Underrated and beautiful. It's got a fantastic view of the city skyline and there's a whole industrial vibe going on but I don't mind it. It's serene and if it wasn't so warm I'd go to it more often. It's good for a long walk but there's no trees along that walk so I'll be frequenting more in the fall va the summer. read more

Check out this incredible transformation of a quarry into a park in Bridgeport. In between it was a landfill. Palmisano Park has went through a lot of changes to be sure. A lot of nature of course. There's trails and an interpretive wetlands among the many things to come across while going through. Best to know about the transformation before going. It used to be the Stearns Quarry. The city purchased it in 2008, cleaned it up, and opened it the next year. Has lots of nature to see and more to do. There's more than a mile of paths, including recycled timber boardwalks, and walkways. At first this was the site of a coral reef if you can believe it. Limestone was formed, and there's been fossils discovered here that are now in the Field Museum. In the 1830s it became a quarry, and operated until 1970 when it became a landfill. There's a fishing pond that still has the old quarry walls. After opening this park there was cause for celebration. The community before this had a lack of green space. Have to go here if you like parks that have been restored from abandoned areas. It's quite impressive. There's all kinds of plants and wildlife. read more

Palmisano Park - Prairie - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty cool park, I really like the fishing pond area which looks like an old stone quarry or something with dramatic cliffs. They have several dirt tracks to run/hike, exercise stations and it's adjacent to many Playgrounds. Short walk to Halsted on the Orange line. read more

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A fascinating park with a variety of topography contained within a city block. What looks like an old quarry has a pier built into it, but a tall hill offers views of the cityscape nearby. What is technically another park on the next block offers things like a playground, a swimming pool, and bathrooms. Here, one gets a really interesting spot to burn some calories and take in some views. When I visited, there appeared to be some volunteer clean up thing going on, and it was certainly apparent that the community liked this park. read more

Palmisano Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Beautiful park, but no dogs allowed I went on a Sunday morning and notice there were tents and trash everywhere around the peripheral. read more

I love coming to this park to walk around, jog, catch the sunset or picnic. The views of Chicago's skyline are pretty from the top of the hill. read more

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Loved the space! Great and safe to run through. It was a pleasant surprise to find such a place right in the middle of the city.

After eating at Taipei cafe we came down the street to this park and walked around: a hidden gem! It's an old quarry that is revised into a park, with walkways and paths creatively strewn across the natural barriers. There is a nice backdrop of the downtown skyline, a lovely spot for photography. Clean and safe with some wildlife even in the winter. read more

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Super fun hill to sled. We were a group of four adults with donut, peppermint and unicorn tubes ready to go. We got about 5 inches (or maybe a little less) of snow overnight and it was plenty to tube down the hill. The negatives are it's very crowded, with very small children not looking and sometimes walking in front of other kids. I saw at least two instances of blood. The other negative is also safety related as there is a brick wall just as you reach the end of the hill. This isn't as much of an issue for the kids but is for adults picking up speed. Overall a fun day of sledding in the city and close to the orange line for easy transit. read more

Palmisano Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is really cool to take your son n have a fun time enjoying the weather like when it's cold or hot is really nice n then when you go in da night is really amazing because you can see the Willis tower like it's such a nice view read more

Palmisano Park - The rocks are really cool - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a hidden gem in Chicago! Better than the 606 Trail and most tiny parks in Chicago, Bridgeport has a nice nature preserve here. Defnitely worth checking out and enjoying if you're in the area with some cool real rock formations, pond, and great skyline views! Kewl. read more

Great view of the skyline at the highest point. Spent Fourth of July there and could see so much fireworks from all over the city. A really neat space for running, strolling, picnic, and kite flying. It's been a few years so the wildlife is slowly maturing into its full beauty and arrangement. All paths lead to a small pond in which many adults and children bring their fishing gear to and relax for a few hours. read more

Palmisano Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I still remember this park as a giant hole in the ground. For most of my childhood, it was blocked off and seemed like nothing would ever happen to it. Well, I'm glad finally something did and the city made it into a giant park! There's even a waterfall! I've seen people go fishing there, too. Part of the park is a preserve for prairie grass. It's got a great view of the Sears Tower from the top of the hill. It's a great place to get in a nice run. It's giant enough to find a place to be alone and have a nice walk, too. It's definitely been a good addition to the neighborhood. read more

I am an avid dog runner. Meaning, my dogs get to go to the nicest parks in Chicago but I was really disappointed with this park. Although for people it is a really nice park to stroll through, with its small river, quarry lagoon and duck feeding area. The signs in the beginning are a little misleading. One sign says leashed dogs are welcome, than when you walk there is a sign *(BIG) that says No Dogs Allowed. Of course, its a public park so we took our dogs (Chihuahua's) in. Besides we clean after our pets. BUT, when we started up the hill to get to a breathtaking view of the city, there were no tree's so I just thought, no this is not dog friendly. The scenery is really nice and the lagoon is different, with its rock quarry look but brown murky water ( this happens with Quarry strewn rivers ), but nonetheless I had a nice experience with the scenery. Hopefully it stays nice and graffiti doesn't work its way there. read more

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This a lovely park with lots to offer. Excellent place to walk, relax and unwind! You can easily put a blanket down and have lunch while you gaze at the spectacular views of the city. read more

Palmisano Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Stearns Quarry Park is my little urban wilderness. Affectionately coined, "Mount Bridgeport," I love to reach the top of the highest point in the park; providing you with a perfect North-wards view of the city skyline. I adore the fact that native Illinois prairie restoration is active at this park. The flowers & grasses are gorgeous. The paved walks around the park are my favorite for jogging. read more

Palmisano Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really enjoy this park! The hills, quarry pond, walking/running path are all great. When it is nice out you can see people flying kites, sunbathing on the hill, kids playing, families fishing, and people just enjoying nature. The hill overlooking part of the Chicago skyline is a great place to just lay and relax. It's a great addition to the neighborhood. I only wish there could've fit a dog park somewhere here... read more

Maybe you, like Northsider me had not heard of this park. It's a delight, restored from an old quarry into a beautiful natural space. Not overdone, not erasing it's violent past but filling it with soil, building huge swales and planting native plants. And there's a place to fish where you can see the old quarry walls. It looks like a lovely swimming place but I have no idea if you can swim. There was a lot of algae and ducks and geese. And a great view of downtown from on top of the 'hill'. read more

I love it when Chicago surprises me. I've passed Halsted and 26th a million times, and not once did I notice that behind what seems like a giant boring hill was the Palmisano Park Stearns Quarry. In the busy and noisy hustle and bustle of Halsted Street in Bridgeport this truly seems like something from outer space. Out of what use to be a quarry and landfill, someone got a good environmentally sound idea and created a park/ prairie preserve. And what an impressive prairie it is. Once you cross the hill and witness the actual Quarry, which is now a giant pond of a murky deep greenish blue color, your eyes are immediately drawn to the backdrop of carved rock. These are manmade 40 foot or taller excavations, but they look amazingly natural. Suddenly, you no longer hear the traffic of Halsted; you hear birds chirping and water streams running. The green of the pond with the white gray of the rock and beige variations of the hundreds of prairie grasses are incredibly soothing and relaxing on the eyes. It even smells like nature here. Quick Yoga session? Why not? The area is lined with very modern styled aluminum staircasing. If you look down by the staircases the ground is sprinkled with Swishers blunt wraps, and beer bottles, a little reminder that you're still in Bridgeport. I guess I missed the session. Still, the area is pretty well kempt and trash is minimal. This is definitely worth a drive up from the north side. Relatively quiet and surely an amazing place for a picnic. Just, people please throw your blunt wraps in the garbage cans, ok? read more

Palmisano Park - Sunny day at the Quarry! - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Right down Archer Ave from the dojo is Henry C. Palmisano Park. Now covered in prairie nature, this was the former home of Chicago's first limestone quarry. After almost a century of extraction, enough limestone had been carted off to create a nearly 400 foot hole in the ground: that's what makes the park's lake surrounded by steep limestone cliffs. At the turn of the millenium, designated a future park, what had become a landfill was buried under topsoil, creating a high point with spectacular views of the neighborhood that is now referred to as Mount Bridgeport. read more

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Love this park. A true oasis in the big city

This is my favorite park in Chicago. I love the different paths, the waterfowl hanging out by the lake, and the great variety of plants and grasses they have there. There's also a FANTASTIC VIEW OF CHICAGO DOWNTOWN from the top of the hill. It's worth a visit any time of year, no matter what the weather. read more

Palmisano Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Nice view at night at the top of the hill. Impossible to social distance on the trail when there are other people. Better off staying in the open hill/field. read more

My husband and I work out here a few times a week. The park is great, really friendly and ample parking. ONE issue, Its signs posted EVERYWHERE that says "NO DOGS IN THE PARK." We keep seeing people walking their damn dogs, its not a dog park, its dog crap EVERYWHERE. I wish people would obey the signs and not bring dogs read more

My love letter to Palmisano. Truly one of the hidden gems of the Chicago Parks District. Featuring a diverse landscape in a medium sized park, Palmisano is inspiring and boosts what I have come to expect from urban parkland. Mount Bridgeport, aka, the large hill that is the apex of this park, produces stunning views of the Chicago skyline, as well as ample picnic space and a beautiful prairie grassland. The quarry itself is beautiful and well maintained, with catch and release fishing, duck and turtle observation, and ample rock seating for one to just sit and meditate on their day. There are also good jogging paths, several water fountains, and beautiful wildflowers. This is my favorite Chicago park. Can't wait to see how it only improves with time as the trees grow to create an even more isolated oasis of a park in my neighborhood. read more

An oasis in the city...what at first glance this looks somewhat like a landfill, or gigantical ant hill...is actually a beautifully, naturally landscaped park, quarry, path, and wildlife party. Ducks! Geese! Grasshoppers! First some background... From the Chicago Park District Website: Stearns Quarry is a 27-acre (27 ACRES!?) site on Chicago's southwest side, in the heart of the Bridgeport neighborhood.Its story is one of transformation, as it has changed from coral reefs to quarry to landfill to park.Not surprisingly, each incarnation plays a major role in developing the next Stearns Quarry is a dynamic park, with a fishing pond, interpretive wetlands, preserved quarry walls, trails, an athletic field, a running track, and a hill that offers dramatic views. Over 1.7 miles of paths, including recycled timber boardwalks, concrete walks, a crushed stone running path, and metal grating walkways traverse the park.These trails allow for a variety of experiences along the quarry wall, across the terracing wetlands, and down to the pond.Scenic overlooks provide dramatic overviews of the pond and wetlands, and spectacular city views can be seen from the mound. --- We popped over here today with pooch for a walk around Bridgeport. One unfortunate thing, and I'm not entirely sure why...but, NO DOGS signs are posted at the entrance. My dog is always leashed and picked up after, so I decided to chance it. On this chill morning, no one was around to even bother. Tillie probably WISHED we'd left her in the car after walking on the metal grated path, but she lived to sleep again. No worries. Anyway, the signs are posted...so if you've got Sparky you may need to head next door to McGuane Park's softball and football fields...they also have a playground for the kiddos, so it's all right here for the folks that need some fresh air. It's quite impressive, and seems so...hidden. Secret. Indulgent, almost. Like, "are we really here?" Is this really in Bridgeport? Where are we? The dude doing Tai Chi....icing on the cake. This park/quarry is a motherlovin' bliss trip. Serious. Not crowded (yet), and in the next few years when the natural prairie and trees start to grow in, this is going to be incredible. Bridgeport. Hi. read more

Hills workout in Chicago. Yes, it's possible. Still sucks ass, but when you are doing it in an urban oasis that you didn't know existed three weeks before......it sucks a little less. Perfect combination of urban park and nature sanctuary, Palmisano offers a little bit of everything to everyone: - a fishing pond with fish IN IT. No kidding. They stock it on a regular basis. And it's heavily used. - a spectacular limestone background - wetlands, pretty dry right now but a grasshopers' paradise - recycled timber boardwalks, concrete walks, metal grating walkways going up, down, straight and everywhere in between - a crushed stone running track - a hill offering a serious challenge for your running lungs and spectacular views of the city - sculptures - NATURE!!!!!!!!! Prairie, trees, water, insects, birds. Probably frogs. So worth the trip down there. Reward yourself with a meat pie at the nearby Pleasant House Bakery, or go the Chinese way and gorge on dim sum on a chilly Sunday morning. Urban perfection. read more

Yeah, loved this. Immediately. Planners, landscape urbanists, sustainability types... you'll all geek out. This park does it right. That mountain has got to be a landfill... I've been around a bunch of them, working in depressed communities. The way it's graded sure as hell looks like a landfill to me. It really doesn't matter either way tho, I think it's fantastic that there are trails, exercise, city views, etc. Points out that everything is potential if you can see it. Great old quarry, brings an industrial heritage to the site. They began mining this site in the 1830s! I bet we've seen some of those old stones in neighborhood foundations. Bridges cross over a wetland / swale landscape that filters water as it heads to the quarry. I was there on a blustery, overcast Tuesday and a grandpa was fishing with a little kid. Charming. Native plants add to the serenity of the place. Even at an off hour, it was getting used. Tells me that this is a really successful park. Kudos to the designers. How do I get one of these in my neck of the woods? read more

I came here in July. Love this park. Definitely nice view of the city when you get to the top. Really nice landscape and plants. Really nice place to photos at. Really nice scenery. Great walk around to enjoy some air. I couldn't stop taking photos of the flowers because they were so pretty. read more

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My husband's been excited to show me this "hidden park" for the past few weeks. We'd driven by many times and I always assumed it was a landfill. You can't really see in from the outside. But once you venture in, it's really interesting! There are concrete paths and metal bridges that take you up and around the park and just past the teeny tiny waterfall, down the metal pathway, there's the remnants of the quarry. So, it essentially looks like a small lake surrounded by cliffs. It's almost surreal as you stand there looking into this slightly incredible scene IN THE MIDDLE OF CHICAGO. The park seems like it's still under development. The grass isn't lush, the trees look freshly planted and aren't very tall, but it's worth a walk/bike around, for sure. Can I reiterate that there's a "lake" surrounded by "cliffs" in the middle of Chicago??? read more

Just a few blocks south of the Halsted Orange Line stop is the old quarry and now renovated Stearns Quarry Park. It's got to be one of the most secluded spots in the city to relax and enjoy summer. At the bottom after hiking down the path is a lake. After chowing down at Ramova, we went to the quarry to feed our leftover toast to the ducks and minnows. I decided to go wading in the water and about 3 feet from shore stepped into a sinkhole. So, I got a little wet. It was fun as hell though. Rumpleminz and lazing on a sunny afternoon makes one do stupid things! read more

You thought Illinois was the flattest state in the country, well it is. If you want to run on hills in Chicago, look no further than Palmisano Park in Bridgeport. Graded hills, awesome quarry, picturesque view of the city skyline. If you enjoy jogging, come here its a nice break from the lakefront - especially on windy days. Happy running, - Jeremy read more

What a hidden gem! Seriously. My friend kept telling me about this spot and I was like "you mean that big hill"? She kept trying to get me to go but I just didn't see the point. Wow do I feel like a LOSER for not listening to her sooner! This is nothing what you expect and everything you thought it would never be. It is a series of trails that take you up and down and eventually to the bottom of the former quarry to a nice water area. It's like you're not even in the city anymore but somewhere out in the burbs. It's a BEAUTIFUL view once you get to the top where you can chill and reflect for a moment. My only gripe is that there were quite a bit of people (around 7pm) and was a little tricky to maneuver when bikes and such are also going on the trail. I will definitely be back here and can't believe I didn't go sooner! read more

This park is always a vibe day or night. Nice view of the downtown skyline. A lot of restaurants around the block as well!

Great places for walks, dates, and exercise aficionados. I've seen people do H.I.T. on the straight-away sidewalk along Halsted, the exercise station by the corner of 29th and Halsted, run intervals on the grass, and uphill climbs. I don't know if people fish in the quarry, but it's possible? Please be advised.. when you climb to the top of the hill, there are various trails you may see because people venture off the cement areas. The grass in these locations are filled with broken glass and bottle caps from people smashing beer bottles. I seen some small foot prints from children... please be careful. read more

This park was on my list of places to visit in the city. I was passing by on Halsted with a car full of people and commandeered them to this park. It was right after Christmas and a sunny day and I decided everyone needed a brisk walk and some fresh air, especially me. It isn't a big park, maybe two blocks square. I'm a big fan of creative urban spaces and kudos to the city on this one. Even though it was December, there was a stready stream of cars parking and people going for a stroll. A convenient place to get back to nature -- right in the middle of Bridgeport. I bet when it rains there are cool waterfalls. read more

Oh man, I LOVE this park. As someone who is from a more rural area, this place really appeals to me. It is really surreal to go there and see all the nature with a great view of Chicago in the background. On one side of the park are metal walkways suspended above beautiful greenery and water features. The path weaves around the park, but leads to the quarry itself. It's certainly not a place to go swimming but it's nice to look at, and I've seen people attempt to fish there. The other side of the park is a big hill and open grass. From the top of the hill you get a very nice view of the city. If you're adventurous, you can even go off the path a bit and explore the woods closer to the quarry. As others have mentioned, no dog signs are posted at the entrance. I can't wait to go back here when it warms up again! read more

Not much more to say than what the previous reviewers wrote other than to point out that there's a lot of free parking on W. 27th and Halsted. This truly is one of the hidden gems of Chicago. Such a well-designed park, do yourself a favor and go for a visit. read more

Palmisano Park - Top of the hill - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Recently moved into the neighborhood (few minutes drive away ) and what a treat to be close to this park! My boyfriend Is a health nut and I enjoy jogging so we really love having a trail to jog/run /do circuits on .We moved from Wicker Park ,so we were spoiled by the new 606 there which was 2 blocks from our old place . What a hidden gem this park is ! Breathtaking skyline views,the buddha heads at the top of the hill ,the greenery ,plants and flowers . But my favorite thing here is all the critters that you see along the way ! Gigantic praying mantis's , beautiful beetles ,butterflies ,even little garden snakes that you have to jump over on the trail . I love stopping along the way to show my 1 year old daughter all the bugs we run into . You seem to forget your in the city here .Its such a nice escape .They also have a lil area for pull ups where we usually do circuits and there's a fishing area too (catch and release ) I thought my boyfriend would complain that this place was "No 606 " but he actually likes it better than the 606 because its so scenic and as we say ,"naturey " LOL I plan on coming here in the spring to picnic at the top by the buddha heads and just stare out into our beautiful skyline . If you want a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of every day city life ,come here . read more

Steams Quarry aka Mcguane (the BB field next to) it or also affectionally known as the "the old dump" is a great use of taxpayers money! I have been there two years in a row to take the kids tubing when it snows. *caution-I do not think the intent was for tubing, so parents shoud wait at the bottom of the hill to prevent kids from crashing into the concrete barrier that lines Halsted. Plenty of small hills, great for little kids and bigger kids can snowbaord! Great enviroment, lots of families from the area great community feel :) read more