Parks: Walk in the Park
In the concrete jungle it can be hard to find a patch of grass, but rest assured this city has set aside thousands of acres of parkland for outdoor play. Unless otherwise noted, more information on facilities and activities held at each park can be found at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com

Bessemer Park
One of the many parks created by the South Park Commission in 1904, this park, with its picturesque gardens, was a welcome respite for immigrants living nearby.
8930 S. Muskegon Ave. | 312-747-6023 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Burnham Park
Site of Chicago’s second World’s Fair in 1934, this park connects historic Jackson Park to downtown. It offers a baseball field, walking and biking paths, parking and meeting facilities.
425 E. McFetridge Dr. | 773-256-0949 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Chicago Botanic Garden
With 25 gardens to explore, this greenery heaven offers a glimpse into different regions across the globe. It also presents numerous events, including exhibits and shows throughout the spring and summer seasons.
1000 Lake Cook Rd., Glencoe | 847-835-5440 | Daily: 8:00am-Sunset
www.chicagobotanic.org

Chicago's Women's Park & Gardens
This park honors the achievements of significant Chicago women while providing a home to some of the city's most beautiful gardens.
1827 S. Indiana Ave. | 312-744-6630 | Daily: 8:30am-8:30pm

Columbus Park
In addition to a woodland area and a lagoon, this park offers outdoor and indoor sporting facilities as well as other amenities.
500 S. Central Ave. | 773-287-0856 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Garfield Park
Home to one of the largest gardens under glass, Garfield Park offers facilities for baseball, boxing, hockey, swimming and much more.
100 N. Central Park Ave. | 312-746-5092 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Garfield Park Conservatory
After nearly 100 years, this green sanctuary in the city still attracts visitors with its renowned aquatic room and its many flower shows.
300 N. Central Park Ave. | 312-746-5100
Daily: 9:00am-5:00pm; Thurs.: 9:00am-8:00pm

Gompers Park
A restored wetland, this park now offers visitors a glimpse of Chicago’s diverse landscapes and wildlife. Its eye-catching lagoon, bordered by towering oaks, is a prime fishing area. Plus, the park provides facilities for baseball, swimming, tennis and meetings.
4222 W. Foster Ave. | 773-685-3270 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Grant Park
One of the most recognizable symbols of Chicago, Buckingham Fountain opened May 26, 1927 in this park. The fountain runs daily from April 1 to November 1 (depending on weather) from 10:00am to 10:00pm. Water displays every hour on the hour, with the addition of light and music displays at dusk.
331 E. Randolph St. | 312-742-7648 | Daily: 9:00am-10:00pm

Horner Park Nature and Wildlife Garden
At 55 acres, this is one of the largest parks on the North Side, and it is central to many athletic and creative activities in the Irving Park neighborhood.It boasts baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, gyms and meeting rooms. Its expansive grass area also makes it great for picnics.
2741 W. Montrose Ave. | 773-478-3499 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Hurley Park
Georgia isn't the only place to enjoy "savanna." Though a relatively small park, Hurley manages to support the soaring red, burr and white oaks that create the only oak savanna in Chicago's parks.
1901 W. 100th St. | 312-747-6639 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Jackson Park
The site of the 1893 World's Fair, this park continues to attract visitors with an impressive landscape design that includes a meadow and a wooded island.
6401 S. Stony Island Ave. | 773-256-0903 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Lincoln Park
This lakefront land began as a cemetery in the first half of the 19th century and is now one of the city's main attractions for residents and visitors alike. The park, which stretches from Armitage to Foster, boasts facilities for a wide range of sports, as well as many cultural events.
2045 Lincoln Park West | 312-742-7726 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Lincoln Park Conservatory Gardens
This conservatory hosts a myriad of shows each season, ranging from rare flower showcases to urban garden demonstrations.
2391 N. Stockton Dr. | 312-742-7736 | Daily: 9:00am-5:00pm

Marquette Park
This park includes an original prairie land: Ashburn Prarie, containing over 100 species of plants. Once threatened by development, the Chicago Park District moved pieces of the prairie to Marquette Park to preserve it. Its 323-acre expanse offers baseball, golf, tennis, gyms, walking paths, meeting rooms and auditoriums.
6734 S. Kedzie Ave. | 312-747-6469 | Daily: 9:00am-5:00pm

McCormick Place Bird Sanctuary
Built in 2003, this is the newest of Chicago's four lakefront bird sanctuaries. Its six acres contain two prairies, a woodland habitat and a freshwater stone birdbath.
Lake Michigan south of McCormick Place | 312-742-7529 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Millennium Park
The newest park in Chicago, it features one of the most sophisticated outdoor concert venues in the U.S. And don't miss the "Bean."
Michigan Ave. between Randolph St. and Monroe St. | 312-742-1168
Daily: 6:00am-11:00pm; hours for events sponsored by the City of Chicago may vary.
www.millenniumpark.org

Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary
Home of the “Magic Hedge” that attracts thousands of migratory birds each year, this sanctuary is a top spot for bird watching.
Montrose Ave. and Lake Michigan | 312-742-7529 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Morton Arboretum
Explore 1,700 acres of beautiful gardens, world-renowned plant collections and unique natural areas. Take a ride on the Acorn Express, an open-air tram that offers a one-hour guided tour of the grounds.
4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle | 630-968-0074
Daily: 7:00am-7:00pm (During Daylight Savings)
Adults (13-64): $5.00; Seniors (65 and over): $4.00; Children (3-12): $2.00; Children (2 and under): Free; Wednesdays: Adults: $3.00; Seniors: $2.00; Children: $1.00; Children (2 and under): Free; Members: Free
www.mortonarb.org

Nichols Park Wildflower Garden
Nature's jewel in the middle of Hyde Park, this ten-acre park holds a fountain, grassy courtyard as well as a wildflower garden. The garden grows plants native to savannas, prairies and woodlands. Activities abound here including baseball, tennis and walking trails.
1300 E. 55th St. | 312-747-2703 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Ogden Park
Named after Chicago’s first mayor, William B. Ogden, this park offers baseball fields, tennis courts, walking paths, fitness centers and meeting rooms. It is also home to one of the city’s best playgrounds, featuring an interactive water feature and a canopied carousel.
6500 S. Racine Ave. | 312-747-6572 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Portage Park
One of the most beautiful expanses of land on the northwest side, Portage Park can accommodate everything from weddings to softball games. It also offers a nature garden, a swimming pool, tennis courts, parking lots, gyms and walking trails.
4100 N. Long Ave. | 773-685-7235 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Prospect Gardens Park
At the southern tip of the city, this park offers an escape from urban life with a nature garden and walking trails.
10940 S. Prospect Ave. | 312-747-6163 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

Rutherford Sayre Park
For the botanical fanatics, this site displays one of the city’s many nature gardens, but for the athletically inclined it also provides a baseball field and a gym.
6871 W. Belden Ave. | 312-746-5368 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm

South Shore Cultural Center
This 65-acre “gem of the South Shore lakefront” offers an array of cultural activities including live concerts and workshops. It also features a golf course, tennis courts and meeting rooms.
7059 S. South Shore Dr. | 773-256-0149
Daily: 9:00am-6:00pm; Sat.: 9:00am-5:00pm; Sun.: Closed

Washington Park
Home of the DuSable Museum of African-American History, this park offers baseball, swimming, tennis, gyms and fitness centers.
5531 S. Martin Luther King Dr. | 773-256-1248 | Daily: 9:00am-9:00pm