I don't skate. In fact, the last time I had wheels strapped to my feet was 1993 when I worked part…read moretime at a skating rink (and yes, that job was as much fun as you can imagine it would be.) Earlier this year, I was unemployed with a lot of time on my hands. I had so much free time that I would just wander around my neighborhood aimlessly because it gave me something to do. One of my regular stops was the Logan Square Skate Park. It was fun to watch the kids do tricks and skate around. At times I felt like a creepy old lady surrounded by high school kids, but this park was family friendly so a few parents brought their little ones occasionally to skate around. Oh, who am I kidding...I still felt creepy but it was a nice distraction and it got me off my couch and out of my pajamas.

only cool if you: a) live 2 blocks away or less…read moreb) are in high school and trying to get laid c) want to feel like a bridge troll

Man, Lincoln Park was a blasts. We went jogging here and picnicking. They have made many movies at…read morethis famous historical park. I love the city view of the skyscrapers. Place is beautiful at nighttime too. Park is huge and so much to see. Parking may be a challenge, but we were lucky to find good parking. Awesome place to visit. We will be coming back on our next trip.

This is Chicago's largest park with 1,214 acres stretching from Hollywood Ave to Ohio St. It is…read morefilled with art, history & nature along Lake Michigan. It is an important natural resource with 15,000 trees and native habitats for many local and migratory birds. In the 1860s, the city set aside 60 acres as Lake Park. In 1865, it was named after Lincoln's assassination. This surrounding picturesque neighborhood it has manicured gardens, a hidden lily pond, a historic indoor botanical garden, and tons of lakefront green space with sweeping city views. It is home to one of the country's oldest free zoos & an acclaimed dining scene.

Big park located in North Center. Hamlin Park is known for its athletic fields. It has a few…read morebaseball diamonds, as well as basketball and tennis courts, along with a pool. Also has indoor facilities like the fieldhouse and the gym. There's also a dog area where they can run around and stuff. A place that's pretty much for the neighborhood but it's still big enough for a crowd. It's best known for the athletic fields. This is a popular place for youth baseball leagues. Also offers lots of fitness programs you can sign up for. There's weightlifting, yoga, and more. It was created in 1909 by the Lincoln Park Commission. The fieldhouse was designed by architect Dwight H. Perkins. It was the most impressive of the fieldhouses he designed. This has two gyms and an assembly hall. Easily among the best places to play sports or just watch others do anything. It's got tons of fields to play on. There's baseball, basketball, and tennis among other things.

This review is mostly about the pool - the playground is nice, there's a lot of area, and the…read moreChicago Park District has programs here that we hadn't had the chance to participate in. We've been here through two summers, and unfortunately our first one most of the public pools in the city stayed closed due to a lifeguard shortage. We did come a couple times with our toddler this past summer. The obvious nice thing is it's a free pool, and the pool is pretty clean, though not heated at all. It does become a bit of a mad dash to get a chair or table to put your stuff down at once it opens so it pays to come early. However, there's one thing we learned that makes coming here extra annoying - after 45 minutes, they kick everyone out of the pool area for 15 minutes. Not just the pool, but you have to physically leave the whole area and line up back outside and wait to be let back in. Then the cycle repeats, with everyone having to leave after the 45 minutes again - and this doesn't include the where they close the whole area for a full 45 minutes in the middle of the afternoon. You definitely need to keep track of the schedule to know when to come, and be prepared for the hassle of having to jump out then back in. It's a great perk of the neighborhood, but I wish it didn't have to be so annoying.

Fairly good sized park in the Irving Park neighborhood known for baseball. It also has facilities…read moreand fields for many other things. California Park is certainly a place to get exercise. Has a path along the river if wanting less physical contact when working out. The park also has a large center for hockey and skating. As expected it gets its name from the street next to it. Its beginnings go back to 1917 when the city began purchasing land. The park was completed by 1928, with athletic fields and a fieldhouse, and Illinois' largest outdoor swimming pool. A lot of improvements in the years after. McFetridge Sports Center was a replacement for the original fieldhouse. The park became the first in the city to have an indoor ice rink and indoor tennis courts, and is a popular training facility for figure skating. Later the park was expanded. This goes along the river to the trail so it connects to other places. Great place to train and just get some exercise. It's located by the Addison intersection. There's programs for hockey, skating, and whatever.

I watched some of a wheelchair softball event here today. I was blown away…read more There were volunteers and lots of players. There were balls being tossed and smacked around the concrete field. But that isn't what got me. I saw an older muscular man in a heavy duty, almost Road Warrior looking, wheelchair talking earnestly with young, timid boy. I imagine the boy was attending his first wheelchair softball game, maybe even new to his chair. I couldn't hear what they were saying. It didn't matter. I was moved. I immediately felt guilty for my petty gripes Du jour and was humbled. The field is well kept. There's a nice, slightly raised, grass berm beyond the outfield fence for spectators but what's special about this park is what happens on that field. Check it out man. Seeing all that effort made me a better person... even if only for a moment.

Super small rink with cleanings very far apart. The market is very cute but not huge, but the rink…read moreis definitely not the best for adults. Might be all right for younger kids and those who just want to step a few feet on the ice and try it out, but not the best for laps.

You're skating right next to the Friendly Confines! Granted that there may be better rinks out, the…read moresheer novelty of being able to skate here as a Cubs fan is worth the price of admission at least once. It's a great place for the whole family. The best time to enjoy the rink would be when the Christkindlmarket is open. You can sample some great food and drinks preferably after skating to avoid some embarrassing slips on the ice. There are so many great options that you might be hard-pressed to take it all in within one visit. During Christmas time, they play holiday classics on the big screen for the kids to enjoy in addition to playing some great music. They take customer service seriously here and that's evident in the caring staff. Most of them have been working at Wrigley for years. Any one of them are quick to assist patrons with whatever they need help with. The Rink is so focused on people having a great time and being safe that they even staff professional EMS personnel just in case anyone gets hurt on or off the ice and needs timely care.

James was a terrific host and helped us find the right size board. Awesome shop with a great vibe…read more No wonder he's been in business so long. Prices were fair and there is s good selection of boards, trucks, wheels and clothes.

citizen is a real skateshop run by a guy that skates pretty well and knows his stuff. the best…read moreskatepark in the city is down the street so if you break a deck or bust a bearing a quick fix is five minutes away. theres a lot of product packed into this small shop amd james is down to help you fix your odd problems.

My favorite park in the city!!! I always look forward to my first Winnemac Park day in the Spring…read morewhen it's finally warm enough. There are plenty of spots across the entire park to set up a blanket and read, and lots of paths to take for a nice walk. We held a large group of people here for a lovely picnic back in June. There are often sporting events going on, particularly baseball/softball, on the numerous fields. I'm looking forward to trying out the renovated tennis courts this summer (so I've heard!!!). My only complaint is that they have not reopened the public restrooms. There are port-o-potties during the Summer season; however, they aren't always clean or easily accessible. It is a bummer since there aren't many storefronts super close by that allow public restroom use.

This park is so beautiful. I love the big weeping willows, open fields, and paved walkways. There's…read morealso a gorgeous natural area that weaves through the park overflowing with native plants and florals. The park has playgrounds, baseball fields, tennis courts, and even a football field/stadium! We love to wander through with our dog and baby, or sit for an afternoon picnic.

I only use Margate Park for the gym which has all of the equipment I need. The front desk staff is…read morevery friendly and I see them coming through the area several times while working out cleaning the equipment. My only frustration is that it takes time for equipment to be fixed when broken and it is rarely, if at all, replaced. 2025 hours: M-F: 9am - 9pm Sat: 9am - 5pm Sun: 9am - 3pm Sun Gym: 9am - 2pm

Basic looking park with fieldhouse. It has a location in the neighborhood of the same name. Margate…read morePark seems to be an extension of Lincoln Park. Just seems to be a part of it on the far north side of it. The fieldhouse is the main attraction, along with a dog friendly area and community garden outside. A part of the bigger Lincoln Park is what it seems to be. It's still got its own characteristics. The most prominent thing here is the fieldhouse. Kind of musty inside but it's clean. This has a fitness center and gymnasium. Also you can rent the clubrooms. Outside there's a baseball field. Also has a dog friendly area. There's an ADA approved playground with cool mosaics. Good area with lots for children and dogs too, so basically the whole family. It's located east of Sheridan, and is like a part of Lincoln Park. There's programs for kids and adults including pickleball and volleyball.

Came to this park to walk the dog. Hamlin Dog Park is obviously located in Hamlin Park. It…read morespecifically is located next to the tennis courts in the southwest part of this. A small area but enough room to run around. This also has poop bags and a fountain. A pretty basic ass area. It's small and there not that much to it. There's a fenced area for dogs to run around and that's about all they have it seems. One thing is that it's close to the tennis courts. These make it convenient to those looking to do something else while hanging out with a dog or some other kind of pet. For sure a good place to bring a dog. It's pretty clean, without poop everywhere. This has lots of baseball but this is where to go for walking dogs or whoever.

It's a nice day today and my pup is four months old; I wanted him to play with some new dogs before…read moreit gets cold outside. The people that were there today were extremely nice which is a plus. It's nice to be able to communicate with people who aren't rude. The park was ok, a bit dirty; I didn't like the gravel, especially the area in the back where a mud-pitt forms. People say it's a well kept park,(it does look nice from the pictures posted, especially with all the dogs) so come spring I'll probably give this park another chance. Maybe it's just a bad experience at the end of the year. I had to travel about 15-20 to get here, no dog parks in my area, so if you're like me, maybe you can check out the portage park dog park. It's a nice area and the dog park is half gravel half turf. Not as big though but its pretty close to it; nice big square area. Nice drinking fountain and bags to pick up waste. People there are friendly also.

Found this amazing place in Lincoln Park that not a lot of people know about. It feels like it's…read moresecluded even though it's along the Lakefront Trail. Chicago Peace Garden is exactly what it is. Has a rock garden and native plants. There's even a little waterfall. A small but mighty garden. It's 0.3 acres so there's not a lot. This is a creation of the Park District working with Greenpeace Great Lakes and other community members in Uptown. Basically it was a renovation of an existing rock garden. They also put in native plants. Can be easy to miss even if looking for it. It's located along the Lakefront Trail by the Buena Avenue tunnel. The park is a good place to take a break and think amongst yourselves.

A Chicago historic treasure, the beautiful Peace Garden is located along the lakeshore bike and…read morewalking/running path at Buena Avenue. Designed by landscape architect Ernst G. Schroeder, and built in 1933, this lovely space was originally called the Rock Garden. Walls, seating areas and a cascading fountain all built of rock, mix with thousands of native plants and a lush center lawn, to create a restful place to read, picnic, contemplate a beautiful day, or to meet a friend. You'll often see people exercising on the lawn or kids dangling their feet in the lily pond at the base of the fountain. After many years of neglect, in 1986, Mayor Harold Washington, along with Greenpeace International, had a ceremony to dedicate it as an International Greenpeace Garden...which was later shortened to the Peace Garden. At the dedication, Mayor Washington said that the garden symbolizes, "the diversity of life on earth growing and adapting to common ground" and the Buena Park and Uptown neighborhood's "rich ethnic and cultural diversity." Since that time, the garden has been cared for by the Friends of the Peace Garden and the Chicago Park District. The Peace Garden is a wonderful place to spend a few minutes or a few hours relaxing and enjoying nature and the gently cascading waterfall.