I love Welles Park as it is a big parcel of land and has a variety of facilities there. There are of course baseball fields, a children's park area with swings & climbing equipment. There are 2 park buildings for indoor activities. It is a shame that they haven't been able to open the swimming pool due to a lack of lifeguards. What is unique about Welles park is the native plant section which looks wild and is not manicured like the rest of the park. They have made a bunch of logs into a more natural walking & climbing setup. Some even form circles. read more

Love going here with my toddlers. Clean and life guards are great about ensuring everyone is playing safely. There is plenty to do for all different ages read more

The formal name of this park is Gideon Welles Park, named for President Lincoln's Secretary of the Navy. This park was established in 1910. Welles Park is a center for recreation in Lincoln Square. There's the park itself, in which you will often see parties, picnics, and the like taking place. There's a playground, tennis courts, and baseball fields; the playground is ADA compliant. The field house is large, and houses both exercise equipment and an indoor pool which is popular. The gazebo is wired for sound, and is a popular location for performances of various kinds. Welles has programs geared directly toward developmentally disabled individuals as well. Parking is iffy here; there's no parking lot, and it's a popular park. There is parking along all the surrounding streets, however. Folks who have read some of my other reviews may know I love trivia, and here's the bit of trivia I can share with you about Welles Park. In the 1920s, a man named Abe Saperstein began teaching basketball here in Welles Park. Over time, he began recruiting African American players from the south side to play in other Chicago locations. His players eventually started doing tricks with the basketball, for which they gained their greatest fame, and you've heard of this team: The Harlem Globetrotters. read more

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The DIRTIEST fitness center I've ever used. This is despite the fact that they're closed from 1pm-2pm every day for "cleaning." Seems like it's lazy people taking an extra break. read more

I love this park! I have spent time wandering this park on many occasions. There are so many little nooks to walk through that it almost feels like you aren't in the city. From baseball games to concerts, a kids playground, a field house with amenities, etc etc, there is something for everyone. Even though there are lots of things to do, there are also plenty of grassy areas to picnic or relax with a book. Shade is a bit harder to find, but that's there, too if you head to the west side of the park. This park is a little slice of calm in a busy city and even better, it's near all Lincoln Square and North Center have to offer! Don't forget to try out the Crepe stand in the summer! read more

I was trapped in the Welles and some pr**k wouldn't get me out unless I sang Pink Floyd to him. So I yelled "ALL IN ALL YOU'RE JUST A...NOTHER PR**K IN THE WELLES." He left me there. I'm writing this review from the welles. I just put some lotion on my skin and still managed to get the hose. What the actual ****. One of many lovely little parks in the Chicago area. The Chicago Park District has done a good job of putting all these little little tiny manageable walkable parks that are good for kids and good for dogs all over the city. Which makes it kind of a big family city rather than something like London or New York with those massive sprawling parks that make you worried about going in at night or leaving kids in there or whatever. In this regard I like it but I do miss the massive and expansive huge parks as well. Still in the welles. Help. read more

Chicago Park District - Welles Park - The tear welles up inside me - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Welles Park has an awesome pool and its huuuge! Came here for a birthday party and can't believe that I've never known about this pool before. Pool depth goes from 3 feet all the way to 10 feet. Diving boards are intact as I can imagine many swim meets are hosted here. Definitely look up their website for open swim hours or if you're interested in joining their water polo team! Locker rooms are nice, clean, and spacious as well. You can even rent out one of their rec rooms to host a party. Outside, the playground also does not disappoint. It is approved by my 7 year old. Lots of things to climb up on, swing at, and jump from. Lots of open grassy space to take a walk or a jog or take Rover out for some exercise. Go check it out! read more

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Wonderful park! So much to do and spacious. You can play baseball, swim in the pool, jog, play tennis, jam on your guitar after a lesson at the nearby Old Town school of Music. I myself came here for an ukulele festival today on a sunny afternoon. Glorious. It's a great place to meet friends or go on an afternoon date. Grab some tacos at Taqueria El Asadero across the street on the south, go for a stroll and talk, then finish off with ice cream from Coldstone. Boom, afternoon well spent. read more

A great way to spend a Tuesday night in the city! Free concert. Beautiful weather. Great park! Great people to be with! read more

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Welles Park is a beautiful oasis on the north side, a place where I like to go for a walk, or listen to music, to read in the sunshine, or just hug a tree. You won't feel like Daniel Boone carving your way through the wilderness here, because this is a city park. It does offer a brief respite from all the craziness that surrounds it. There can be a lot going on here. There are tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a nature preserve, a council ring, a playground, a gazebo where concerts and plays are performed during the summer, a fieldhouse with a swimming pool and a gym and lots of activities. I even come here for early voting. I'm an old girl, though, and I don't care too much for the organized activities, besides the summer concerts. I come here to walk barefoot on grass, to spread a blanket under a tree and read, or to just sit and watch the leaves blow in the wind. it is an island of peace enclosed by the craziness of Lincoln Square and Western, Lincoln and Montrose Avenues. As long as I can smell grass (the green stuff on the ground, not the kind people smoke), lean up against a tree, or maybe just sprawl out on my blanket and soak up the sun, I'm a happy woman. read more

This park can be quiet on a lazy afternoon, but fills up every summer during the popular Old Town Folk and Roots Festival. This neighborhood event has drawn top names like Patti Smith, Michelle Shocked, and Alejandro Escovedo. Otherwise, locals play softball or get a tan at this park at Lincoln and Montrose. read more

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We had a stealth wedding here. I learned the hard way not to use the word "wedding" when trying to book event space. Our tiny, super short ceremony with no amplified sound, no decorations, no anything would have cost us $500 simply because I put "wedding" on it. If I'd called it anything else, it would have been a $50 permit. So, since you don't ACTUALLY need permits for anything under 50 people if you don't have amplified sound, we decided to risk it. We only invited 75 folks. They wouldn't all show up. Flash mob wedding. It would be AWESOME. And it was awesome. It was a beautiful place for a ceremony, the acoustics in the gazebo were great, pictures came out wonderful, everyone stood in a circle so they could see. It was the ideal place for a low-key, super-short (we're talking 15 minutes) wedding like ours. read more

I am writing this review with sincere hope that it will expedite the delivery of Spring. Seriously, as much as I love frozen tundra, crunchy ice everywhere, brown sludge and my nose hairs freezing every time I venture outside...I am ready for some warmer weather! And, when this warmer weather appears...I shall be spending much of it at Welles Park, with one of the finest coed recreational softball franchises Chicago has ever seen -- Bats & Boxes. I think I've played on almost every field at Welles Park between softball and kickball games. I've lounged in the grass, eaten fabulous cheese burgers, trekked across in each direction to a variety of bars...I've made new friends (and an enemy or two, sore losers!), walked the track with my dog, listened to drum ensembles in the gazebo, collided with a group of little league football players, and happily soaked up copious amounts of sunshine. Oh, and I got a concussion one day too, but forget that! (pun intended) So, on this frigid day in February...I look fondly forward to spring/summer/fall softball, the return of B&B, sitting on the patio at Bowman's, and :::::sigh:::: playing outside. This is what parks should be. Welles is the benchmark. read more

Welles Park is one of the nicer neighbourhood parks in the city. It's in a nice area and, therefore, well-maintained. It's easily accessible by public transportation (Brown Line, Lincoln/Montrose/Western buses) and is surrounded by shops and restaurants to suit all age groups and tastes. And don't forget the Sulzer Library. There is even a hotdog vendor by the tennis courts, a rare vestige of the street life that Herr Daley so determinedly eradicated from Chicago. I'm not much for just sittiing around in the park. I come here to swim laps in the indoor pool. The Welles Park Natatorium is definitely one of the best, if not the best, in Chicago. I've swum at many of them and have enjoyed a nicer pool only at Kosciuszko Park. However, Kosciuszko Park is harder to reach and doesn't have the pleasant surroundings of Welles. That being said, the swimmers at Welles can be a selfish bunch. I've been there many a time for Lap Swim and had some gung ho swimmers chase me down in the SLOW lanes. I'm not even all that slow! This could have been cases of mediocre swimmers with Something To Prove, picking a perceived 'easy target' to best. Um, I swim slowly because I'm relaxing, not because that's all I can manage. Well, this was when they had Fast, Medium and Slow lanes during laps. I stopped swimming here for a few years, and recently came back only for Adult Swim so I'm not certain of the current Laps protocol. The odd thing is that these speed demons have always been slightly older women! Maybe they're just attracted to my super cute toes, but FYI, my little piggies WILL take your teeth and/or nose out. I can't see out my asshole, genius! And if you pop your bathing cap up my ample butt, I'm not releasing it. The concept of swimming a circuit within each speed zone also seems alien here. Everyone wants to swim up and down their own lane. Nope, this is a public pool. Share, baby, share. All in all, though, despite the inevitable annoyances of sharing finite space in an urban environment, I am thankful for the wonderful resource that is Welles Park, and all the others like it. While there are other cities with more park space than we have, few offer as many recreational options as part of their parks systems. And now that the Chicago Park District's Web site has been vastly improved, getting information online is a cinch. read more

Only the best park in the city and I will tell you why. 1. Host's the Folk & Roots Festival and a lot of the musicians from Old Town hang out and play in the gazebo. 2. For the most part its safe (though I wouldn't hang out in the middle of any park at 3 am), its super clean, and there are always smiling faces here. 3. On top of the baseball diamonds they have a nice rec center. For only $30 dollars a month*** you have access to their workout room, pool, and gymnasium. 4. It has the perfect amount of space for people to play and for people to chill. Lots of trees for those who don't want to sit in the sun and open fields for people that do. 5. Besides being able to watch people play baseball/softball, there is football, soccer, the martial arts place from across the street practices there, the old guys play bocce ball (my favorite), and I've seen our very own Chicago gay ROTC practice twirling their riffles in places that I just won't say. Maybe I'm found of this particular park because I've lived in apartments on two sides and just within 3 blocks of it or maybe it's just a really nice looking park. *** My have changed but I'm sure it's still a great deal. read more

When making long hikes from Albany Park to Lincoln Park, the lakefront, or the Loop by foot, Welles Park stands as an oasis. Plentiful water fountains, baseball diamonds, rafters, benches, tennis courts, swimming pool, gazebo, plenty of grass, spikes for horseshoes, there aren't a lot of things this park is missing. Ideal for BBQ'g, playing outdoor sports, or just sitting in the park and eating a sandwich, Welles Park is one of Chicago's smaller yet cozy public parks. Located near Old Town School of Folk Music as well as the burgeoning Lincoln Square bar and restaurant district, Welles is perfect for families and for outright hanging out. Beware during large fests such as Mayfest and German-American Fest, this surrounding parking spots vanish into a black hole and you will spend a considerable amount of time on the hunt for open parking spots as well as be swarmed by a sea of drunken yuppery. read more

I have some insomnia problems. Many times I meander- frequently here: It's quiet, clean, safe and unbeatable for late-night/early-morning frisbee with the dog. Unlike many Chicago parks, there isn't any panhandlers and never a lot of litter- a sign of diligent maintenance or considerate residents? Don't know but either way, it is appreciated. People are actually NICE, some even charming... Year-round people watching too. Day off with warmer weather? Bring the sunscreen and a hefty book (library across the street on Lincoln). Go to Drew's on Montrose for ice-cream. It's delicious. Colder weather? Buy coffee, watch the dog roll in the snow and enjoy the quiet. Election time: Early voting here. Efficient! read more

I agree with Jack, it's a great place to work out, and it's free until 1PM for those over 65. If I wanted to work out later in the day, as a senior over 65 I could pay a small fee for that. I use 4 of the weight machines for a workout, and there is hardly ever more than one other person using any of them. They are high quality machines in good condition. There are also free weights, Swiss stability balls and a big floor mat, plus the aerobic machines. Sometimes most of the treadmills are in use, maybe one of the rowing machines, but I have a stationary bike at home and only use the weight machines. If you're not a senior, the cost is quite low for residents of Chicago. read more

Welles Park has some history to it. Abe Saperstein, the founder of the Harlem Globe Trotters, used to coach basketball here. I love running around Welles Park and for the last two seasons I have been using the fitness club facilities. Though the fitness club amenities aren't very expansive, it's cheap. In the fall I paid $40 for three months. In the winter I'm paying $60, but I'm assuming that's due to demand since nobody wants to work out outside in the cold. Still that's very inexpensive compared to most private health clubs, and it's not overwhelming and it's clean. The field house also has an indoor pool which I have yet to take advantage of (it costs extra to get a pool pass). In the summer the park is always rife with activity, from little league baseball, to adult softball games, tennis, and a trail surrounds the park that can be used for running. The location is great, on the south end of Lincoln Square across from the Library. I once watched a concert here for the Folk and Roots Festival. Another time I sat under a tree and read a book. Not the biggest park but for practical purposes it has pretty much everything you need. read more

This is part of my spree of reviewing parks, because summer is playground season, and Welles is very fun. The playground on Sunnyside Ave is shaded in the afternoon, which gives it a distinct advantage over others in the neighborhood. It also gets quite crowded, but that's never a problem for us. The water feature is a little intimidating to toddlers but I can't wait until she's big enough to have fun splashing in it. (The playground on Montrose is all but abandoned most of the time, which is nice if you & your little one need more space.) As for the rest of the park...back in the day, I used to swim laps in the indoor pool (before I joined the cheapo gym, and then later the nicer gym.) Hurray for public indoor pools -- we might do swimming lessons there for the kid in the fall. The summer concert series at the gazebo is lovely. read more

This is my new favorite running spot. There's a little concrete path that loops around part of the park, which seems kind of boring until you take into account that there is so much going on (softball games, people walking their dogs, people playing tennis) that the scenery really isn't that dull. I really like it for my warm-up miles on long runs. There's a fabulous little gazebo right in the middle of the park, and it looks like the Chicago Park District does a great job of planning events - lots of really cool stuff goes on there. The park is pretty and charming, and - a bonus for runners - there are several water fountains! read more

We love this park, but mostly because it's right by our house. I walk through Welles Park every day on my way to and from the Brown Line - my favorite time is over the summer during Little League, when I can catch snippets of a baseball game on my walk home. Awesome. Our dog loves Welles Park as well - although I'm sure there are plenty of folks who think we're jerks for letting our dog run around there when there's nobody else around. read more

This is a nice park. It's bounded by Montrose on the South, Sunnyside on the North, Western on the west and Lincoln Ave on the east. It offers a lot, well enough for me. I don't take advantage of like I should. I do like to run around this park as it is safe and in a nice part of the city. Both Lincoln Square and North Center are great neighborhoods. I can't speak for the workout facility, but the swimming area is nice. I'm taking swimming lessons and I've learned more here in two weeks than I did at Y over the entire session. For $22 bucks you can't beat it. I wasted over $150 bucks at the Y... The locker room is adequate. It's not a super nice gym, so I didn't expect those types of amenities. It gets the job done. I do wish they would offer more workout classes though. read more

Nice facility, dated but well maintained. Ample street parking. The stadium around the pool can be hot in the winter.

Ah, Wells park. Growing up I have played indoor Floor hockey, Bitty Basketball and oh I even learned to swim there! Never played baseball there, i played a a rival park district for that. Sorry! But at my age these days, Wells Park is a short walk away and is my home for "jogging" around or walking the dog.....stopping to watch softball games or Little League Baseball games. The park itself is pretty well maintained as far as the grass and baseball diamonds go, they have water fountains that work....and isn't cluttered with garbage like many other parks. Overall, I can't wait till summer starts again. then you'll see the flocks of young ens walking dogs or playing softball or pushing their kids around. Always a good time......... read more

The people are ignorant and useless. I hope they close this field house and open a dog park instead. It is always filthy and they dont go outside and clean just sit and eat all day everyday. read more

Welles Park is one of my favorites in the city. It's fairly small, only one block, but it has a great location. Right across from the library AND Julius Meinl, I can't count the number of times I've gotten a book and then a cup of coffee, then just sit in the park consuming both. There are almost always kids sports going on on the east side of the park, but there's also usually space to relax on the west side. I recently bought a pass for the fitness center, and of the 4 or so facilities I've used, the Welles one is my favorite. It's hardly huge or state of the art, but I go mainly for the cardio and this facility has the most cardio machines (of the places I've been). You're not going to get the same experience you would at a big gym, but for the price it's worth it to me. read more

Rude pool staff! The life guards (which are literally children themselves) don't know how to properly communicate with parents and adults. One in particular ( a little short blonde one with glasses) was very rude to me. If the park district is going to hire kids to life guard, they should at least make sure they are respectful to the parents and children that come there. read more

Ahh, just a hop, skip and jump away from my apartment and I'm roaming about in this great park. I've played softball on these fields, swung on the swings, horseshoed on the horseshoe courts (courts? pits? not sure what they're called) and even found buried treasures. My only complaint is the lack of basketball hoops. Why ever wouldn't you add these here?! I think my new favorite Monday night activity is watching the little 8-10 year old footballers get schooled by their crazy insane coaches yelling their ears off to "take 'em down!" It's better viewing than your normal Monday night football, especially if you're lucky enough to see Coach plow a little kid down to the ground with a cushion mat during their drills. It's so wrong, you can only help but awkwardly laugh. Be sure to get some ice cream from the ice cream cart man and be on the lookout for the old guys playing bocce ball. They're definitely an institution all unto themselves. read more

The Senior Aqua program at Welles Park is the BEST ever! I'm 69 years old, have been going since I was 62. I've never had an instructor in all those years that come even close to the dedication that our instructor, Adam, delivers. I have lost weight, lowered my blood pressure and am invigorated beyond believe because of my work-outs with him. The stretches alone are worth a million!! I swear!! What a professional. He also knows everybody that is in his classes, knows all the swimmers in the other programs and takes a personal interest in making sure the workouts are geared for what is necessary for our whole body. He is encouraging and enthusiastic. I hope he never leaves us but if he does, he repeatedly reminds us that he has given us all the tools to continue with our success. I finally know what my body needs to be healthy. Took long enough, didn't it?? read more

Welles Park is a big part of the reason we moved to this neighborhood, and it's why we'll probably stay. I'm writing this while listening to the sweet sweet sounds of the Chicago Folk & Roots Festival from the comfort of my living room, so I'm feeling really great about the park right now. But really: it's big and beautiful and well-maintained and green. It has tennis courts, a pool, a decent (and usually deserted) fitness center, a mysterious and rarely used horseshoe area, and a sweet gazebo. It also has a group of old men who play bocce and yell at each other pretty much every day. It's across the street from the library. There are constant Little League games and multiple food carts. For about a month and a half, there was a giant lake near Lincoln Ave and we became THE hotspot for northside seagulls. What more could I ask for? read more

What a nice little place to spend an afternoon. There are families and dogs running around, but still lots of space to sit and read a book or just people watch. Great location, great park. read more

The brand new spank'n playlot is open. It is fantastic. Great equipment for toddlers, preschoolers, and grade schoolers. It is well shaded and the rubber flooring is cushy enough to prevent serious harm. If it gets too crowded, you can head over to the older lot on the south end of the park. read more

My sister introduced me to the field house at Welles Park. I love the pool; I have to say that they have a nice locker room with roomier lockers that fit your big gym bag and towel. The showers are nice as well; they are not that annoying push and timer control type. They are actual knobs and you can control how hot or cold you like it. The pool is nice as well and they are working on their enclosure for the pool. They have construction going on for their windows. There is a large plastic tarp around the windows. The water was not heavily chlorinated and there temperature was good. I have met a few lifeguards as they come here for the late night adult swim hour. One lifeguard told me this is where he gets his swimming work out. I am a fair swimmer and I have yet to encounter any rude swimmers. I have gone during the summer and have not encountered as much as a swim rats or pool monkeys. They have a nice work out room and the grounds out side are well kept. There right across from a public library. The most striking feature of the park is the gazebo. Speaking to the field house manager; he told me they have out door concerts in the summer time and even weddings here. He informed me I could find multiple activities on the Chicago Park District web site. I must admit that I have been here only by bike and bus and speaking to my sister she has told me its shear hell finding parking in the summer. I have been here a few times now and I just wish the park district would make another field house like this one in other Chicago locations maybe Rogers Park further North. Over all a wonderful park and the people who work here are helpful and nice. The people who use the park seem really nice as well. read more

This giant park hosts the annual Old Town School Folk and Roots festival. The rest of the year it's just your regular Chicago park where people are chillin' or playin' softball or whatever. There is an excellent branch of the Chgo. Public Library across the street. You may want to grab a book and come here and get some sun before winter comes around. read more

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Nice large green space in the city. Nice community involvement. Happening lively place. Plays in the park, movies in the park... Nice family park. Decent parking, great public transport access. Near dining. Indoor pool is nice at the rec. This location youth classes fill very very quickly! There are 2 different play areas, 1 new, 1 old. Neither are great for the older child. ( 6 and 8) We still enjoy this area for the wide open spaces but to really play on the equipment this isn't my kids first choice. read more

Fantastic indoor pool open year round. Would give this park 5 stars but the men's locker room is pretty filthy. The floors are disgusting and the lockers can be pretty dirty inside. It would help if the floors were bleached and then cleaned at least once a week. Also they have theft problems. Other than the locker room issues it's a great public park. Plenty of green space, beautiful gazebo, tennis courts, ball fields, children's playground. Indoor workout center & gymnasium. read more

This is my neighborhood park. It's pretty perfect. It's got a pool and a fieldhouse and a playground. It's even got a little bandstand. And the squirrels here will eat out of your hand. read more

I love this park! I have spent many a Sundays playing softball here and it's great. It's a beautiful park that is always full of people doing all different sorts of activities on warm days. It's a great place to cookout with friends, to sunbathe, read a book or to people watch. I agree with Matt-it's super fun to randomly sit and watch a Little League game. So cute! read more

Fun parks for my 5yo. Very family-friendly, nice crowd, if a touch "upscale" at times. All kinds of stuff going on. Also, bring a change of clothes for the kids on a hot day, they've got some sprinklers. read more