Love the views from this park that we found while wandering through Chicago over Labor Day weekend. The honey locust trees that line the water's edge provide a beautiful frame of the Chicago skyline. The parks honors PFC Milton Lee Olive, III, who was the first African American recipient of the Medal of Honor in the Vietnam War. read more

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I love our parks, Chicago has so many great open spaces. One of which is Olive Park. Wander in by for a unique view of the city and make sure to check out why this park was named for Milton Lee Olive. He is a war hero, that said you have to read how heroic he was. read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Views. Views. Views. Popular destination for taking engagement photos. Being vain. And just relaxing on a nice, sunny day. Wish I discovered this spot sooner. It's gorgeous! read more

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You can capture great backdrops of the city and waster. You can even get great pics of the Centennial Wheel from a distance. I've seen water planes land and take off at this park and jetskies is full motion, sail boats and crew ship boats. Very nice park to bring your hammock and chill at the park. I've even brought my mobile office and worked from here under the shade of this large trees. In the fall the park turns into gold. The fall leaves dress this place up nicely. read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool little park tucked between Oak Street beach and Navy Pier, where you'll find plenty of open grass fields and a couple look out points for photo ops of the north side of Chicago skyline. With the amount of foot traffic Navy Pier gets, I'm surprised you don't see as many people here. But I guess the single entrance & exit out of this park is easy to miss if you walking along the Lakefront Trail. Note that this is a free park. So feel free to run thru, bike thru, or even bring your 4 legged friends along. It seems pretty dog friendly as I noticed plenty of furry friends playing in the grassy area off leash. Also be sure to snap some pics off of the lookout points for the gram or just cruise thru for some inspiration. Cool spot to visit year round! That's all I got on this one! 'Til next time, cheers! 91/365 read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Views from the end of the park! - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm baffled as to how this place has a rating below 5 stars. If I could, I would give it 10! When I think of a park, I think of a pretty large wooded area; however, Milton Lee Olive Park is pretty much a strip along the water to the left of the Navy Pier craziness. Even though small, it is worth the visit when in town. It has amazing views of the skyline and it's just perfect for a relaxing day with family, friends or solo. I rented a bicycle (about 3 different locations around Navy Pier) for just $9/ hour and simply enjoyed my time. Gorgeous views, light breeze, wind in my hair and bunch of people on bicycles, roller blades or taking wedding pictures - perfection! Don't deny yourself this beauty and definitely go for a visit! I will be coming back and next time I will check it out at sunset, I can only imagine how breathtaking it would be :) read more

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A small park with great views of the city and lakefront, some shade from the tree lined parkway. It's much quieter here than the neighboring Ohio Street Beach and Navy Pier. Beautiful area for a leisurely stroll away from the hustle and bustle of the city. read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Milton Lee Olive Park is a Chicago jewel just off the Chicago Lakefront Path. It is a beachfront park that is small in size and large in soul. Milton Lee Olive Park sits to the northwest of the Navy Pier. It is the antithesis of the Navy Pier. Where the vibe at the Navy Pier is to have a good time and spend away your money; the vibe at Milton Lee Olive Park is to have a good time and spend away your stress. The scenery has the ingredients of a Back to Nature CD. Time spent on the beach is a session of relaxation while you watch the gentle waters of Lake Michigan brush against the shoreline. A shoreline showing off the real life portrait of the north Chicago skyline. A skyline more mesmerizing during a sunset. Nature is more prevalent than taxi cabs and crowds. A large canopy of mature trees provides shade and bird watching. Listen carefully and birds singing away will amplify the session of solitude. Milton Lee Olive Park also deserves 4 stars for its beach. By the way I commend the City of Chicago for its miles of public beaches. The beach at Milton Lee Olive Park exemplifies the City of Chicago's commitment to fine beaches. From my observation, 1) the water looked clean, 2) the sand was comfortable, and 3) there was sufficient space. Milton Lee Olive Park is a City of Chicago jewel, that seems to be off the radar of the tourist literature. It is worthy of 4 stars for its effectiveness in decreasing the stress level of people relaxing there. I am one of them, and I give Milton Lee Olive Park 4 stars. read more

One of my favorite places in Chicago! It's a serene park that overlooks the playpen and John Hancock. It's honestly the best of both worlds: the lake, the skyline, Ohio Street beach and a park. It's also very special because it's named after Milton Olive - very patriotic. A little hidden known fact is that this park is also a great spot to get a tan. The sun sets around 6:30 and goes down between buildings; so you really get the most sunlight. I love this park and it's my little happy place. I still maintain that it is a hidden gem. As another commentator posted, it's smack between touristy spots, and that's exactly why it tends to get overlooked. Most tourists are in a rush to see Navy Pier and usually head over to the nearby beaches afterwards. Anyway, it's my happy place and I love it! read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The grass is perfect! The trees are lush and green! There is no other place like Chicago, you can have the City/Beach/Navy Pier and the Great Lake Michigan that looks like an Ocean! That's right it fooled me too! It took me a while to get used to my view because I promise it's so beautiful, blue greenish and it looks like an ocean. We love playing badminton but with the city's windy wind, it's hard to accomplish so we stick to football. We love riding our bike around this area, and off along Lake Shore Drive. After we play football, we love to people watch and the Big Bus always transports a lot of characters. When we get tired we love coming to Navy Pier as it is just a few steps always and we love graving a bite to eat. The restaurant selection is quite grand. It's amazing the amount of tourists that this place attracts. We are looking forward to the rest of this summer 2016 extravaganza! I highly recommend this park. Chicago has lots of beautiful parks but this one is quite unique. read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Playing catch with my favorite person! - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I agree with Mr. Christopher. This park may have beautiful views, but that is not the point of this park. As a 10 year old growing up in Chicago, my parents took us here once - for some reason, we never came back. But it made an impression on me even then. Now, as a retired Navy veteran I have a different perspective. On a recent overnight downtown for work, I made a point of going back. Yes, the views are great. But while you visit, go to the memorial and read what a true American hero did over 50 years ago. Men and women like Private Olive need to be remembered for their selfless heroism, even during an unpopular war. They have helped make this country what it is today. Go read the memorial after you take your pictures. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13 read more

As winter is nearing (brrr) I'm making it a point to visit all my favorite outside destinations. Olive Park is at the top of that list. This beautiful park is peaceful, never crowded (except for the occasional wedding) and just the perfect spot to enjoy a warm summer day. My family has enjoyed many picnics at this park. It also turned out to be the perfect setting for our most recent family photoshoot. We were able to get pics here with the Chicago skyline, Navy Pier ferris wheel, the Ohio Street beach and lots of greenery. I'll be looking at these photos with envy come January and counting down the days until another summer at Olive Park. read more

What is the pending construction at Olive Park and when might it reopen:( It's a real gem, secret gem - I hope that the unique qualities won't be lost. Presumably they're taking the old fountains out. Any info out there? read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I miss my days of living near the park and being able to come over here with my dog on walks. Now I live in a boring neighborhood with no parks, just a bunch of whiny screaming brats and their sad parents. Highrise living at Ohio and LSD granted me a magical time to come here often and just....lounge. The grass is wonderful to take an afternoon siesta on while listening to the water wash ashore with the cool breeze across your face. Watching the boats is also nice and relaxing. A true gem of a park and worth a walk through if you find yourself in the Streeterville area with some extra time! read more

Walking back into the city from Navy Pier I came up on this little path and which goes out along side Lake Michigan. It was so serene and the view is just out of this world. You can see the Ferris Wheel and Navy Pier, the Oak Street Beach and the John Hancock building area of the skyline or just gaze out into the unending blue of Lake Michigan. There are benches and plenty of grassy areas to sit and relax. There may have been 10 -15 people there the whole 30 ish minutes I was there and everyone was so quiet and mindful, reading, eating, meditating, Tai Chi, and one woman was doing yoga on the grass. A few cyclist and runners came through and I have to say I was pretty jealous they get this view during their runs. I was so glad I stumbled across this path even though looking at its location it doesn't seem like it should be a hidden gem, but its definitely is one for the books. read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is an incredible hidden gem of Chicago and it's that way because so many Chicago natives have never heard of it or seen it until you ask them to take a look! Breathtaking views of the sky line, water and lake shore drive. My family and I did a photoshoot here in the summer and I'm so happy we chose this spot. It's free to access and really covers the essence of Chicago! I love bringing tourists here, it leaves them mesmerized every time! read more

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Cute but much smaller than I expected. We took our engagement photos here, great view of the skyline!allows dogs!

I stumbled on this park while walking around during lunch. Amazing city views! It would be great to see it when the fountains are turned on. Definitely off the beaten path and you might not notice it unless you are looking for it. read more

Hammocked here on a beautiful Sunday and it was pretty incredible. The park is clean, open, and close to the lively beach. It also has a view from lake shore with a lot of Chicago's great skyscrapers in view! read more

Just a mile walk from my place quite close to navy pier. This place is good for photoshoots with good background of the lake shore sky scrappers. Pretty calm and caffe oliva is next to it for food and coffee. read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This "park" is small, but the views are wonderful. When you walk in, you'll wonder whether you managed to leave Chicago in just a few steps. The trees are big and frame the entrance overhead, and the path is a straight-shot to the end of the park where you end up overlooking the water. There are quite a few benches, and that's when you'll remember where you are; the views are magnificent. The skyline and lake sweep out in front of you, and you won't want to leave. What a great place to relax after a run or pack a picnic lunch. It's also a great place to escape the tourist-packed Navy Pier, if you are there to begin with. read more

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My absolute favorite spot in the city. This is where I go when I want to be introspective or if I just need some "down time" away from everything. It is a quiet and secluded spot on the lakefront where you can relax. I only ask that you please don't visit Olive Park....as you may ruin it for me. read more

We stopped by for one last beautiful view of Chicago before we headed off to our new home in CA. Since we found out about this little gem a year ago, we've returned several times for the spectacular skyline view. We've run right by this little park for a few years and had no idea it was there until we attended an impromptu outdoor wedding. (It's a bit hard to walk to in heels trying not to sink in sand or step in goose poop - impossible. But then you wouldn't normally be in formal wear to visit a park, so no worries.) It was right across from Navy Pier, but felt like a secluded quiet world away from it. This is a great place for some quiet contemplation, read a book, or in our case, just hold hands and enjoy that view, which is even better than the one at the Planetarium (except that there's convenient street parking there, and at this park you'll have to find a lot and take a short walk over.) It's a nice tribute to the park's namesake who served our country. Thank you for your sacrifice, Pfc Milton Olive. read more

People keep calling this park a hidden gem but when it's smack dab right in between Navy Pier and Ohio St. Beach, I think that disqualifies it from being hidden. :) This is a perfect park to go to when you're looking to unwind and relax from the hustle and bustle of the city. With benches strategically positioned to overlook the lake, skyline and beach, it's no wonder why I find myself coming back here often to spend a lot of time with my fur baby, Pearl. She's a Westie in case you wanted to know. :) Props to the city for keeping this park well maintained and clean and for giving us all this green space to enjoy when you just want to get away from the concrete jungle. You can have a picnic, sunbathe, play catch, frisbee and whatever else you can think of in the vast green space at this park while also bringing your furry friend along for a walk in the park. It's big enough for you to spread out and claim your own place while you take in the beautiful view that is downtown Chicago right across the vast expanse of the lake. In the summer, you can also watch many of the boats that anchor near the beach and across from the park while enjoying the beautiful weather outdoors. If you're fortunate enough to live nearby or just happen to be in the area, don't miss out on stopping by here to just relax and take in the view! read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Pearl just enjoying herself at the park and being touristy with a picture of the lake/skyline. - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My name is pfc warren pentz, we were in the same squid ,the same fight an i was shot twice. found out about him later when in walter read hosp.later. read more

We're very fortunate to live near Olive Park. It's a beautiful park with one of the best views of the Chicago skyline. It's never crowded and it's a great place to escape the city for a brief time. We often take out-of-town guests here because they can get fantastic photos of the city and can appreciate its beauty. read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fantastic park to overlook the city view. I have been to Ohio Street beach a ton of times and never, ever even noticed this place. It is BEAUTIFUL! There are tons of runners, etc. There are some benches to sit. Its cute. Great place for pics read more

Absolutely breathtaking.. Especially at sunset into the night.. Stayed at the W so it was a pretty short walk to get there! Totally worth it! read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great views of the city looking north and a very peaceful place since very few people venture here. If you need to get away from the hustle and bustle of Navy Pier, this is only steps away. It's a great place to feel the lake breeze on a hot summer day. read more

What a serene and beautiful place. The good vibes are palpable and the views of the city are second to none. A Chicago gem dedicated to a hero! read more

This is so clearly the best park in Chicago, which is a city filled with beautiful parks on its own. It has a lovely skyline and is never too crowded because frankly I do not think many people know about it. We always take visitors here because they love to get photos of the skyline up the north side. read more

I love this park and this location. It is one of the best and least appreciated locales in the city hidden in plain site. That said it is also massively underutilized and I would say neglected by the city which is a travesty. It has fountains that aren't working most if any of the time. There is no "there" there. The journey under the tree canopy is wonderful only to arrive at what looks like a forgotten oversized playground. Given that it could be an adjacent attraction for visitors who come to Navy Pier/Ohio Street beach the lack of imagination by the city and park district astound me. I realize a refurbishing would take money but you don't have to turn it into Millenium Park Deux in order to give it the dignified appearance it deserves. The location itself would do much of the work. Some restaurants or programming to hide the water filtration wall lining the park would also be welcome. read more

The places you find when you go for a walk in Chicago. I rave about the Chicago public parks and this will have a similar tune. This area is tough to get to, you will have to walk or take one of the few buses that gets you to the Navy Pier area. But once you get here, it is well worth it. Overlooking Ohio Street Beach, Milton Lee Olive Park is long and beautiful. Large grass fields with slight incline hills are in the middle and a walkway with views of the northern Chicago city skyline are on the left/north. Sit on a concrete bench, take a Segway tour, bike, or walk to the lookout point. read more

Being Streeterville residents, this is our favorite park - however, I'm curious as to why the park was closed for the 2014 Fourth of July holiday. There were dozens of folks trying to get into the park this afternoon for picnic lunches - and since the park closes at dusk anyway, it wasn't because of the 9:30pm fireworks. read more

PFC Olive, thank you for your bravery and sacrifice. This place is more than just a park. It's namesake is hallowed. I challenge anyone that reads this to actually Google PFC Olive and learn about his selfless act that saved his fellow Soldiers in Vietnam. read more

My favorite spot in the city! I come here during my lunch break to read or just to chill since I work just a few blocks away and sometimes during the weekends. Olive Park has one of the most beautiful views of Chicago. Come here in the spring, summer, fall, & winter! read more

Milton Lee Olive Park - Beautiful view - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I happened upon Olive Park one day while on my way to Navy Pier. What I love about Chicago is that after living here for 3 years, there's still large areas of green space that I never knew existed. I decided to ditch the Pier (and all the strollers and slow walkers) to check it out. There's a small, quiet beach with a fantastic view of the skyline and nearby wading boats. There's also a serene walkway that leads you out further past the shore. It's nice place to just sit and enjoy the view. I would come back here to lay out and get some sun, since I'm not fond of being in a bathing suit in public! :) read more

I'm really surprised this park has not been reviewed. Olive Park is one of my favorite stops when running along the Lakefront in the summer. It's located just north of Navy Pier, right next to Ohio Street Beach, and the gates are usually open on summer days. It's a strip going into the lake with trees, benches and provides great views of the Lakefront! Come here for a stretch, jog, picnic or romantic walk before/after a dinner date (it's super romantic in the evenings!). Dogs are welcome into the park (I think). I've seen several rollerbladers here too. The park is very clean and well kept, with the occasional geese poop. read more

I got married here on a Tuesday morning in 1998...it was lovely and private with amazing views of the skyline....

This is my favorite reading spot. It's quiet enough that you won't be distracted by obnoxious conversations, but there's still the constant buzz of city and people noise which I like to have in the background. There are plenty of trees if you like to stay out of the sun and lots of good people watching! Go on a good day and you'll definitely see lots of kids, dogs, and wedding photoshoots. read more