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    Portage Park

    3.8 (91 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 11:00 pm

    Portage Park Photos

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    Many diving board options to choose from
    Jacqueline F.

    This review is based off of the outdoor pool only. What can I say - I am pleasantly surprised that a public pool can be so nice, clean, and humongous. It's an olympic sized pool and during open swim or family swim time, they still allocate 2 lanes for those wanting to just do some laps. There is plenty of room in the water for kiddos to splash around without bumping into other people. The depth of the pool starts at 4 feet and goes all the way up to 5 ft and some inches. But for the kiddies, there is a splash area and kiddie pool available also. For those wanting to show off their diving skills, diving boards of all levels can be found here as well. The diving boards have their own pool area so you dont have to worry about some big heavy diver coming down and smashing your kid. There are tables with sun umbrellas on one side of the pool, and on the other side of the fence are beach chairs if you just want to lay out and sunbathe. The only thing i didnt like is that there are no lounge chairs close to the poolside. There are lifeguards all around which is a good thing. They also make sure to tell you if you came through the wrong entrance. Oh and keep in mind that beach bags, bookbags are not allowed in the pool gated area. You have to leave them in the lockers that are available for use near the bathroom. But make sure you bring your own lock as none are provided for you to rent. Going back to those lifeguards tho, can someone get these guys new sun umbrellas? The ones that they were working with all had holes or tears in them. Knowing the chicago budget though, not sure if that will happen. But just saying!! As far as the locker rooms... they were ok. Looked like a prison bathroom (even though i wouldn't really know how one looks like) but still clean. Cant really expect much since its one of the Park district bathrooms. But hey, i will come back to this pool, now that I know how nice it is. And its free!

    C M.

    Big park. Very dirty doggy park. Good for weekend activities............................

    Outdoor pool
    Rosa J.

    Playing Pokemon Go has made me realized that how great parks in Chicago are! For those who don't give a d*mn about this game, please exercise your selective reading skill because you won't like this review as much. I have to pass by Portage Park almost daily because I live in this neighborhood, but I had never felt the desire of coming to this place, walking 5km and more, and looking for Rhyhorn to catch until the inauguration of Pokemon Go mobile game Beside the benefit of playing Pokemon safely without worrying about getting hit by a car (though be aware of some fast bikers flying through your shoulder), Portage Park has a well-kept outdoor swim pool, a baseball field, a dog park, a kids playground, and FREE PARKING near Belle Plaine entrance. They occasionally host concerts and movie nights, so there's something for everyone in the family to do here. Hey, hey, my Pokemon discussion isn't yet finished. There are approximately fifteen (15) poke stops, two (2) gyms, and enough opportunities for players to hatch eggs by walking around the park. Ummm...I also see "stoners" frequently enjoying their solitude near the "Natural Habitat Areas." That's good that these pokemons are digitally programmed. Otherwise, who wants a pidgey or a Gastly to disturb the fun? Or have a Jigglypuff serenade when hot couple are making out on the bench...not so fabulous in my opinion. "Portage Ground" coffee shop on Irving Park and "Mia's Cafe" on Central are nearby, helping complete the entire experience of park excursion.

    The view is always breathtaking! Especially at night when the moon reflects on everything.
    Tim A.

    Once you walk the trail and get to the spot that is between the pool and the parking lot, there is an area where the trees are huge and if you position yourself in the correct spot, you will have a wonderful view.

    Chris P.

    This summer, puppies seem to be in vogue in Portage Park. The newly-opened, much larger dog park is a sign the canines are here to stay. The old dog-friendly area was nice but far too small. My Chihuahua had no problem running around in there, but for the big dogs, it was practically a glorified crate. Thankfully they knocked down the old fences and busted out this park to give the dogs way more real estate to run. There's plenty of shade and bench space for lazy humans to sit while their dogs get in their workouts. There's a water fountain for replenishment and dog bags to clean up the shit (something that apparently not many in the neighborhood are keen to do). So far everyone's been friendly and attentive to their pets. There's nothing more annoying than people who sit idly by while their dogs try to rub their dicks all over everything and everyone.

    Rawlins R.

    City parks a great. I'm surprised there are no reviews for Portage Park yet but I will do the honor of introducing the Yelp community to this fine park. Portage Park is a city block long on Irving Park road bordered by Central and Long avenues. Maybe it is half a city block. Anyway, it is a pretty big park with plenty of pathways stemming from the corners of each intersection. This makes the park friendly to walkers, runners, roller bladers, etc. The park is home to serveral fields for softball or baseball. There is a family friendly playground. A dog park is located on the northwest side of the park. There are several tennis courts on the north side along Berteau. Portage Park has a large pool which I believe is public but I don't know that for sure. Portage Park pretty much has everything for anyone that is looking for a traditional Chicago park experience.

    Main entrance at Irving Park and Central
    David R.

    Wow, I am impressed. What a great example of a medium-sized urban park. It has an interesting history dating back to 1913, reading which I found as enjoyable as visiting the park itself (I'm nerdy that way). There is a stately entrance at Irving Park and Central Avenue, and a more modest but still handsome version at Central and Berteau. An exact quarter-mile square, this is a more landscaped and utilitarian park than, say, the wilder Winnemac Park or some of the bare-bones city parks. However, that isn't to say that it isn't pleasant just to wander around or settle down on the lawn to picnic or read a book. I perambulated the entire circumference and criss-crossed the middle twice; it is definitely a pleasure just to be there. But check out this list of facilities: two football/soccer-size fields with goalposts, four baseball diamonds, six tennis courts, a kids' playground, a natatorium (famous for national competitions of decades past, including the 1972 US Olympic trials), an outdoor pool with a neat kids' play area, a fieldhouse, and a cultural center. Whew. You could occupy yourself for days in there.

    Awesome day for Portage Park jogs! Love Chicago weather (sometimes) lol

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    3 years ago

    Attendant Rhonda is always busy at the outdoor pool. Keeping the place clean. Has a nice personality

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    4 years ago

    I like this park. It has a bit of everything... playground for my little one and a lot of open field.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Portage Park

    Review Highlights - Portage Park

    Went here for family day, unfortunately the diving boards are not open during family swim, but they are open during "open swim".

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Millennium Park - The famous Bean

    Millennium Park

    4.6(1.5k reviews)
    8.9 miThe Loop

    The wife and I visited "The Bean" and the surrounding area for a bit…read more The mirrored bean is cool and drew a hefty crowd on this Saturday afternoon. It is pretty massive and iconic for this city. I captured some fun "funhouse" type reflection images of us in it. This area with the river makes for a nice walk and visual architecture splendor on full display. There were some huge mural water fountain art displays nearby. During the summertime water runs vertically down them.

    My friend and I were recently traveling to Chicago, and we stayed along Michigan Avenue. We didn't…read morerealize until arriving that it was so close to Millennium Park, which we spent part of one afternoon exploring. Like every other tourist, we took photo after photo at Cloud Gate, also known as "The Bean." We wandered through the rest of the Millennium Park Campus and found the entire area to be quite delightful. It was hard to believe that only yards away were busy streets and hotels and buildings. I was impressed with the level of security in place at each of the two park entrances. There are metal detectors in place and bag searches for a variety of prohibited items from weapons, explosives, fireworks, and open flames to noise makers, narcotics, drugs, and animals (other than service animals). The lines moved quite quickly. The officers were friendly but clearly focused on keeping everyone entering the park safe. Millennium Park is a world leader of art and architecture in a public, outdoor, urban setting. The Millennium Park Campus includes the Lurie Garden, the Chicago Cultural Center, Maggie Daley Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Harris Theater. The Lurie Garden is the Millennium Park's 'secret garden'. This naturalistic garden is a place of rest and renewal for humans and wildlife alike. There are also many events from summer workouts, summer music series, and summer film series to a variety of different festivals. The Millennium Park is open daily from 6 AM to 11 PM, and there is no cost for admission. The Welcome Center is open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. The Lurie Garden will be closed through early July though. There is nearby parking in the Grant Park Garages (North & South) and the Millennium Park and Millennium Lakeside Garage. You can pay in person at each garage or pre-pay online. You can also take the CTA to Millennium Park where $5 will cover your entire trip. You can learn more about the Millennium Park at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park.html. If you're in Chicago, you need to visit the Millennium Park!

    Photos
    Millennium Park - Chicago bean

    Chicago bean

    Millennium Park - Ig@mel_foodie_ventures

    Ig@mel_foodie_ventures

    Millennium Park - Millennium Park

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    Millennium Park

    Palmisano Park - Palmisano Park@Night (6pm) BridgePort Cool Place for Relax/Meditation/Walk/Jogging/Exercise/fishing! Middle of the City! Nice!

    Palmisano Park

    4.7(47 reviews)
    9.8 miBridgeport

    Underrated and beautiful. It's got a fantastic view of the city skyline and there's a whole…read moreindustrial 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.

    Check out this incredible transformation of a quarry into a park in Bridgeport. In between it was a…read morelandfill. 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.

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    Palmisano Park - Palmisano Park .BridgePort (Halsted St/Archer Ave) Cool Place for Relax/Meditation/Walk/Jogging/Exercise/fishing! Middle of the City! Nice!

    Palmisano Park .BridgePort (Halsted St/Archer Ave) Cool Place for Relax/Meditation/Walk/Jogging/Exercise/fishing! Middle of the City! Nice!

    Palmisano Park
    Palmisano Park

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    Maggie Daley Park - Chicago Park District - I got stuck up there, fire dot not needed

    Maggie Daley Park - Chicago Park District

    4.5(235 reviews)
    9.0 miThe Loop

    It was a random 60-degree day in late March here in Chicago. I personally have been wanting to…read morecheck out "Maggie Daley Park" in downtown. With that thought, let the exploration begin! Of course we took our kids along because they would be the ones who could take full advantage of the facilities. The park itself was quite large, but we went for the kids playground. Signs were clearly marked for direction so we got to our destination with no difficulties. Our boys definitely enjoyed the suspension bridge, though my younger one was hesitant to go on first. I did see some older kids who were climbing "outside of the bridge infrastructure. There was a note to remind anyone not to do so. Oh well, it is what it is. Even if some accidentally fell when doing risky tricks, the soft padded ground would reduce the impact. On the other hand, there was one section of playground exclusively for children older than 5 years old. The slide seemed to be more advanced for young toddlers for sure. Therefore, we performed our sightseeing duty and walked away since our munchkins were 2.5 and 4.5 years old. Our older one enjoyed the straight slides. I liked that fact there were multiple slides with various speeds so that kids would not get bored on staying on the same one. Normally I wouldn't recommend anyone to drive to downtown but we did this time. My partner was able to secure a spot via SpotHero at the Harris Theater for a reasonable price. I got there much later than our scheduled arrival time yet he was able to extend for another 30 minutes in the app. Overall, we highly recommend parents to visit "Maggie Daley Park" and let the kids release some energy. We probably will be back again to poke around other areas when spring and summer in Chicago are in full bloom.

    We met friends with their kids at the Maggie Daley Park area of Chicago's Millennium Park before a…read moreday of shopping (Feb 2026). It's a bit of a walk in, and the path from the southwest corner of the park at Columbus & Monroe is longer but less-steep than the winding path uphill from the southeast corner at Lakeshore & Monroe. You get some lovely views of downtown Chicago. We continued past the (seasonal, of course) ice-skating ribbon, because we were not prepared to skate. There are several play areas of swings, slides, and climbing structures, some intended for (and with signs to indicate) specific age ranges. The giant slides and towers, and the ship-shaped climber, were very popular. Busy, but not over-crowded. It was quite entertaining, and we played there over 1.5 hours!

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    Maggie Daley Park - Chicago Park District
    Maggie Daley Park - Chicago Park District
    Maggie Daley Park - Chicago Park District

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    Garfield Park Conservatory

    Garfield Park Conservatory

    4.8(831 reviews)
    5.3 miEast Garfield Park

    Yes, yes, yes! A must visit!! This place has been on my list for years to come visit and I finally…read morewas like let's gooooo!! Came on a nice spring day around 2 pm. The most annoying part was the line to get in. They have qr code to pre-pay in line. But not all guests choose to do this which slows down the line. They only had one staff scanning people in. Beautiful flowers and plants. We saw the turtles as well. Plan to spend about an hour here. There are some people that stop and take too many pictures to block walkways for other guests. Parking was free. Also located right on the green line for convenient public transportation option.

    What a gorgeous (and free) experience to check out in Chicago! I loved that this wasn't downtown,…read moreand there is (usually) plenty of free parking. However, when we visited with our group to celebrate Earth Day, a lot of the conservatory was under construction. Half of the lot was blocked off, along with the children's area, sensory garden, and outdoor paths and gardens. I understand that Garfield is free, but it was a bit of a bummer to make the full trek out from the burbs to only experience half of it. I hope to visit again once this children's area is open, as my 4 year old would love it! The pathway to the entrance isn't very accessible-friendly - glad we didn't have anyone in a wheelchair this go around, as the path is rocky and uneven. Front entrance is under construction, so let's hope that's easier to walk on. Don't forget to make your reservations in advance! No admission without a reservation!

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    Garfield Park Conservatory
    Garfield Park Conservatory
    Garfield Park Conservatory - Section of interior.

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    Section of interior.

    Earl J Field Memorial Playground

    Earl J Field Memorial Playground

    4.4(9 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    We stopped here whilst waiting for our pizza order to be done. It was just alright; I was rather…read moredisappointed. There are two sections to the park, with the big rocket being the centerpiece. It's huge, multiple levels. There are at least three slides coming out from it. Lots of places for kids to climb and scurry and jump. But that part was too big for my kiddo so we went to the smaller section a few steps away. There was a structure to climb, several slides, some bars, and then even a little further away a bunch of swings. I tried to keep her from seeing the swings, to be honest, since I didn't want to have to deal with an upset kiddo when we had to leave without enough swing time. She played around a bit but didn't seem as interested in the playground. We went down a slide or two, but some of them had standing water since it has been a bit rainy recently. The playground isn't technically fenced in, but it is effectively so because it's behind the practice courts which are all fenced in. It'd be hard for your kid to get away from you. There's a parking lot for the Norridge Park District building but the neighborhood parking could be tricky, especially in the summer because there is restricted parking from Memorial Day to Labor Day (ostensibly because of the large pool structure that would keep the residents from having any parking for three months otherwise). The terrain of the park is wood chips and soil, decidedly not my favorite (maybe especially after a rain) and she got dirty pretty quick. I may bring her back when she's old enough to play on the rocket ship, but this won't be a park that we return to much if ever.

    Very very nice huge playground in the woods. The air is clean, the people are nice... I wish we…read morelived closer :))) it has actually 3 playgrounds near to each orher

    Photos
    Earl J Field Memorial Playground
    Earl J Field Memorial Playground - Lookout tower

    Lookout tower

    Earl J Field Memorial Playground - Toddler playground

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    Toddler playground

    Portage Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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