Such a beautiful, peaceful park. Situated right by the Museum of Science and Industry, the 59th/University of Chicago Metra Station, and the 59th/Hyde Park bus stop, Jackson Park is both gorgeous and easily accessible. There is some interesting flora and fauna: In the summer I always manage to spot adorable bunnies at the Park. There are also usually some pretty interesting birds in the Park, the Japanese Garden, and surrounding areas. The Park is best known for its cherry blossoms, but there is other equally lovely foliage during other parts of the year. The eastern part of the Park abuts the lake, and it is easy to access the 63rd street beach through an underpass leading from the park to the beach. The beach is full of atmosphere, and often has fun food/drink pop-ups. Overall, I highly recommend a visit to the Park. It is however important to be mindful of sound/activity levels so that it remains equally enjoyable for other visitors. read more

The Obama center and Osaka garden are great. Wooded Isle as a whole leaves a lot to be desired. Despite recent efforts to remove invasive species and other infrastructure improvements I see that this is still a hookup spot for disgusting broke creeps who can't afford a hotel room. After you walk south of Osaka garden you can experience such sights as scuzzy men wandering out of the woods by themselves or sitting on benches and texting their next F buddy, as well as the numerous USED CONDOMS they helpfully leave strewn all around the paths. I guess at least they're using protection. It was like this 20 years ago and nothing has changed. The three stars are for the museum, presidential center, cherry grove and Osaka garden. read more

Taking a stroll... After visiting the Obama Presidential Center I left feeling great and humbled to have visited and what I do recommend and so glad that I followed Yelp Elite Terry K lead to Jackson Park which is just around the corner very walkable and does show another great view of the Obama Presidential Center especially in the afternoon while the skies are settling. Do take advantage as the Osaka Garden is within the park as well which is a great spot and not to be missed. Not much seating for the areas that I've been strolling to but is a lovely place that kept nice and neat which is like an oasis amongst the city area. Thank you! read more

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I recently attended a walk for charity here! It's a great park, very scenic with plenty of amenities. The area was nice and clean and I was particularly impressed with the condition of the basketball court. The locals are clearly aware of the space, there were several groups setting up to grill, ball, and just take in a beautiful Chicago day! Overall an excellent park! read more

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Beautiful park! It's large and lovely for exploring. It's right by the Museum of Science and Industry and The Barack Obama Presidential Center. So much nature to explore! Lakes, trees, sculptures, and there is a lovely Japanese strolling garden too. I really enjoyed my day here. Easy trip here with the Metra. read more

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After seeing the news as well as Instagram feeds, I left the suburbs to make the trek to Jackson Park. We circled the area one time to find free street parking. As it was a beautiful spring day, we made sure to make it here by 10 am. We probably spent about 1 hour walking around to check out the cherry blossoms. Beautiful place to check out nature and get outside. read more

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Finally after years of trying to see the cherry blossoms in Jackson Park I got to! Usually sudden temperature drops, rough winds, and/or rain destroys them or I go a couple days too late like I did last year and they're gone already. Even when I was there, the winds were super rough and I could tell the flowers were starting to blow off the branches and the trees were becoming bare. We went Sunday around 9:45am and it was a bit crowded, but not too bad. I'm sure as it gets later in the day, the crowds get worse, so I recommend getting there as early as possible. I thought it was pretty and I'm happy I got to see it, but I don't think it's something worth going out of your way for. It seems like recently it's become a huge deal likely due to social media, which has probably contributed to the crowds. There's a beautiful photo opportunity with the Museum of Science and Industry in the background. read more

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Love this park. Back for the cherry blossoms. It's a safe area of Hyde Park because it's right by the museum of science & industry. read more

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Love love the city's green spaces . We tried coming over the weekend to catch the cherry blossoms but saw the insane crowds and decided to come back on a weekday since we live within. 10 mile radius. An early day off work and a warm one in April tempted to stop by and catch the seasonal beauties. Plenty of parking and very few enthusiasts made the experience worthwhile. read more

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After four years of living in Chicago, I finally got to see the Cherry Blossom in Jackson Park. It was very beautiful to finally see mother's nature in full swing. It was very nice day, warm for a Spring day. I enjoyed walking to the park and also visiting the Japanese garden. The cherry blossoms were lovely to see. Makes me wanna go to DC and then Japan to experience them all over again. read more

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We love coming to Jackson Park to go on a nature walk and to enjoy the peaceful vibe of the Japanese Garden. Today we got to catch the cherry blossoms in full bloom, which was a first for me. So worth it and special! read more

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Jackson Park is one of the largest parks in the city, and significant piece of Chicago's history. Designed by Frank Law Olmstead, who established the profession of landscape architecture, it was the backdrop of the World's Fair Columbian Exposition. The park is filled with lots of interesting features. There's a field house, and many programs and classes that take place here. The Museum of Science and Industry, one of the few remaining structures from the Fair (it was at that the known as the Palace of Fine Arts), is still technically in the park. The Garden of the Phoenix, also known as the Japanese Garden, is in Jackson Park (somewhere; I have yet to find it myself!). There are sculptures and statues scattered throughout. I did, however, find a natural garden area hidden within Jackson Park! Bobolink Meadow is actually landfill (as is so much of Chicago's impressive lakefront). There's a nice trail through the meadow, and a few areas where one can stop and view other areas of the park. It was quite a surprise to me to find it, and a pleasant one at that. Jackson Park is a beautiful place in Chicago and I hope I'm able to spend more time appreciating this beautiful and historic park. read more

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Another very nice park on the South Side that isn't appreciated. It has a lot to offer and has many beautiful features. Jackson Park has quite a lot to check out. Has a golf course and a lagoon. The Japanese Garden is another feature of importance that's fairly popular. Basically it's a big park and there's a lot here for almost everyone. It's better in warmer months but has its own kind of beauty at any time. There's a humongous lagoon in the middle popular for photo taking. Maybe most notable is the Japanese Garden. There's a pretty cool looking pagoda. It's also close to the Museum Of Science And Industry. This is a nice place for getting sunlight after being inside a few hours or so. Getting here is kind of annoying. It doesn't have free parking. There's meters if you come by car but it also has many bike paths and it's also easy to get here by train. read more

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On july 8th was the annual chosen few picnic and festival. We all had a good time. The park is big enough to hold a lot of people. Year after year it gets better. The greener the basketball court. The golf course. Since they are building the library around it will be better than ever. The other side has a dog park. They have built a bridge that you can cross under to get to the other side from Stoney Island. They still have the pond for the geese and ducks that have lived there for years. After everything is finished you should visit. read more

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Cherry blossom season We went to the park this morning cold day but the trees Was beautiful read more

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Interesting how many reviews list Jackson Park but not this actual building /fieldhouse. The area around is quite gorgeous in the daytime. I have only been in this building a handful of times, and it is nicely constructed and spacious. The walls and hallways make it seem like an 'institution', but there are SO many positive messages and artwork about African-American heroes around, which is educational for children and adults. I went to vote, so there were chairs set up in the hallway to sign in, and the room (smallish) contained 6 or 7 booths, as well as the staff. A table with snacks for the staff was in the corner and music was playing. Some kids were entering as I was leaving apparently for a party. I have been to schools for voting and they usually put us in a MUCH bigger room, but with this being early voting and a Saturday maybe they didn't anticipate a huge crowd. The line never got unreasonable but for someone who's claustrophobic this could be a nightmare! I could maybe see going back later to see what's going on, and with the 63rd Street YMCA across the street, it won't be a dull moment! I'd advise early day hours, not dusk. read more

Jackson Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The park is under construction and looks poor. I would recommend the Wooden island and Japanese garden in it. Everything else is boring. Nothing left from World's Columbian Exposition in 1983 read more

Jackson Park - Statue of the Republic - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gorgeous. Stunning. Breathtaking. No, I'm not talking about the way I look as soon as I get out of bed. I am talking about my new Chicago park crush. I'm sorry, Humboldt. You may have just gotten bumped. Lush. Peaceful. Immaculately designed. Jackson Park WILL fool you. You won't feel as though you are in the middle of the city. You'll feel as though somehow you got lost, deep in the woods... and wound up at a country club. Yep. A country club. There's an impressive golf course, French statues, gigantic trees, and expansive greenways. What? Where did all this come from? Don't call it a comeback. It's been here for years. Seriously. Blues Brothers. White City. It's all Jackson Park. Japanese garden. Foot bridges. Bird watching. Jackson Park. I'd read about the lack of free parking, but I managed to find some without much difficulty. Yeah, I may have walked a bit, but that gave me an occasion to stroll through all the beauty. Likewise, I walked right up to the Statue of the Republic. Maybe I have super powers. There's so much to see and take in at Jackson Park. I'd love to dedicate a full day -- from sun up to late afternoon -- to exploring the various foot paths and water ways. I was struck by true serenity as I walked on the green grass. I didn't trip over liquor bottles. I didn't get run over by soccer mom's on cell phones pushing their double-wides. I didn't see many people at all. I felt as though I had the grounds all to myself as I surveyed my kingdom. I loved it. I loved every glimpse I took in. I could spend hours just staring into the lagoon and contemplating its mystery. Truly, with every new scene I observed, I wondered what the heck took me so long to get down here and check it out. Why Lincoln gets all the press, I'll never know. Well, actually... I have a pretty good idea why... read more

Jackson Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Jackson Park is a nice green space for a walk. Even though we missed the fall colors, we enjoyed the Japanese garden, the Garden of the Phoenix, very much. It was nice to see the landscaping and the fish in the pond. The bridge was closed and the water features were not on so I would like to come back to see it another time. They have a piece by Yoko Ono just outside of the garden of the Phoenix. The walk around the island is quick and the next time I'm in Chicago, I will definitely be making another trip back around the park. read more

This is one of these most extraordinary hidden pleasures of Chicagoland! It is located right behind the Museum of Science and industry around 57th off of Lake Shore Drive but you'd never know you're in the city. It's remarkable. The history of the island goes back to the 1893 World's Fair and is easily researchable. But to me the simple beauty and seclusion of the island makes it a respite that I stop at anytime I am close. I also walk with a birding group that meets every Saturday and we sight the most interesting birds on this island. JacksonParkBirding dot org has our info. It is very near the Obama Library and we LOVE this park! read more

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The park just south of the Museum of Science & Industry bordered on the east by LSDrive, and on the west by Stony Island. I've seen this park referenced in Devil in the White City, and if you've seen Jeoffrey Baer's Chicago History specials, you know the pivotal role this park played in Chicago's World's Fair in the late 1800s. In fact, in the park, you can view original bridges which stood in the 1800s, built for the fair, light posts, the Osaka Gardens, and resting stations. And of course- the Museum played its part too. The Osaka gardens with its footbridge and lovely waterfall is a real refresher for the eyes and ears. My friend and I were walking for fitness, and took advantage of the cool & breezy June evening to stroll this area. Beautiful wild flowers all through the bird and butterfly sanctuary (south of Osaka Gardens.) The place is pretty deserted except for some fishermen along the lagoon. So I'd recommend not coming here after dark. But if you have time to wander around and explore the paths- do come here. A bit of history, a lot of nature, and a great location for fun, fitness, or refreshment. We decided we'd bring our cameras for sure next time. read more

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I've only been to Jackson Park 3 times in my life and all 3 times have been for the annual Chosen Few House Picnic. Actual Park: - Beautiful big open space. I would like to come back and take it all in without the tents being everywhere. Chosen Few Event: - I've been told it use to be a free event. $30.00 is sort of a ridiculous amount to pay. I'll either prepay next year or stop coming. LOL - Definitely extravagant tents. I saw one with an air conditioner inside. - If you like House Music this is the event for you - Very crowed, but a good time if you happen to know quite a few people with tents there. - Food is outstanding. I'm not talking about vendors (only a few), but individuals BBQing at their own tents. People are so friendly and willing to share or trade. read more

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Went here on the weekend about a month ago to walk around and to see if I could spot out any cool birds. There were the typical Canadian geese and great blue heron here. I did spot a Green heron here as well...first one I've scene so it was definitely neat. I ran into someone birding and was told that there is a nest off green heron there. I will definitely be back again to see more birds this fall. Parking is metered but there is plenty if you come early enough. Walking around is free so it would be a good place for a nice family walk. And there is a nice little Japanese garden as well. read more

Jackson Park is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places in Chicago for an extended stroll. The real attraction, even more so than the giant golden statue, the hidden Japanese garden, and that bridge where the Blues Brothers drove the hated Illinois Nazis into the water, is the lagoon itself--simply beautiful. The last time I was there, I surprised a Great White Heron (no kidding) which was perched behind a rock in the Osaka Garden, who promptly spread his wings and took off over the lagoon. Back to the sights though. The Osaka Garden is on the Wooded Isle, and is really easy to find. Stick to the right when heading south from the Museum of Science and Industry, or just take either path north from the 63rd St lot to get there--it's well signed. For a beautifully set, hidden Japanese garden on the South Side of Chicago, it can actually be a bit underwhelming. Where's Mayor Daley and his extravagant plans when you need him? The small pagoda there long ago used to be a tea house, and it would be incredible if the city would reopen that. The lagoon views are wonderful, though, and the arched bridge will delight kids if you have them. The Statue of the Republic, unfortunately, is best seen by car, as there aren't any nice paths leading towards it. To get to it, take 63rd St east from Cornell and loop right around it. Make a point of seeing it, though, it's very impressive. The infamous Nazi rally bridge isn't so exciting (again, but for the beautiful lagoon views), but you can find it on the east side of the lagoon by the yacht harbor. It leads south from the museum towards the tennis courts. Less known than the above attractions are the bird watching trails. Heading southeast from the museum towards the Nazi bridge, you can get on a difficult to see trail on your right, which takes you through some woods to Bobolink Meadow right alongside the east bank of the lagoon. I didn't see any interesting birds, but I wasn't looking for them--the views were lovely. There is always parking available in a lot off of 63rd St between Cornell and the Statue of the Republic, and the paths there both lead straight to the Wooded Isle. By the way, why is Yelp's map here showing the Indiana Dunes?! read more

I can't believe no one has reveiwed Jackson Park! It is such a beautiful place and such an important part of Chicago history. I love walking around the paths, in the Osaka Garden that borders one of the many lagoons. Jackson Park was designed and created for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition - site of the famous book, "Devil in the White City" - The "White City" referenced was located in this location. The Museum of Science and Industry is the only remaining building from the Expo, but you can still walk the grounds and see some remaining statues and the lovely woods and waterways. read more

Such a beautiful and tranquil place for a stroll , with a pretty large lake and an island which you can walk out to that has a Japanese garden with a fantastic view of the museum, the leaves are at peak color change now, amazing!! a guy I talked to who was fishing in the fairly large lake here said there are tons of catfish and other fish. Right by Museum of Science and Industry and Univ of Chicago. Get off at 56st Hyde Park Metra stop. read more

Jackson Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Yes, it is a great place to walk, watch birds, and take great pictures. It is peaceful like a island of beauty. The Japanese garden is highlight of this park. read more

As Dawn said, what a fantastic place in Chicago's past. Cream of Wheat and the Ferris Wheel were first showcased in this park at the Columbian Expedition. The golf course, the lagoon, the statues, the Osaka Gardens, the yatch club. Such a gorgeous place to relax or to take a leisurely drive or bike ride through. read more

Jackson Park is a part of the south campus of the Museum of Science and Industry. This is one of the many parks in the city and has a lot to offer. There are many ponds and channels of water throughout this park. They have football fields and soccer fields here as well. I have come here a few times now to run in races. Jackson Park is a nice area to host a race where the start and finish areas are located in the park. The park is located close to the highway as well as Lake Shore Drive pathway. If you come here you have to check out the awesome statue of the republic. The Chicago Half Marathon finish line runs right up to this statue and it can be quite the motivator. read more

A very beautiful park true gem. Although it may not be all that safe at times. it is still a nice beautiful park. The Japanese Garden is very pretty You can take lots of nice pictures as one reviewer said. Yo just have to be extra aware when you are walking around read more

Beautiful park south of Chicago that we just happened to stumbled upon. I believe it was named for President Andrew Jackson. Not as famous as Chicago's other parks, it's still a worthwhile spot to visit. read more

A really, really pretty and peaceful park. A great place for birdwatching, strolling, biking, or chilling. As everyone else has mentioned, the Japanese Garden is gorgeous, as is the lagoon. It's definitely also cool to be in the neighborhood of the former "White City", especially if you have read Erik Larsen's book. It is unfortunate that parking isn't free, but I'm not removing a star for that! read more

The Osaka garden is quite pretty (although extremely small), but the park more generally suffers from an apparent lack of upkeep. Paths cracked and overgrown in spots, no signage or maps... it somehow feels like the place has been deserted! read more

Green spaces are always a good thing. This is rumored to be one of two contenders for the location of the next Presidential library. The park is adjacent to the Museum of Science and Industry and there is not too much nearby traffic. The park is clean and there was no panhandling during my last visit. read more

I visit Jackson Park maybe 5 or 6 times a year and I love it.....It's Located between the historic Hyde Park and South Shore neighborboods. This park has a lot to offer from basketball courts to beaches to a Golf Course to the Musuem of Science and Industry... This park is very diverse and is a park that you must visit if you live in or near by Chicago...... read more

Decent course for the $ in the city for sure, but no need for the starter to be rude. Not for someone that makes their tee time. -2 stars for the obnoxious starter that tried to show off and set an example of my party in front of his pals. We made it just in time due to the 25 minute wait in the clubhouse just to pay for the round. read more