Chicago, IL

Chicago Riverfront
A portion of the riverfront separating the Near North from the Loop district of downtown has been landscaped with a promenade; for a small fee you can ride scenic riverboats and marvel at the magnificent high-rise canyon of award-winning architecture along the river; board on the Loop side, near N Michigan Ave.

Grant Park
Built during the 1920s, this park was built on 220 acres lining Lake Michigan per the plans of internationally renown landscape architect, Daniel Burnham; flora and fauna lovers appreciate the largest collection of elm trees in an urban park and two distinctive rose gardens; on good weather days, views of the lake are spectacular; families love the large expanses of open areas for picnics softball and other games; the Chicago Bulls held 6 championship celebrations here in the band shell; the jazz, blues, gospel and Taste of Chicago festivals here draw over a million people each; you can also find the world famous Buckingham Fountain here; at the northwest corner of the park one finds the downtown Metra commuter rail station, which will soon be covered by park green; look to the southwest corner of the park and you should see Johnson Publishing Building of ebony magazine fame; east of the Loop and Michigan Ave

Burnham Park
Adjacent to the southern part of Grant Park, it features wonderful lakefront views, bike and jogging trails and it widely used by locals and visitors alike; Burnham Park’s claim to fame is that it hosts the Museum Campus of the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Soldier Field football stadium and America’s largest convention complex, McCormick Place.

Oak Beach
This park provides the view most often seen on post cards, Chicago’s Gold Coast; within the park is Oak Street Beach, which in warm months features lots of “beautiful” people, jogging biking, volleyball and other sports activity; the beach is overlooked by Playboy Building and the 100 story John Hancock Building; a perfect outing if you are staying at a Near North hotel; Lakefront from East Lakeshore Drive up to East North Blvd<

Lincoln Park
Built in 1868, this park sweeps along the northern shorefront of Chicago, from downtown to only a couple miles shy of city limits; but there’s nothing limiting about this park; Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago Historical Society, a flower conservatory, lagoons, vast open green spaces traverse the park; small boat lovers also find lots docks within the park just off Lake Michigan; hard to imagine that a large portion of the park began public service as a cemetery; there a lesser known but equally appreciated North Avenue Beach which is off North Lakeshore Drive, north of the Gold Coast.

Washington Park
A large square park which is enjoyed primarily by Sisters and Brothers; when you hear of a large Afrocentric festival, 9 times out of 10 its held here or Grant Park; and for good reason, Du Sable Museum of African American History and the Bronzeville Academy & Military Museum (featuring Black soldiers) are both located here just of Cottage Grove; also a wonderful park for family reunions, picnics and sports of all types; Bounded by cottage Grove, 51st street, Martin Luther King Jr. drive and 60th Street.

Jackson Park
This park was originally developed as the site of the World Colombian exposition of 1893; Booker T Washington was on of prominent African Americans allowed to make presentation at the expo; although this park has a commendably large share of flora 7 fauna, playfields, lagoons, jogging and biking trails, it is most famous for hosting the Museum of Science & Industry, which is Chicago’s single largest tourist attraction; the museum has recently been renovated and always seems to be expanding; an excellent family outing; bounded by 56th Street, Stoney Island, 67thStreet and lake Michigan.

Union Park
Founded in 1853; it symbolizes the peaceful integration of the Westside as African Americans began moving into the community surrounding park in the 1910s; in the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s music legends such as Thomas A. Dorsey and Ramsey Lewis performed here; the park is still a favorite for picnics, swimming and basketball; Bounded by Lake, Warren, Ogden and Ashland on the Westside