The best parks & outdoor spots in Chicago

Wetlands wildlife habitat with walking/biking trails, a viewing deck & year-round nature programs.

W 109th St &, Laramie Ave (Oak Lawn)

Kid-friendly nature preserve featuring hiking trails.

2300 W Touhy Ave (Park Ridge)

Fields, tennis courts, gardens, a gymnasium, a sleek playground, an outdoor pool & an ice rink.

3721 W 111th St

Well-maintained recreational area with basketball courts, pools and sports fields.

100 S Western Ave (Park Ridge)

Charming 76-acre park on the banks of Lake Opeka known for its fishing, boating & golf.

2200 Lee St (Des Plaines)

Peaceful park with a lake for fishing, plus a walking path around it.

2137 Busse Hwy (Des Plaines)

Exotic plants & flowers of various climates co-exist with birds, fish & turtles in small showrooms.

615 Garfield St (Oak Park)

Relaxed spot with deer sightings and flagstone structure for parties, plus space for picnics.

3051 S 1st Ave (North Riverside)

Created by a famous landscape architect, this park has ball fields, a theater, a pool & golf course.

500 S Central Ave

Nature preserve with bike trails, jogging paths, and picnic tables where wildlife can be seen.

Salt Creek Trail System - Brown Unpaved Spur (Brookfield)

This 21-acre park offers turf & natural grass fields, plus a skate park & community gardens.

2800 S Sacramento Ave

Kid-friendly park offering picnic tables and hiking trails.

1st Ave, south of 31st Ave (Riverside)

Green space featuring a conservatory with 8 diverse sections, outdoor gardens and a playground.

100 N Central Park Ave

184-acre park with a swimming pool, fishing lagoon, athletic fields & tennis courts.

300 N Central Park Ave

Forest preserve with picnic groves & shelters that's part of the historic Chicago Portage waterway.

200 W 47th St Illinois and Michigan Canal (Lyons)

Forested wildlife preserve along the Des Plaines River with a walking path & abundant birds.

536 N Harlem Ave (River Forest)

40 acres of open space plus sports facilities, a fitness center & an outdoor swimming pool.

201 E 111th St

Community park with a playground, pool, tennis and basketball courts, and facilities for baseball and summer camp.

401 W 123rd St

Park offering ball diamonds, a playground and a field house (with bathrooms), plus friendly staff.

11546 S Ave L

City park that's good for kids, with frequent events and plenty of activities.

11132 S St Lawrence Ave

Jumbo, nearly 200-acre park featuring gymnasiums, a beach, sports fields & picnic areas.

9801 S Ave G

Public recreation area with lake & river access for anglers, nature trails & picnic facilities.

W Doty Ave S, southeast of E 130th St &, S Ellis Ave

Waterfront walks & fishing in a lakeshore park with a climbing wall on a former steel mill's facade.

at Lake Michigan, E 87th St

Center with gardens, a waterfall, lakeside trails & native trees, plus regular family activities.

7402 Lake Katherine Dr (Palos Heights)

Need an easy kid-energy release and a cool-down in one trip, swing by Austin (Henry) Park. The small-but-mighty green space packs a…

5951 W Lake St

When you need an easy win, Central Park nails it with a playground for endless climbs, a splash pad for cooling off, and plenty of space to…

9350 Central Park Ave (Evanston)

This park pond features fountains & ducks & turns into an ice-skating rink in the winter.

1647 Sheridan Rd (Evanston)

This baseball & basketball fixture also has a pool & field house with gymnasiums & an auditorium.

1419 W Blackhawk St

English cottage-style garden featuring many plants mentioned by Shakespeare, plus benches.

Evanston

Park with a water playground, pool & sports facilities plus fishing, wildlife & a canoe launch.

5100 N Francisco Ave

Tiny neighborhood park featuring playground, seasonal splash pad & regular indoor kid activities.

1919 N Seminary Ave

Park with a zero-depth, Olympic-sized indoor pool, fitness center & an outdoor splash pad.

1312 S Racine Ave