Portage Park has become one of my go-to spots to stay active. I jog here pretty regularly, and the paths are smooth, open, and easy to loop depending on how long I want to run. Early mornings especially are peaceful -- fresh air, open space, and just a solid environment to clear your head. I also play pickleball here, and the courts always have a good energy. They can get active, but I've never had any issues. People are respectful, games rotate smoothly, and it feels like a positive community vibe rather than chaotic. The park is well kept, clean, and just overall reliable. I've been coming here consistently for runs and games and have genuinely never had a problem. It's one of those neighborhood spots you're glad to have nearby. read more

Come play sports or just chill in this big park in the neighborhood named after it. In this popular green space are numerous athletic fields and a playground among other stuff. Portage Park is big enough to go on a pretty long nature walk. Also it's popular for photography and other events. The park has a massive Olympic size swimming pool that has hosted competitions and trials. Best thing about this area is this beautiful green space that's the center of the community. It's got something for everyone. The athletic facilities and fields are the most well known. So many to choose from. These include five baseball fields, two football or soccer fields, and six tennis courts just among the stuff you can find outdoors. Has two fieldhouses. Of course there's also the swimming pool. This has hosted the Pan American Games and also the 1972 Olympic Trials. Also there's an indoor one that's heated. There's an interactive water play area popular in summer. A lot of after school and youth programs are offered. These include gymnastics and woodcraft. Boxing is also a popular program offered here. There's been many who went on to the Olympics and professional careers after being taught. Some come to this park just to get outside. There's a bike path and nature walk if wanting to get easier exercise without using balls and stuff. Good park for all kinds of activities. It's located on Irving Park Road. The CTA station is a ways away, but buses go along this street pretty often, even on weekends. read more

Portage Park - Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Updated post on the positive side. So much wonderful space at Portage Park. **Wish they had basket ball hoops** Ok so the outdoor pool experience is NOW clean and pleasant. The staff is now attentive but not aggressive as in the past. You can sit with your children and enjoy the entire pool without walking on egg shells. For swimmers or people wanting their own space, there are 2 or 3 lanes separated for them and a 15ft separate pool. read more

Son bien descriminadores con personas lgbt no me dejaron pasar porque no tenía traje de baño y tenia pantalon de hombre para nadar y nada que no estamos 2025 y todavía hay diacrimen y especial a la persona q esta encargada read more

I always come here for the Swimming Pool with my kiddos. The only negative comment I can think of is when they didn't allow us to go into the pool because my niece and nephew didn't have "proper swimwear" but people walk in there with Jeans/Joggers and Dresses all the time read more

Tree Pose: - Improves balance - Improves postural and body awareness - Can boost energy and fight fatigue - Can help build confidence and empowerment - Improves posture and counteracts the effects of prolonged sitting and doing computer work - Assists in calming and relaxing the mind to relieve anxious thoughts and feelings - Strengthens your core - Stretches around your shoulders and latissimus dorsi Article Source: YJ Editors, Yoga Journal, Feb. 16th, 2021 Have a great week everyone! read more

This review is based off of the outdoor pool only. What can I say - I am pleasantly surprised that a public pool can be so nice, clean, and humongous. It's an olympic sized pool and during open swim or family swim time, they still allocate 2 lanes for those wanting to just do some laps. There is plenty of room in the water for kiddos to splash around without bumping into other people. The depth of the pool starts at 4 feet and goes all the way up to 5 ft and some inches. But for the kiddies, there is a splash area and kiddie pool available also. For those wanting to show off their diving skills, diving boards of all levels can be found here as well. The diving boards have their own pool area so you dont have to worry about some big heavy diver coming down and smashing your kid. There are tables with sun umbrellas on one side of the pool, and on the other side of the fence are beach chairs if you just want to lay out and sunbathe. The only thing i didnt like is that there are no lounge chairs close to the poolside. There are lifeguards all around which is a good thing. They also make sure to tell you if you came through the wrong entrance. Oh and keep in mind that beach bags, bookbags are not allowed in the pool gated area. You have to leave them in the lockers that are available for use near the bathroom. But make sure you bring your own lock as none are provided for you to rent. Going back to those lifeguards tho, can someone get these guys new sun umbrellas? The ones that they were working with all had holes or tears in them. Knowing the chicago budget though, not sure if that will happen. But just saying!! As far as the locker rooms... they were ok. Looked like a prison bathroom (even though i wouldn't really know how one looks like) but still clean. Cant really expect much since its one of the Park district bathrooms. But hey, i will come back to this pool, now that I know how nice it is. And its free! read more

Portage Park - Many diving board options to choose from - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Big park. Very dirty doggy park. Good for weekend activities............................ read more

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Playing Pokemon Go has made me realized that how great parks in Chicago are! For those who don't give a d*mn about this game, please exercise your selective reading skill because you won't like this review as much. I have to pass by Portage Park almost daily because I live in this neighborhood, but I had never felt the desire of coming to this place, walking 5km and more, and looking for Rhyhorn to catch until the inauguration of Pokemon Go mobile game Beside the benefit of playing Pokemon safely without worrying about getting hit by a car (though be aware of some fast bikers flying through your shoulder), Portage Park has a well-kept outdoor swim pool, a baseball field, a dog park, a kids playground, and FREE PARKING near Belle Plaine entrance. They occasionally host concerts and movie nights, so there's something for everyone in the family to do here. Hey, hey, my Pokemon discussion isn't yet finished. There are approximately fifteen (15) poke stops, two (2) gyms, and enough opportunities for players to hatch eggs by walking around the park. Ummm...I also see "stoners" frequently enjoying their solitude near the "Natural Habitat Areas." That's good that these pokemons are digitally programmed. Otherwise, who wants a pidgey or a Gastly to disturb the fun? Or have a Jigglypuff serenade when hot couple are making out on the bench...not so fabulous in my opinion. "Portage Ground" coffee shop on Irving Park and "Mia's Cafe" on Central are nearby, helping complete the entire experience of park excursion. read more

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Once you walk the trail and get to the spot that is between the pool and the parking lot, there is an area where the trees are huge and if you position yourself in the correct spot, you will have a wonderful view. read more

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Awesome outdoor swimming pool. Went here for family day, unfortunately the diving boards are not open during family swim, but they are open during "open swim". There are lockers, so bring a lock to stuff away your towels and valuables. Plenty of room to play in the pool with your family. Can't wait to go back for diving during the open swim! read more

Attendant Rhonda is always busy at the outdoor pool. Keeping the place clean. Has a nice personality

Two bus rides, four text messages and one cussed-out CTA bus driver later, I arrived. I was a little late, but my fellow Tourists didn't seem to mind. And, once I got off the bus, neither did I. This is a GORGEOUS park. I think seeing it in late summer/early fall is the best time of year to venture the grounds because the leaves are turning and there are less people to break you out of your silent reverie. Rather than enter the park through the archway on Irving and Central, I prefer to enter it from Irving and Linder, so as to go past the shrub walkway and enter the mini botanical garden - complete with crunchy paths, flora from all over and hidden seats. How one could not be lost in the wonder of this stretch of NW Chicago is beyond me. Past the pretty leaves, flowers and trees is a whole bunch of...stuff. There are playgrounds, football fields, baseball fields, a fieldhouse complete with indoor pool and boxing ring, a gigantic outdoor pool that served as host to Olympic trials and a cultural center where you can get some serious art on. And it's all free. I can dig it. I have never been here at night, so I can't speak to the safety (or lack thereof) the park provides once dusk hits. BUT, I can safely say that there's not a park in Chicago I'd want to be caught in at nighttime. I prefer my wallet in my jeans and my head free of lumps and bumps. So, recap: any park at nighttime in the city = bad news. Any. But for me, this might be my new second favorite park in Chicago (sorry, Ping Tom). read more

Unfortunately this has turned out to be an absolute disaster of a summer for pool use. Why used to be a great venue for swimming the PARK DISTRICT has ruined. If you are interested in swimming or just coming out with your family portage park as it stands is not a friendly environment nor is it conducive for pretty much anything aquatic related. Unfortunately I paid the yearly fee and I've gotten into the pool once. I won't be returning next year. I'll take my money and my time to the suburbs where they are more accommodating. Just another reason to move my family out of the coty read more

This summer, puppies seem to be in vogue in Portage Park. The newly-opened, much larger dog park is a sign the canines are here to stay. The old dog-friendly area was nice but far too small. My Chihuahua had no problem running around in there, but for the big dogs, it was practically a glorified crate. Thankfully they knocked down the old fences and busted out this park to give the dogs way more real estate to run. There's plenty of shade and bench space for lazy humans to sit while their dogs get in their workouts. There's a water fountain for replenishment and dog bags to clean up the shit (something that apparently not many in the neighborhood are keen to do). So far everyone's been friendly and attentive to their pets. There's nothing more annoying than people who sit idly by while their dogs try to rub their dicks all over everything and everyone. read more

Portage Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I like this park. It has a bit of everything... playground for my little one and a lot of open field.

City parks a great. I'm surprised there are no reviews for Portage Park yet but I will do the honor of introducing the Yelp community to this fine park. Portage Park is a city block long on Irving Park road bordered by Central and Long avenues. Maybe it is half a city block. Anyway, it is a pretty big park with plenty of pathways stemming from the corners of each intersection. This makes the park friendly to walkers, runners, roller bladers, etc. The park is home to serveral fields for softball or baseball. There is a family friendly playground. A dog park is located on the northwest side of the park. There are several tennis courts on the north side along Berteau. Portage Park has a large pool which I believe is public but I don't know that for sure. Portage Park pretty much has everything for anyone that is looking for a traditional Chicago park experience. read more

Portage Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Used to bring my daughter here when she was a toddler. Recently was here for volleyball some months back. Will NOT ever step foot here again. Disrespectful! No accommodations, care and/concerns for the disabled. The idiots my daughter played with (yes, stupid *%+ kids), that favored those that were their nationality. Idiots were encouraged by those that ran the program. read more

Wow, I am impressed. What a great example of a medium-sized urban park. It has an interesting history dating back to 1913, reading which I found as enjoyable as visiting the park itself (I'm nerdy that way). There is a stately entrance at Irving Park and Central Avenue, and a more modest but still handsome version at Central and Berteau. An exact quarter-mile square, this is a more landscaped and utilitarian park than, say, the wilder Winnemac Park or some of the bare-bones city parks. However, that isn't to say that it isn't pleasant just to wander around or settle down on the lawn to picnic or read a book. I perambulated the entire circumference and criss-crossed the middle twice; it is definitely a pleasure just to be there. But check out this list of facilities: two football/soccer-size fields with goalposts, four baseball diamonds, six tennis courts, a kids' playground, a natatorium (famous for national competitions of decades past, including the 1972 US Olympic trials), an outdoor pool with a neat kids' play area, a fieldhouse, and a cultural center. Whew. You could occupy yourself for days in there. read more

Portage Park - Main entrance at Irving Park and Central - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My only experiences with Portage Park has been limited to: indoor swim lessons, Art and ABCs and outdoor summer swim. Swim lessons: most of the instructors are great. They swap out it seems so sometimes you never know who you'll get which can be confusing for kids. But in general, it's a great class for kids to develop comfort in the water. Art and ABCs: ehhhhh. A solid "mediocre". The instructor was nice (Ms. Cheryl, I think) but the classroom was all old stuff that had seen better days. Outdoor swim: kinda ridiculous. Super ridiculous. They have this arbitrary rule that you aren't allowed to wear cover ups into the pool area. That includes the kids pool where the water is about 6 inches deep. The guy working the gate was a real power drunk prick who snapped at me "she can't go in there" in regards to my 13 year old stepdaughter walking towards the kids pool. Relax, dude. She had no intention of going so, that's the path you have to take to the adult pool too. Chill. So, in summary: Indoor swim, yay! Art and ABCs: meh. Outdoor pool: suck it! read more

Safe location for a walk,jog,run! It's a great park I enjoy it and it's really quiet and peaceful! I very much enjoy it and the flower area is beautiful to walk thru. I often see people meditating in that area which is AWESOME! I recommend for family walk too. Friendly park! Portage Park is a great family neighborhood! read more

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Great spot for dogs especially when it's raining because they won't get as muddy. Does get crowded over the summer, especially when it's hot out. They have pools for the dogs and there's plenty of toys laying around if you go to get yours at home. Overall a great spot for dogs as it is all fenced in. read more

These employees here are the worst. Signed my kid up for a class. The woman teaching it acts like she is being bothered having to teach it. She plays music that includes the lyrics, "hit it and quit it" during class for a bunch of 4-year olds. Never says hello to the kids, nothing. On the last day of class, she told a bunch of 4-year olds that if they didn't want to be there not to come back. As though her precious time is being wasted. Someone needs to be reminded of WHY she has a damn job. The other staff are just as indifferent. Asked about room rentals, which are clearly visible and allowed online, only to be told, "no, Tom doesnt want to do rentals." WTF? You don't want to rent out a facility that is supported by my tax dollars and clearly listed available online for rentals? WHAT? Everyone at the front desk complains about the new female employee. They curse and insult her in front of patrons including young children. read more

I love this park one it's huge, it has everything baseball, three swimming pools, soccer, playground tennis courts, football, and a farmers market. It just has everything. I go 3 to 4 days a week to get my cardio, and there are just tons of amazing people doing the same thing having a great time walking the dogs relaxing in the sun read more

I'm mainly reviewing the dog park here. Portage park itself is well known to be a good clean park with bike paths, splashing area for the tiny ones, pool and a playground. Not a huge dog park by any stretch of imagination, but good enough for a city dog park. Unfortunately, since the tree that's in the middle of it it's dead, the dog park could use a little more shade around noon time in the summer. The trunk of said tree had some carving done by an artist a couple of weeks ago. Plenty of sitting areas for humans here. Most of dog owners I've interacted with are friendly and responsible. Of course, there's always a knuckle head or two that do not clean up after their dogs even though poopy bags are provided at the park. There's also a water fountain, kiddie pool and bowls so our canine friends can cool off. read more

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We had our one and only experience with the outdoor pool this weekend. First - we drove 30 minutes through traffic to get there on Saturday to be told we couldn't enter the kiddie swim area because we (the adults) were not wearing bathing suits. I noted that if my daughter was struggling, a lack of swim wear would not stop me from assisting. They still said no. My husband offered to wear his shorts in, they said no. We left with a crying 5 year old. We then returned on Sunday so my daughter could enjoy this pool she had her eyes set on. Again, they were at the gate measuring children as they came in. If someone was slightly tall for their age, no pool for them. They told me I could not wear my swim coverup into the pool area. When I asked why, I was told 'they'd had issues with dresses.' Interesting. We were also told we could not bring our beach bag in, but could put it into an unlocked locker. I think not. No water bottles allowed. It was 88 degrees out and there is no water fountain or shade in the kiddie pool area. Not smart. And finally, I was told I was not allowed to take photos of my daughter. No phones. This one was not on any signage anywhere. My advice to pool management - if you're going to have a zillion crazy rules, put them on your website so that folks know what they're getting into before they drive or take public transportation out to Portage Park. read more

The pools are beautiful. First class all the way. Lots of staff, lots of lifeguards.....but no patrons. You know why? Because the rules are ridiculous & the staff are too stringent & act like hard asses if you question them. Are you sure that this is a family oriented facility? What a shame. Maybe the city should consider leveling it & throwing TIF money to make another strip mall. At least the neighbors will enjoy that more than the pool. Until then, enjoy the swimming facility as I would envision in it North Korea. read more

This review is about the outdoor pool only. I guess Portage Park staff does not read reviews, because there are so many bad reviews here with the same complaints. And it would be pretty easy to fix most of it. It is not family friendly AT ALL. It's a shame because the water play area looks fun and the kids enjoy it. CHANGING AREA NOT FAMILY FRIENDLY. The shower water is freezing. The whole area is disgusting. Floors are slimy. It smells like feces--there are no appropriate places to change a diaper or dispose of it (not even a trash can with a lid). When my daughter was 2, they refused to let her go in the men's locker room with her father when he was the only adult with her. UNSAFE UNTRAINED LIFEGUARDS. When my son was 2, he almost drowned 4 feet in front of the lifeguard in the play area in front of the slide. I was running over to him and yelling at the life guard to help him, who said that he thought he was just swimming!? A 2 year old face down and flailing gasping for air--pretty obvious. STRANGE RULES AND HOURS. You can only bring towels with you (no bags. no nothing). They wouldn't let my husband wear a swim shirt in the pool (a shirt specifically for swimming). Today, I went back, thinking that maybe things would be easier with older kids (7 and 9). My daughter was above the height limit for the play area. They would not let her even sit in the play area with me while we watched my son play. They said she could sit outside of the gate. But I had to sit inside the gate. The hours are bizarre with very long breaks of an hour or more. LIFEGUARDS STRANGELY STRICT ABOUT OTHER RULES. And they are very rude about it. We went to the deeper pool to swim together as a family. There is an area about the size of a kiddie pool that is about 3 feet. The rest of the pool is over 4 feet (where my son cannot reach the bottom. Obviously, my kids prefer to play together in the 3-ft. area and so did about 5 other kids around their ages too. The lifeguards wouldn't let any kids swim in the 3-foot area claiming it was blocking the exit. It was not blocking the exit. And there were many other entrances/exits to the pool. I'm not sure what I was supposed to do today. The kids couldn't swim in either area because of the strange rules. I tried to reason with the staff and even asked to speak to the manager. They were completely apathetic. They said the manager was out of town. So, in a nutshell: Lifeguards are unsafe, rude, apathetic, and seem to be there only to enforce their family-unfriendly rules. The showers and changing rooms are disgusting, some of the worst I have ever seen. My advice for parents: Before you go, check the hours (the play area has strange hours and their breaks can be 90 minutes long--which is impossible with little kids). If you have small children under 4 feet tall, the play area looks fun, but be prepared to watch your children like a hawk (within arms reach) and deal with the staff's strange rules. If your children are older and swim well, the diving boards may be fun. Regarding the disgusting changing rooms, bring flip-flops, bring plastic bags and disposable changing pads for diaper changes, and bring a lock for the lockers because you cannot bring your bag or purse with you. My family will not be going back. Swim at your own risk. read more

Man, the bangers tagged this place up! yup, it's tagged alright. I saw that someone put a mailing tag on the light post (gasp). that's gangsta :) The reality: Lovely park. Plenty of space to run, hop, skip, jump, ride your bike, walk your dog, chase your kid, kiss your crush. read more

Portage Park is one of the things that makes this neighborhood great. There's walking/running paths criss-crossing the park, a lovely garden to stroll through, baseball fields, soccer field, a playground, an enclosed dog park, the Olympic sized pool and kiddie pool, and trees trees trees. The grounds are well kept for the most part. And now that it's smack dab the middle of summer, everything is lush and green. The only negative I have is that I wished the garbage cans were emptied faster after weekends, but at least they are taken care of. My son loves the playground. I love that the ground in the play area is made of recycled rubber decreasing the risk of serious injuries when kids take a tumble. The pool is a great respite from the heat. There's open swim and family swim. We will go during family swim hours as the child per adult rule is enforced so there's less chance of tons of kids running around unsupervised. Of course some days are super crowded, but I figured out the best day to go. Sorry not sharing it. I'm teaching my son to swim and we need all the room we can get. Ha! The lifeguards are great. They really do their job keeping folks in line and as someone that used to lifeguard, I really appreciate the hard work they do. Water safety is serious business. Last thing you want to see is a water related injury. The kiddie pool area is great--slide, water spouts, tire swing. I like how they limit the amount of people allowed in the kiddie area too, helps prevent over-crowding. There is always so much activity going on at the park--people walking/jogging, playing w their kids, the small farmers markets on select Sundays, day camps, etc. We love it. read more

I wish there was a separate yelp page for the pool but there's not so here I go! My husband and I came to the pool during "family swim" time at 11:15. We were told that adults are only allowed in if there are accompanied by a child. Ridiculous! I guess this has been the policy for a while for CPD but I used to live by Holstein Park and I always went in without a child during family swim. I am sorry but this rule is pretty silly when you can see that there are obviously only about 5 people in the big pool. All the families go to the splash pad - the rest of the pool was empty. I don't see why they can't allow childless adults in during the same time, as at least then paying the lifeguards to sit around the regular pool will have a little more of a purpose. They even made us shower before telling us you needed a kid to enjoy their glorious pool! Also the jerk at the front sarcastically said to my husband "Happy 4th," as he was walking away. I guess discriminating again people based on familial status is fine for the Chicago park district! Overall I do like the park though, hence the 2 stars. I pretty much just run around it usually but I've never had an issue with "gang bangers" or other dangerous elements when I've been here. read more

Portage Park - Empty pool during family swim. - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I still give this park a 5! I'm reviewing the dog park side. Hanz always has a great time even with the bigger dogs and the other owners are nice and easy to talk to. It's a small dog park but it's just the right size! read more

Portage Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I'm 35 years old and have lived in Chicago my entire life, primarily in North Center and Lake View. When my wife and I (no kids) decided to buy a home, we were faced with the reality that we couldn't afford anything in the very neighborhoods we both grew up in that wasn't a one bedroom, poorly constructed condo. That led us to explore the northwest side of Chicago. As a child I remember going to the old Herman's Sporting Goods store where the current LaSalle Bank is located on the corner of Irving Park and Milwaukee and Sears. But since then I don't think I've crossed Pulaski avenue. Anyway, we purchased, which for us, is the house of our dreams at a great price two years ago in Portage Park and couldn't be happier. Sure, this side of Milwaukee ave isn't loaded with the cute boutiques, cool bars, and coffee shops but all of that is less then 10 minutes away by train or car. What I love most about Portage Park are the real, hardworking people that live here. People that care about their neighbors and neighborhood. True Chicagoans. It's truly an oasis in the city, less congestion, far more greener then most parts of the city, and tranquil. The architecture is another draw here as well, there are beautiful jumbo sized bungalows, Victorians, and American Four Squares for well under $400K! Homes that would easily be double the price less then a mile east. The neighborhood also has great ethnic diversity. In closing, if you're in your 30's+ looking for a home with land, you just might be pleasantly surprised by what Portage Park has to offer. read more

My review is mostly for the dog park since that's where I usually go. There is a nice sized fenced in dog park a little behind the tennis courts that is just great. I let my dog off leash and he can frolic around with all his canine friends. Everyone there is super friendly and the grounds are kept clean. Owners seem to look out for all the dogs. Great place to take you dog for some exercise. Remember that you have to have a Chicago Park district tag to enter! read more

This is one of the biggest neighborhood parks in Chicago. There is a small dog park and a newly renovated playground which are awesome for families. They also have a year-round farmer's market (indoor during the winter and outdoor during the warmer months). If you are runner, it is approximately 1 mile around the circumference of the park so it makes it easy to calculate workouts. There is also ample parking around the park and a small lot on the northside of the park near the tennis courts. So why didn't I give it a glowing review? There are 2 reasons I knocked some stars off of this park. 1) I wish they had more outdoor activities in the summer months. I think they had 1 movie in the park this year :( I would love if they planned more movies and outdoor concerts during the warmer months. 2) The outdoor pool. I bought a swim pass to their outdoor pool this summer and only went a handful of times due to the condition of the pool. The floor of the pool is coming undone in HUGE chunks! Not just in one corner either - all over the entire pool. This pool is in dire need to repair. When I took my suit off to shower after my first swim, I had pieces of pool floor and fraying stuck to me. That is really bad. There is also tons of debris floating around the pool - leaves, sticks, dirt, rocks, bugs, paper, etc. I used to live in California and taught swim lessons, coached a swim team, and swam competitively year-round (outside!) for a decade and I have never seen a pool with this much crap floating in it. I understand that it is an outdoor pool, but they should really have someone doing a quick sweep daily with a net to remove debris. read more

This is a very spacious and nice looking park. I like to come and bike around or take my brother to the soccer court and practice his soccer skills. There is also a very nice tennis court. I do wish they'd make their summer program more available to people. The pool in the summer is always fun! Overall, it's a very nice place. The only downer is the garden which has been left unkept. It would be a lovely place if it was better taken care of. read more

One of my favorite parks in the city for activities. Beautiful, HUGE park with lots of space. Free parking and easily accessible by bus. June through October they host a lovely farmers market on every other Sunday. The outdoor pool deserves special mention. It is HUGE and clean and so inviting. I purchased a Lap Swim pass for the summer ($40) and have loved getting some exercise in the sun. They also have free aquatic exercise classes, open swim and family swim. In a separate area they have a super fun water park for little kids that has slides, tunnels, hoses etc. Whenever we go there with our son we feel like we are at some resort in Florida! The lifeguards are very nice and keep things safe but still fun. read more

This review is for the park play area for kids where we took my beau's little brother many times during our stay. Lots of well maintained equipment. Often have ice cream vendors. Bathrooms are only available at field house when open. From the other reviews I would avoid the pool, lots of odd and unsafe rules....the baseball field also was made out of gravel...ouch read more

Portage Park - Farmers Market - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's such a lovely park! With indoor and outdoor swimming pools that are marvelous- check the park district website for pool hours though. My little kids love the kiddie pool with the water slide. The park has a wonderful little nature path within it where they let native plants and pretty flowers grow freely. The farmer's market is awesome during summer, and runs every other Sunday. I love our movies in the park, and yoga. I feel blessed to be walking distance to it all. read more

This review is only for the outdoor pool. The park itself is gorgeous. I've been swimming in indoor and outdoor Chicago park pools my whole life, all across the city. Portage is the filthiest pool I've ever seen. Yes, it's busy, but I saw hair, toilet paper, and all kinds of organic matter at the bottom. (I was lap swimming with goggles on so I got a great view.) Hoping it was an off day, I went back, and it was still as gross. It hasn't been updated with vinyl sides like a lot of the pools, so I'm guessing it has an old filter that can't keep up. I know the upgrades mean that a pool must be closed for several months, but in this case, it needs to happen. read more