Chicago Park District, Chicago, IL Videos

Celebrating #NationalBeachDay on Chicago's lakefront! Green 💚 flags are flying from Calumet & 63rd St. Beach 🏖️ to Montrose Beach & Leone Beach! Remember, it's the last weekend for Chicago's beach season 🌊. Water access will not be allowed after 7pm on Sept. 2. Check the current #ChiSwimStatus at www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/beaches.

New revitalization project coming to #BessemerPark! Chicago Park District, Cubs Charities, Ald. Greg Mitchell & Ald. Peter Chico broke ground on new ballfields 🥎⚾️, ADA accessible paths that connect bleachers to other park amenities & allow for more recreational activities. Fore more information, visit https://bit.ly/3SY9n4K. #ParkImprovement

There’s no better way to celebrate summer & usher in the new academic school year in Chicago at the Bud Billiken Parade! Chicago Park District staff & dance teams joined in the festivities. ‼️Remember, Chicago Public Schools classes begin on Mon., August 26, 2024.

RiverLab at the Jetty
If you're taking a stroll by the Riverwalk, stop by & reel in a fish 🎣with help from our Fishing Team. "RiverLab at the Jetty," between Wacker Dr. & Wells St., invites visitors to learn about the ecosystem of the river hidden beneath the surface, while they fish. The Chicago Park District team of educators will be on-site every Thurs.-Sun. from 10am-4pm, rain or shine, thru Aug. 25 & Sat.-Sun. from Aug. 31- Sept. 29. For more RiverLab activities, visit https://bit.ly/RiverLabActivities. In partnership with Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

TIP FEST 2024 at Lollapalooza
2023's #TIPFest participants got the chance to perform for the Lollapalooza audience with John Walt Foundation! Chicago Park District's platform for young artists returns on Sept. 7 to Northerly Island Park. Come & check out the new talent on stage at the 🆓 public event. 👉 www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/tip-fest. #TeensInThePark

The Chicago Park District is excited to welcome the “Flight of Butterflies,” 🦋an expansive citywide public installation art experience, in 16 of the Chicago Park District’s environmentally diverse natural areas, starting today. Today, Chicago Park District Superintendent Rosa Escareño joined Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum CEO Erin Amico, local artists Azadeh Hussaini, West Ridge Nature Park community members & Revere Park campers to make the amazing announcement in front of the “Wings of Solidarity" butterfly sculpture in West Ridge Nature Park. 16 butterflies will migrate into Chicago’s neighborhood natural areas, and call these designated areas rich with native plantings home until September 2025. The Chicago Park District will feature these works of art prominently in Chicago’s parks in partnership with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum to further expose the public to their beauty and bring attention to the importance of the conservation of our native landscapes and the survival of butterflies and pollinators in our natural urban habitats. When you’re out visiting one of our natural areas, don’t forget to tag us on social media or use the hashtag #FlightOfButterflies or #ChiParksNaturalAreas to let us know about your experience. 👉For a map of all of the natural areas where the butterflies are located, please visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/flightofbutterflies.

Our amazing Chicago Park District Forestry team's response to storm damage across the city was impressive. If you have a fallen tree in your local park, contact the park and/or 3-1-1.

Have you entered to win 2️⃣ 4-day VIP and/or 2️⃣ 4-day GA passes to Lollapalooza? ‼️ Enter the raffle by 7/22 at 11:59pm CST at https://bit.ly/LollaTixRaffle2024 & help contribute to Chicago Park District's Financial Assistance Fund. Good luck 🤞!

Annual Girls & Women Boxing
The 4th Annual Girls & Women Boxing 🥊 Showcase hits Wicker Park - Chicago Park District today from 7-9pm. Come & watch live, 🆓outdoor boxing. More info. at 👉 https://bit.ly/ChiParks_BoxingShowcase.

#Happy4thofJuly! In observation, @ChicagoParks’ offices are closed & the following are OPEN: ✅Many fieldhouses & pools. 👉https://bit.ly/ChiParks4thofJuly. ✅Conservatories. Pre-book your visit 👉 https://bit.ly/ChiParks_Conservatories. ✅Beaches. View #ChiSwimStatus 👉www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/beaches. Follow the link in BIO for more information ℹ️ & tips on celebrating safely in @chicagoparks.

Iowa Building Ribbon Cutting
The historic Iowa Building, dating back to before the World’s Columbian Exposition, has been fully restored thanks to $2.4M OSLAD Grant. Today, Chicago Park District Supt. Rosa Escareño joined 5th Ward Alderman Desmon Yancy & community stakeholders in #JacksonPark to cut ✂️the ribbon on the facility located north of 57th, just west of DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The $2.4 million project included the restoration of lannon stone and masonry walls, replacement of the asphalt shingled roof, new gutters and downspouts and interior concrete work. As part of the 3️⃣ year restoration project, the doors and windows were restored, new accessible washroom fixtures were added, as well as new plumbing, ventilation and utility upgrades and an accessible path leading to the building restrooms, arcade and courtyard.

Happy #FirstDayofSummerDayCamp! @chicagoparks Superintendent @chicagorosa greeted campers at Kosciuszko Park, Garfield Park & Washington Park this morning. Join us in welcoming summer campers from across the city. 📸: Other parks pictured are McKiernan, Hiawatha, Kenwell, Kelvyn, Brooks, Ellis, Palmer & Rosenblum.

Junior Bear Football
Want to try the football skills and drills necessary to be an expert on the football field? 🐻🏈 Register to attend the Youth Football Combine at Park No. 596 on June 22 from 9am-2pm! Test your vertical jump, 40 yd. dash & position play at QB, WR & RB with Chicago Parks & Chicago Bears' #MiniMonsters. Youth ages 8 to 13 are invited. 🆓! More info. at https://bit.ly/YouthFootballCombine2024.

Today, the Chicago Park District kicked-off its 2024 Capital Construction Season at the groundbreaking for the new Cragin Park Fieldhouse in the Belmont-Cragin community. Superintendent Rosa Escareño was joined by Alderman Felix Cardona, Jr., 31st Ward, community residents, & STL Architects to unveil the project. The project was made possible by $7.1 million in TIF funding provided by the 31st Ward & $500,000 in federal Community Project Funding supported by Senator Dick Durbin. An investment in our park amenities is an investment in the betterment of the quality of life of our Chicago’s residents. This fieldhouse will feature a half-size gymnasium built with the capability to transform into two clubrooms & provide recreational space year-round. “As we drive the shovels into the ground today, we are also signaling the start of hundreds of capital projects that will enhance the park patron experience,” said Escareño. We’re making $100 million dollars in park investments in neighborhoods across the city in 2024 & half a billion over the next 5 years. With half of our investments going into communities that need it most.

We are grateful to be the recipients of the $1.475 million grant as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, under the direction of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Today, Chicago Park District Superintendent Rosa Escareño announced that the grant will support the first-ever comprehensive inventory and management plan for trees in Chicago’s parks. The inventory funded by the urban forestry grant will further allow us to collect valuable information about the health and diversity of the trees in our parks, and develop a plan with set goals and priorities for management of our beloved urban forest. Thanks again to the The Morton Arboretum's Chicago Region Trees Initiative, Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, Congressman Sean Casten and Congressman Bill Foster for strengthening the roots necessary to ensure the regional conservation of our trees.

Night Out in the Parks is in full swing & yesterday one of our 101 arts partners joined us on Spotlight Chicago TV to feature their flamenco/arts performance. 👉 Watch the segment & learn more about the 600+ 🆓 events happening in parks citywide this summer at https://bit.ly/NightOutInTheParks_WGNTV. 👀 Cath the live performance with Clinard Dance & King Moosa ⤵. #NightOutInTheParks

Today, we honor our fallen 🙏 & remember the sacrifices they've made for our 🇺🇸 country. In observance of #MemorialDay, Chicago Park District offices & Conservatories are closed. ✅ Some fieldhouses are open with reduced hours. View schedules at https://bit.ly/3wIJUV4.