Beautiful place to get on a boat or just hang out in Chinatown. It also has great views of the…read moreskyline. Ping Tom Memorial Park is one of the bigger parks along with being a stop on the Chicago Water Taxi. Lots of events go on here. There's also athletic fields and a playground. Another park that got made from something that was abandoned. It used to be a railyard. This was quite a transformation. Good location by the river. In 1998 the Park District started changing the railyard into this park, and it opened the next year. It's named after Chinatown's most important civic leader. Ping Tom created the Chinese American Development Corporation, which created the outdoor shopping mall Chinatown Square. Before this park, there wasn't much green space in Chinatown. The park has a fieldhouse that was opened in 2013. It's named after former Advisory Council President Leonard Louie. This has a fitness center, a gymnasium, and pool. Best known feature in the park is probably the boat house. This has a dock than can be used by the public. Also there's a pavilion that looks like a pagoda next to here. The boat house has kayak rentals in summer. Has to be the best outside feature in Chinatown to be honest. It's got some pretty good views of the skyline. This is also a stop on a unique form of public transportation.

I've heard of this park but have never been whenever I'm in Chinatown. Now I know where the water…read moretaxi stops. There are bathrooms here. It's hidden away in a corner of Chinatown. It's nice to have greenery & it's very safe with lots of people waiting in line for the water taxi.

Fun little nature walk with a nice view and many picture spots before the zoo…read more There's a lot of people but at certain places can be relaxing and quiet. The scenery is really nice. The view of the city is picturesque. The sound of nature is relaxing. A must stop before hitting up the zoo!

Had a great visit bringing back childhood memories. Decent size zoo in the middle of the city. Of…read morecourse as a child it seemed like a monstrosity to navigate the entire park. Most of the attractions were open and some closed. There are a few rides & shops. Cool part is there is no fee to visit. Ample (paid) parking (handicapped parking free).

Pick any spring/summer/fall day that is warm and sunny, grab a bike and head to this elevated trail…read more(was completed in 2015). Outstanding.

The 606 is such a fun concept. My daughter and I visited last week and had a fun walk…read more I was a bit worried about visiting with a four year old but we made it fun. The trail is clean and pretty. We only would have asked for a bathroom or two available on the trail. I saw a local race advertised and would love to participate if we were local, but alas we are not. This is a great trail for runners or bikers too. I would frequent this trail if I were a resident. The 606 is worth a visit but to best get enjoyment from your time, it's best to be a walker, runner, or bike it.

As a classic movie nerd who allows a local history of this park was a blast to visit on a really…read morenice summer day. Definitely go check out the different statues and tributes to all things Oz!

Oz Park is seriously so cute. It feels like a little hidden fairytale right in the city. The Wizard…read moreof Oz statues are adorable and instantly make you smile -- it's impossible not to stop for photos. The park is clean, peaceful, and has such a cozy neighborhood vibe. Whether you're walking around, sitting on a bench, or just enjoying the greenery, it's the perfect spot to slow down and enjoy the moment. A charming little escape that feels playful and relaxing at the same time.

NEWSFLASH: In 1970-this park was named in honor of Chicago…read moreDaily News Reporter and Editor Louis Mariano (1906-1970)!!!!!! About Louis Mariano in the Community- "[H]e also served as associate editor of the World Book Science Year Book. He organized the annual science fair at nearby Ogden School, the library of which also bears his name. For years Mariano spent his evenings at a restaurant across from the park, holding court and seeking out stories for his North Loop News column." According to the Chicago Park District Web Site. See: https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/mariano-louis-park Park Revitalization and Mayor Jane Byrne's Involvement- The Triangular Park is a nice tribute that was part of Mayor Jane Byrne's, (Chicago's First Female Mayor) urban revitalization program focusing on parks and public spaces for everyone in the city to enjoy. There is a placard/small monument detailing this within the park. What I like about Mariano Park- The fact that Reporter Louis Mariano often spent time in the area seeking out possible news stories for his local North Loop News column. ***That this is a FREE PUBLIC PARK operated by the Chicago Park District.*** Amenities: 1. Numerous Round Tables with Chairs and Umbrellas to seek respite from the direct sunlight on hot Chicago summer days and bring a sandwich, or grab some local nearby food or coffee for some great "people watching." 2. A fountain that people often drag chairs around and talk to each other or enjoy the cool water as it splashes into the air around its rim. 3. Whispers Cafe- which is on-site and offers (in my opinion) one of the BEST fresh squeezed lemonade recipes in the City of Chicago, as well as Coffee, Gelato, Smoothies, packaged snacks like pretzel/chex mix, among other treats. FYI-There are actual Corn (on the cob) plants growing in the park flanking either side of top-point of the triangular area of the park!

It's technically a park. I guess. Nice benches and trees…read more The location is great for watching the local wildlife. In the Gold Coast that means tourists and locals, working men, and women workin' it. Everybody has bills to pay. The Whispers Cafe is here too. But this is a review of the park. It's a small triangle that's the intersection of Rush, State, and Bellevue. It's the epicenter of highbrow culture that we call the Viagra Triangle. You can see the Jessie White Tumblers here once per year. The annual Santa and Elves in Underwear run passes here too. And if you don't close your eyes fast enough, you'll see the annual Nude Nighttime Bike Parade... fair warning. It's not as titillating as it sounds. Kinda like the "grotto" at the Playboy Mansion turning out to be a filthy dank hot tub from the 1970s. Stop here while you're walking the dog. In the daytime it can be serene, despite the traffic. In the evening, keep your valuables hidden and don't look like a clueless tourist. Life in the big city is nice--if you never let your guard down. Enjoy the gelato!

Chill park located in River North along the Chicago River north branch. Erie Park is also known as…read moreWard Park according to others. It got its beginnings in 2000 and it became a park site. Has good views of the river including a riverwalk that goes along it. There's also a dog friendly area and playground. A good view of the river along with lots of benches. It's a great place for seeing the skyline. The playground is pretty modern and has equipment such as slides and swings among other things. A dog friendly area is on the north side of it. Many other large open areas though. Also there's lots of artwork. There's a sculpture by Sheila Klein called Commemorative Ground Ring at Erie and Kingsbury Streets. Good park no matter what you call it. It's got a few interesting pieces of art to check out. This is also known for the dog friendly area and there's alerts plenty of them running around here or in the park wherever.

Cute little park to take the kiddos at or yourself (if you want to feel like a kid again) has a…read morelittle cute water park attraction and a nice playground for the kids to play around! There is a nice view of the river so take a lot of pictures :)

This is probably one of my favorite hidden gem spots in Chicago. It's such a beautiful and tranquil…read morearea to relax and enjoy the nature. There's a trail that loops around the pond, so you can walk around a few times and meditate. There's so many options to sit too. It's a great spot to bring a book or a snack. Amazing spot for photos too! There's always a bride and groom here taking photos.

Nice spot to relax and enjoy peace and quiet. Beautiful view of the lily pond. A good spot to…read moremeditate in the middle of the busy city.

There's an underground pedestrian walkway in downtown Chicago. "Minimum hours are M-F 7am-5pm. Some…read moresegments also open evenings and weekends." So it's great for people working and shopping, and it's also the home of some nice visual arts. We entered in Millenium Park (Nov 2025) to cross Michigan to see some cool stuff in the Chicago Cultural Center. Then we continued on to Macy's. Near Macy's, we saw maybe 20 stained-glass works on display. Very cool! This part of the Pedway says it's open on Sat, too. All the Pedway sections combined are about 5-miles of free bright clean tunnels, hallways, and some walkways, connecting buildings and shops in the north loop, with some sections scattered around the loop and a section north of the river. There's maps at the entrances we used, and there are maps online, too.

I spent a lot of time in Chicago in the late 90's early 2000's. Yeah I'm old, but I never new about…read morethe 5 miles of tunnels and halls under the skyscrapers of this amazing city. During my visit to Chicago last week during really cold weather this underground Pedway was a life saver keeping me out of 0° temps with wind and snow. Underground has some shops, restaurants, dry cleaners, shoe shine, barbers, a Macy's, a Mall that has been killed by Amazon and Covid, Metra Trains including the Red and Blue lines. I was shocked to find beautiful stained glass art over 100 years old, which should be in a museum IMO. Amazing find! Another find from the tunnel, was access to the Chicago Cultural Center on Michigan and Randolph. This center has a revolving display of art and design from the diverse residents of Chicago. The final surprise was the largest Tiffany Glass dome in the world riding high in the top floor of the cultural center. More on that in another review. But a must see. Overall I was glad I found the Pedway to save me from the cold. Some areas have security, such as the mall, but like anywhere in the city exercise caution to keep yourself safe. I was only able to explore one section. Two others exist that I have yet to discover. Enjoy!!