online, but they definitely are not 100% accurate- I'd say half the time I go I end up standing in my swimsuit watching the pool empty out and go home: Weekdays: 1:00 - 5:45 Weekends: 10:30 - 4:45 Also the lifeguards all take their breaks at once (lay on the concrete, lick Doritos off their fingers) so everyone has to get out and watch their break-time rituals. Please stay open later so us working saps can take a dip after a long water-free day at the office!!! read more

This pool is quite the hidden the gem and surprisingly clean for being a FREE public pool! This place draws a pretty diverse crowd with the majority being the kiddies and young professionals. The downsize is it's small and they have strange "breaks" in which everyone will have to actually leave the pool (not just get out of the water but completely out of pool area) for a 15 minute break which can be a hassle. Also, if it's a hot day this place will fill up fast --I've seen lines to get in when its reached maximum capacity. Overall, a great place to go to get some sun and cool off. read more

Perfect park for the hood. I travel down from HP to let my kiddy play in this park. The only drawback chatty and catty mothers nannies, cannot blame park for that! read more

This is probably my favorite park in bucktown. There are so many fun things to do at this park from swimming in the pool in the summer to playing on the playground. There is no real shortage of stuff to do Check it out all the time through out the year! read more

This place is run my children who have power trips. The rules here are obscene. Example. If you go in with a shirt on it had to be white? Why? No food allowed in. Totally cool understandable . But if my kid goes outside on the gate to munch on something for two minutes they are forced to stand in line for 20 minutes to get back in? This is while me the parent is still inside of the pool area. It's just lame. The person next to me had gone to shower off real quick and they made her stand back in line too. Super rad place with really lame rules and immature children running it. read more

Proud to live right across the street from this park. I can't wait to hang out there during the summer! Check out community events held at the field house, including the Bucktown Apple Pie Contest. And parents, make sure to take advantage of the awesome children's playground. And as Timothy mentioned, there's the free pool! read more

Holstein Park - Holstein Field House - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I LOVE that this is a chance for adults to have a REAL adult swim. In so many other park pools you have children jumping onto your head as you try to do laps. (It's not always as clean as it could be, but with budget cuts in the city and we are lucky to have it.) Schedule is posted: http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/resources/pool_schedules/pdf/Holstein.pdf read more

Great park. Except I got my wallet stolen (out of my purse) while sitting right next to it. Also, someone got their phone stolen while I was there (today). Probably won't be going back... read more

My grandson enjoys our visits to the playground however, there's nothing for us, the many 50ish and older citizens (observe all the strollers who qualify on weekdays). I would love an appropriate exercise program near me. read more

Great Park! Great Pool--except that here it is June 7, and that big beautiful pool is completely empty! It's such a short season. Why can't the city open the park pool on the Memorial Day holiday? If this is a budget-saving measure, it seems mean-spirited to deny local residents access to a swimming pool in order to save money. There HAVE to be other ways the city can cut back on expenses. read more

Used to be great, lived across the street. However, the pool is either never open or the kids running it give you too much attitude. Plus, they clear it out, make you leave, and all other kinds of garbage. Other pools nearby are significantly better and cleaner. Plus, you can just chill all day without argument or attitude. read more

I loved going to Holstein! It was cool because my mom used to go to this pool back in the 60s as did my fiancee in the 80s. We went on a Saturday afternoon and I believe it was a high 80s day, which we haven't had many this year! It was perfect, I haven't been to a public pool since my elementary school days at California pool! It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be, which was nice. There were some young, annoying teenagers that had swimming races in the middle of pool...yes, swimming right into people, but I suppose this would be anywhere! Overall, I had a really good time, just going for a quick cool dip on a hot sticky day! I'd go again! read more

This is a nice pool in a good area. I went when it was about 90 and it was quite refreshing. Unfortunately, I am not sure who is in charge. Chicago Park District, I presume. When I got there, I was informed by the bouncer that I needed to get a lap swim pass. I went into the office and wanted to get a chair while it was relatively empty so I paid $5. The office manager was like, yeah, you'll get about 15 minutes. She should have been like, yeah, you're all going to get kicked out for 30 minutes, so I'd just wait and be ready so you're at the front of the line. No advice. I got in when the lane only had 1-2 people in it. Did 5 lengths, then time was up. Had to leave, so I hung out in the park. Came back and found the place was mobbed. So I laid my towel on the concrete, and it sucked, but some people around me were putting up with it, so I'm like, ok, I can deal. So then after a few I decide to jump in and it's great! It's super refreshing. Then just as I pull myself out, the lifeguard whistles and orders everyone out of the pool and says it will re-open in 2 hours. Not sure what happened but the rumor on the deck was that a little kid pooped in it. There's literally a kiddie pond in the park next to it. Parents control your children. You must know how well toilet-trained they are, and if you think there might be any risk whatsoever of an accident, do not let them in. But really two hours? And we all have to leave? I mean I know it's sick but couldnt they do it a little faster? Like I would have waited another 30 mins. There's annoying rules and unpredictable closures. Also $5 for 1 day lap pass, $25 for 1 month, or $40 for 3 months. (Note that all this happened after I was turned away from the Humboldt park pool due to day camp til 4 pm). So make sure you're there like 10 mins or more between open swim and snag on of the chairs. Also 300 person max was reached and people were waiting. Maybe go to the beach. read more

PROS: This is a beautiful park and very clean swimming pool to take adults and children of all ages! There is an updated playground and nice places to have lunch with the kiddos. Parking is generally easy to find and the area feels safe. The swimming area is free of charge :) CONS: The reason for the four star rating is the inconsistency of the pool schedule and unfriendly staff. The kiddie pool is open from 9-11 AM and reopens from 1-5 PM. Yet the kiddie pool lifeguard blew the whistle to clear up immediately after 10:30 AM???. Its sad to see that not much as changed since Pamela C.'s review from 2010. The lifeguard staff seem to be snotty-nosed teenagers that are more concerned how much more leathery they could look This staff takes 15 min breaks throughout the day and EVERYONE needs to clear out. There is no postings of these break times so you are kind of stuck if one occurs during your visit. SUMMARY: Despite these annoying cons, I will continue to visit the park and swimming pool area often. I would call the park before your visit to get more info on open swim and kiddie pool. Just cross your fingers you receive the right information. read more

POOL Only: How many summer days have I spent here? Probably 30 maybe 40 in the last 4 summers. A) it's probably (hint hint) cleaner than Lake Michigan B) refuge from the heat with other sun lovers C) Its free! D) there's an adorable little kiddy pool E) When you can finally tune out the screaming kids and the ice cream man's bell (which you can NOT accept ice cream through the fence) which dings over and over again like the gal in front of Macy's at Christmas time this place is amazing! Cons- there are always no matter what where I place my towel kids doing cannon balls getting my entire towel soaked every time I come here so probably 35 times my towel has been soaked. :) Yay for the kids and summer fun though. More importantly the 12 life guards take a 15 minute break all at the same time around 1pm and 4pm in which they make EVERYONE stand behind the chain link half fence while they take off their orange vests and parade around the pool area chatting with each other. It's very odd experience to watch to be honest. And lastly towels on concrete... no chairs. Hopefully this will discourage enough people to keep this somewhat of a hidden gem. OHHH they make you shower prior to entering the pool area. I love it, I like it, it's okay, I love it, I like it, it's okay. read more

Brand new locker rooms as of summer 2018. Pool schedule posted online. There is free open swim and family swim daily. You can buy a lap pass which you can use during lap swim hours. read more

i'm a huge fan of holstein park. the neighborhood around it, the pool, the fieldhouse, and the park itself. it's so nice to live nearby and be able to use this park. my only complaint is that the hours online for the pool aren't correct so it's really hard to know when there's an open swim. certain hours are reserved for lap swimmers, but you have to pay to swim laps so you can't just show up. the lifeguards aren't very helpful when it comes to this information either. read more

My new favorite park and so late in the summer!!! Holstein Park is absolutely wonderful ! There is a fantastic pool (large and deep) and great people watching too!!!! read more