It took over 15 years living in Chicago before I visited a beach. This one was the first!…read more Leone Beach Park is one of the northernmost beaches in the city. Leone Park Beach is named after an employee who managed folks along the entire north side, and lived above the beach house until his death. There's a swim ban in this park, though, due to the water quality. So that knocks out a big reason for going. Though you can go bake on the beach if you want. There's a good-sized parking lot here, and it's a pay lot. There's a playground and somewhat natural area surrounding it (at least it looks like it--I couldn't tell what may have been blooming there). I was surprised to see one of those Amazon lockers there, so apparently you could get your stuff shipped here. There's also basketball courts here, and lawn area, for non-beach-based recreation.

12/29/20 - Gorgeous beach front right off of Touhy Ave. W/a parking lot right there. My neighbor…read moreand I arrived just before sunrise. The sun was still below the horizon the sky was aglow in this beautiful reddish orange coloration of the sun rising. The sun was still below the horizon when we got there. We were able to capture many pictures of the reddish orange glow as the sun brought beautiful coloration to the sky. Slowly the sun came up over the horizon as the big orange ball came out of the lake (93 million miles away). It doesn't matter how many times I see it I never get tired of this magnificent ball of fire that gives live to every living thing on our planet. There were a number of people out and about on this chilly 23 degree winter morning all to see the sun come up again over Lake Michigan. Some just to spectate, some to walk or run, yet others out walking their dogs. I love Chicago. There was some small wave activity along the shoreline. The breakwaters were covered w/frozen ice w/seagulls sitting or standing on the concrete. The beach stretches to the south from their w/native grasses along the sidewalk. You can see the Chicago skyline that can be seen from many points along the shoreline each w/a slightly different vantage point, but always gorgeous.

This park closed for about five months from November to March for renovation and just opened up a…read morefew weeks ago. They did a nice job. It's not the largest park but it is a popular one given its location. The new park has two types of terrain; there's a rubber surface under most of the structures and then under the swings is sawdust. They have a couple structures, including one that's a smaller one for the littlest kids. My kiddo really enjoyed that play structure and the swings are her favorite. She's still getting used to the slide, but I like that there's a couple small ones here for her to feel a bit more comfortable with it. There are at least half a dozen benches around the place which is helpful. The place is very busy but when we visited, it wasn't overwhelmingly so. There's a kind of field house here, so there's ample parking--I hadn't realized there was a parking lot for the place at first, and was glad to see it so that we could check this place out and not have to fight for street parking.

This place fills up a lot these days, but it's still a great oasis if you have young children and…read moreneed somewhere to get them in the water. If you go later in the day, it can be nicely shaded, and there is a pretty solid playground right next door if your kids get tired of being in the splash pad.

Wonderful place for the kids! There's a lot of fields, the mountain is fun to explore.read more

Best Hill to sled down in the north burbs, holler at this place when you have kids, don't show up…read moredrunk on a broken piece of plastic and flail down the hill. Easy street parking, they used to slang hot cocoa, but no mo'. Thanks for the memories, I will be creating more with my kids. Love.

I've been taking a class offered by the Park District here at Maine Park Leisure Center. It's a…read morenice facility with several classrooms. We've been in the Itty Bitty room for the class. They have a preschool that operates out of Maine Park which seems to be pretty popular as well and I'll be looking into that next year. The leisure center almost looks like a school itself, with the lockers and classrooms--I wouldn't be surprised to find out that it once was. Our room is a good size with toys and stuff for the kids to play with. There's some parking along the east side of the building, but when I've been here for class it's been full, so you may be looking for street parking. There is a nice sized playground in the back. There may be three, though one is fenced off for use with the preschool I think; there's one with plain old grass and then another with the rubbery ground cover for smaller children. There's even a zip line here which I'm sure my little one will have lots of fun on when she's old enough. This is my first experience with the Park District and at this field house but since it's only a few blocks away I think we'll definitely be making use of this resource.

I found out about this large, out-of-the-way park only after moving to Park Ridge. Located off of…read moreSibley between Dee and Talcott, this park seems to have everything for nature lovers. There is a big soccer field for games, the usual playground and a school-sized field house with classrooms. It is also home of the PR Park District preschool program. The parking is rather small and often full during games or other events, but there's plenty of street parking... Or just take a bike and avoid the hassle altogether. On the other side of the park, there is a huge prairie and walking trail that spans about 2/3-mile around. You see ducks, geese, frogs, turtles along the way. Come on a spring or summer day and it's like an exotic getaway inside of a residential neighborhood. There is a patio-like overlook to see the prairie. Come in late June and you see a yellow sea of daisies in bloom. Truly spectacular, maintained by park volunteers. You also see kids fishing in the swamp sometimes, which is catch & release. Then there is the Wildwood Nature Center which has live animals native to the midwest, as well as lizards, snakes, and other small critters kids love to see. Admission is free, though operating hours are pretty short. It might be the best kept secret in Park Ridge.

Writing this review pretty late but since I'm planning another visit here soon, this beach has been…read moretop of mind. I was here last July and had the best time! The area is clean and gorgeous with scenic views of the skyline. The beach is huge with plenty of space to spread out. There's bike racks nearby for rentable electric bikes. There's a paved path perfect for running, walking, or cycling. The bathrooms weren't too bad for being outdoors - I've certainly seen a lot worse in public parks. The water was clear and blue with some gentle waves. Although the temp is cold, it's super refreshing on a hot day. Can't wait to be back!

I go to the beach often and every time I want to buy food and there always out of everything. If I…read morewas the owner the first thing I would do is fire the manager. The place is a gold mine and they never have any food....

So many special memories from here over the years! From laying in the sun and jumping in the…read morefreezing water with friends as a 23 year old to early mornings building sandcastles with my toddler as a 32 year old. We've done picnics on the grass, played in the sand, and done cannon balls from the concrete beach. Summertime Chi is the best, and Montrose Beach is where so many of those memories are made for myself and so many Chicagoans!

We visited on a trip to Chicago. It was a hot summer day so we enjoyed being by the water. The…read morebeach is extensive with plenty of space to spread out. Parking can be tricky but we easily found free parking. The parking areas can get busy so be mindful when pulling out to leave. The harbor is well-maintained and beautiful! There are a few places for snacks in the area as well as restrooms. There is also a dog beach! My suggestion would be to amp up the restaurant scene to improve the drink and food quality.

This is a gorgeous little park near the University of Illinois at Chicago. My son lives in the area…read moreand brought me here and it's a great little green oasis in the middle of the city. Lots of mature trees and shade and very tastefully laid out. Perfect for a nice walk or relaxing in the shade. Just walking through here is therapeutic!!

I wasn't much in the mood to run at any of my usual run spots within the city. However, while…read morebrowsing through my Yelp collection of run trails & paths the thought of running at Arrigo Park intrigued me because it was a new experience. The park was also a well needed breath of fresh air to get me outdoors for a workout. I advise you to pay attention to the signs before you park because there are certain times of the day & days when parking is authorized. Only vehicles with a zone 5 permit are exempted at any time. A good thing about the park is that you have a good visual of your vehicle as you are doing loops around whether it be walking or running. So if anything happens for example like you being ticketed or a boot being placed on your vehicle then you can handle the situation beforehand. The park has a peaceful yet classy like vibe and it certainly feels safe. In my opinion it has a similar vibe to Palmer Square which is a park located in Chicago neighborhood Logan Square except its path is paved rather than dirt. As for its features there aren't any features like a playground, baseball diamond, basketball or tennis court, however you can play football or soccer on the field which is as lengthy for those activities. It does have that vibe of being the perfect spot to throw a frisbee with friends or with a pet. The park used to have a statue of Christopher Columbus, but the statue was removed out of safety concerns after police clashed near the Grant Park statue with protesters who wanted to tear it down. I love the visual of Willis Tower which appears very close. Its appearance gives that reminder that you are in the city of Chicago which I personally can never get enough of. Four laps around on its paved path will put you at one mile. There is no actual direction posted if you are either walking or running. I say this because while on my run I was headed in the direction head on of those walking. I went with the direction that was comfortable for me, but as long as I wasn't in anyones way I saw no issues with it. If you are looking for a nice peaceful park on the Near Southwest Side of Chicago then look no further than Arrigo Park. I am quite positive that I will return now that I have gotten a feel of it. ~Blessings~ Thomas G

I love this beach so much! It's beautiful and clean, but just recently, they fenced up a few parts…read moreof the beach and now require payment for residents and non-residents AND when you leave one part of the paid beach to move to another part, you have to pay again! Which is absurd. I was also thinking about renting out a shelter for a party, but the park doesn't allow you to bring your own grill, doesn't allow alcohol, only provides you with two tables, and you have to still pay for parking and access to the beach. It all just seems like a money grab, which sucks because the beach was free to the public for so long! I know a lot of people are upset about the new rules. Aside from that, there is a park, tennis courts, and Fat Shallot, where they serve food and drinks. There is also a patio area to eat and drink, and outdoor showers. PARK ON MICHIGAN AVE and just walk down to avoid some fees!

A park and a beach is along the lake. Gillson Park is the best thing about Wilmette, and beats any…read moreof those overcrowded ones farther south. If you want to actually be able to walk on a beach and not feel crowded, then head up a ways. Be careful about where you park because you can find places for free. There's also plenty of green space for athletic fields. Gillson is a big park, and that makes it feel not as crowded. It has several different parts. There's the actual park with the grass and trees. It's often very quiet here. Where's all the people? At the beach. This beach is still less crowded than any of the Chicago beaches full of both locals and tourists. It has a nice little play area. The sand is pretty clear of debris for the most part. Also at this park is a big ass marina. There's lots of boats, and there's also a club you can join if you can pay up. However you spend time here, just be careful about parking or it may be costly. It has pay lots close to the beach but you can find free parking on the residential streets. They have certain places where you can't park though, so pay attention to signs and whatever.