Fairly simple yet a great park with lots of trees and a fountain. It's a nice oasis in the middle of busy hipster businesses and craziness so it's good no matter how small it is. Washington Square Park is popular with dog owners. Has plenty of room for them to run around. This is also a place where there's lots of demonstrations, speeches, and things. A good park for a pretty popular area. It's around the neighborhoods of both Streeterville and the Gold Coast. There's not a whole lot of green space around this area, so this is one reason why it's popular with dog owners. Has quite a few trees and benches. Quiet for the most part except for the surrounding traffic. Has a pretty nice fountain. This is also next to the Newberry Library, so you can check out a book and then come here for reading. Even with issues, it's still a very good park to hang out at. It's not as nice as it was of course, but it's still pretty clean considering everything. The park can be busy or quiet depending on if there's any events happening or whatever. read more

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Washington Square Park is a fine park. It's across the street from the Newberry Library. It's a fairly simple one with a lawn and some benches, and there is no formal programming at this park in general. However, they do have Movies in the Park here and this summer, at least (2022) they are having Broadway in the Park in collaboration with Porchlight Music Theatre. There is a garden area on the north end of the park, at least--perhaps other sections too that I didn't explore as much. You're likely to find lots of dog walking happening here, and they have what's called The Bark Bathroom for the dogs to do their business. About 10 years after Chicago was founded, the land for this park was donated to the city. I suspect the donors had an ulterior motive, as it was a land company that did so, and to what I'm sure was their great delight many fine homes were built near and around the park. The original fountain placed here came in the 1890's, but by the turn of the century the park had fallen into disrepair. Robert McCormick (yes, of THE McCormicks) donated his aldermanic salary to revitalizing the park he added a new fountain. A third fountain--the one currently in place today--was added after the prior one was removed. The character of the neighborhood changed over the years and WSP earned the nickname Bughouse Square; "bughouse" was a pejorative for mental health institution. The park's true legacy lies in its history as the center of oration and discourse for residents of the neighborhood and beyond. People would get up on their soapbox (yep, just like the idiom) and have their say whether it was a lecture, political rant, poem, or other things of that ilk. This legacy continues in the annual Bughouse Square Debates that take place every July, hosted by the Newberry as part of their annual book sale. read more

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This park is a small community park on the border of Streeterville and The Gold Coast. It has an active dog park, a Divvy Bicycle Station on-site and many community events in the spring, summer, and fall. Truly an oasis for individuals, families and groups. It is directly across from. The Newberry Library. read more

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This is quite a nice park in Chicago that's easy to find. It's mostly fenced in so I feel safe when my pup is off-leash. There is plenty of space for pups to run around and play. All the pet parents and pups I've met here are very nice! read more

this is not an off leash park, the neighbors, neighborhood park advisory committee and the city specifically authorize leash only use. i am a dog owner and neighbor, and have watched the park destroyed ( grass-wise) over the years. i would be perfectly satisfied if one section of the park were to be completely fenced in and used as an off leash dog park. read more

Ah, Bughouse Square. In the late '60s and early '70s it was fun to hang out there. After getting married and having kids my wife wasn't enthralled with the drunks and druggies coming up to say hi to the kids. To be honest, I'd be ready to pop someone if they reached for my kid. With the closing of our all time fave restaurant (Papa Milano's on Oak Street) we are seldom in the area of the park, but if I had a choice between dogs and vagrants I'd pick the vagrants. Some fool said in his review that "poop bags" to be offered free of charge to dog owners at the park. If you live in the area, and you walk your dog at Washington Square, it's a pretty good bet you can afford some plastic bags. Be responsible so others can enjoy this bit of Chicago history. read more

If you don't have a dog but you wanna play with some, go to Washington Square. There's also a free piano to play, which is pretty awesome. There's pretty flowers, the dog owners are responsible and pick up after their dogs, there's piano to bring out the Mozart in you. This park is awesome!! read more

Loved this park! It's tucked away in the Gold Coast area right across the street from the Newberry Library. It's small but expansive enough that it doesn't feel crowded. I like that it's very contained. It has lots of grassy areas for picnicing but also many benches to sit on and relax. My favorite part is that all the benches surround a beautiful garden with a fountain in the middle. I just wish the fountain was on! Lots of people walk their dogs here and there were a bunch of pigeons and squirrels while I was there. I saw they had a calendar for summer concerts in the evening occasionally which is great. Overall, even if you don't live in the area, this is a great spot to relax and read a book on a sunny day. read more

Washington Square Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Thank goodness for this park! There isn't too much green space around Gold Coast/River North, so this park is perfect. When the weather is nice, you'll see dogs running around having fun, groups of people picnicking, and people on benches reading a book. read more

Perfect place for a quick break, stroll or nap in the sun. Dogs galore. Beautiful trees provide plenty of shade. Tons of seating. Truly an oasis in the middle of the city. read more

Washington Square Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wonderful park to bring dogs to, sit on the benches, listen to live music and lay in the grass. It's not huge but a perfect oasis for those living in Gold Coast and wanting to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. I try to finish all my runs in this park so I can chill out and enjoy the people/dog watching! read more

Washington Square Park - Peep the John Hancock in the background! - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this park! Hidden gem! Bring your dog, take your kiddos on scooters, or simply lay down in the shade of a tree and read your favorite book away from traffic jam and craziness of every day life! read more

Washington Square Park - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is one of the best parks in the city. Truly a park for everyone. The attention to details is great. The landscaping is always perfect. The entertainment wonderful. The overall look of the park is an example for other parks. The neighbors use this park all the time and everyone enjoys the events and happenings always going on in this park. read more

this is a park. should you be here? that's up to you... People walk their dogs here. In NY there is a guy offering free hugs in their Washington Square Park but if someone is doing that here I would stay clear of that. There are alot of bums, vagrants and other miscreants who hang out here when they are not harrassing customers for change at the Treasure Island a few blocks away. I stay away from this place at night. The joys of living in the city:) read more

A beautiful oasis in downtown Chicago. A magnet for doggies and their owners. For a nice eclectic touch, there is a piano at the park (covered by a tarp when not in use) that visitors to the park can actually play. read more

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Nice place to relax and be alone or in a group. Highly recommend bringing your own chair if you're gonna be there for awhile in a group. It was nice to see dogs be able to socialize there. With that many dogs it'd be nice if there was a dog water fountain and complimentary poops bags there. read more

This used to be a great park. More recently they keep sectioning off large areas limiting the available grass. And then camp groups will come "claim space" in a public park limiting the space even more. There's basically no area for dogs and other kids to play. Not to mention certain people continuing to complain about dogs that are playing ON GRASS IN A PUBLIC PARK. The grass that does exist is poorly cared for. This park used to be one of the big appeals for the area, but not anymore. read more

Every time I walk through this park I can't help but feel as if it is special. This is unlike any park I have been to in Chicago. First it is small and has a fountain in the middle with benches surrounding and facing the fountain. Here at the fountain you will find so many characters: Young in love high schoolers making out, older people hanging, nannies with kids, coworkers having a power meeting and my favorite Shoe Guy (if you've been here you will know what I mean because he is here every day). So I started wondering what is the deal with this park...does the city own it? or some rich person who just likes parks? And I did some research...below is my research...it is going to feel a little like school but hey you are sitting here in the park you might as well know what the park is all about!!! Washington Square, also known as Washington Square Park, is a registered national historic landmark (placed on list May 20, 1991) that is better known by its nickname Bughouse Square (derived from the slang of bughouse referring to mental health facilities), it was the most celebrated open air free-speech center in the country as well as a popular Chicago tourist attraction. It is Chicago's oldest existing small park. On September 4, 1842, the city received a 3-acre parcel that was donated by the members of the American Land Company for use as a public park. The property had once been a cow path with a well for farmers to water their cattle. The donors named contributed the name Washington Square. Between 1869 and the 1890s, the city improved Washington Square with lawn, trees, bisecting diagonal walks, limestone coping, picket fencing, and an attractive Victorian fountain. By the time Alderman McCormick became President of Drainage Board in 1906, the fountain had been razed and the park had deteriorated. Alderman McCormick devoted his alderman's salary to improving the park. He donated a $600 fountain, and the city allocated an additional $10,000 to rehabilitate the park. By the 1910s, the neighborhood surrounding Washington Square had become more diverse. The original purpose of the neighborhood park was as a place of assembly to discuss community issues. Chicago has a long storied history of public speeches both for entertainment and educational purposes. The Haymarket Riot first started as an anarchist workers rally. Daniel Burnham's March 27, 1897 lecture for the Commercial Club of Chicago inspired the club to provide $80,000 to publish the Burnham Plan. Washington Square Park has been the geographic center of Chicago public speeches. By the 1890s the park acquired its Bughouse Square moniker. Soapbox orators waxed on topics ranging from gender relations to Communism. It served as a home for soapbox orators on warm-weather evenings from the 1910s to the mid-1960s. Like Speakers' Corner in London's Hyde Park, Washington Square became a popular spot for soap box orators. Artists, writers, political radicals, and hobos pontificated, lectured, recited poetry, ranted, and raved. A group of regulars formed "The Dil Pickle Club," devoted to free expression. For years Washington Square orators appointed their own honorary "king." In its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s, revolutionary left soapboxers were occasionally joined by poets, religionists, and cranks. In 1959, the city transferred Washington Square to the Chicago Park District. In 1964, Life Magazine featured an article saying that it was a meeting place for cottaging among homosexuals. Six years later, it played host to Chicago's first Gay Pride March! Who would have thought that a beautiful 3 acre park could have been the center of everything? And knowing the history I now understand why I always felt so special as I walked through the diagonal paths here. There is always so much to see here...people playing ball with their dogs, people walking on tightropes and a group of 70 year old guys playing catch with baseball mitts from the 1920's...my hand hurt every time they caught the ball with those oven mitts called gloves. My trek through Washington Square always reveals something new to me and it has become one of my favorite parks in the City of Chicago. read more

Washington Square Park - A beautiful Feb 2012 night! - Parks Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is my favorite place to go for dog watching! My dog loves to take walks here and we always run into other dogs who want to say hi and play. In the spring there are beautiful trees in bloom. During the summer people set up picnics or sit on the bench and just hang out. The Newberry Library is nearby too. read more

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~Inadvertently Vert~ So, as it turns out, I am green after all. I do my best for the environment whenever I can, which is basically whenever I get a ring from a very important lady when out enjoying a few pints of pop. The place where I've done most of my work for the environment is Washington Square Park. Let's put it this way, if I were to do check-ins - which I don't and likely never will, but if I did - I'd likely be the Duke or the King of Washington Square Park as a result of all the times I've visited this park on behalf of the environment in connection with excursions to the Rush and Division area. So, when this lovely park blooms a luscious green in the spring, don't mention it. Just breathe in the clean air, sigh, take in the serenity and think about how magnanimous I am to the environment and community. You're welcome. read more

Washington Square Park is also known as Bughouse Square, and is one of the oldest parks in Chicago dating back to 1842. It's not the most exciting park out there, but it's surrounded by the Newberry Library, old mansions, new condos and new townhomes, making it a good place to people watch on a warm day. There's a small fountain in the center, and trees and lawn across the whole block. It's a short walk from Oak Street, the Hancock Building, Rush Street and Michigan Avenue for when you're overwhelmed by shopping. It's mostly quiet today - a good place to read a book, but it has quite a history. At the turn of the previous century it was commonly used as a public speaking forum, and has often played a role in free speech events. Few realize today that it was the starting point of Chicago's first Gay Pride March in 1970. read more

Awesome little park with a fountain in the center so you can enjoy some time sitting and just watching the world go by if you are so inclined. One nice thing that stuck out to me is that the trees here (while not full grown) seem to be very well maintained. To me that is what makes the park is having a well maintained grounds. Lots of people walk their dogs here so if you have any pet allergies or are not a dog person best to stay away haha read more

While on vacation in Chicago, we were walking and walking and needed a break. On the map showed Washington Square Park, and it didn't look far. So we went. Man, I'm so glad we did. It's not really big and the fountation wasn't working but it was still nice. We sat on one of the benches. Listened to this old guys converse. Seeing dogs romp around. A kid and his nanny playing in the grass. With the petals from the flower trees blowing in the air. Amazing. read more

There were no dogs in the park today, but there was a crazy person, singing loudly. Too bad because we went partially for my kids to pet some dogs, owners willing, rather than hearing other park patrons yelling shut up. Seems the ratio to crazy homeless looking folks to other park patrons was about one to one. Since the fountain was behind fencing and vegetation, it had a closed off feeling to it that limited our enjoyment of the brief time sitting on the bench. There were some grassy and also shady areas for folks to chill so it wasn't without appeal. We didn't hang long since my wife wasn't comfortable letting the kids run around given the patronage. There is no playground in this oasis in the city, so better enjoyed without kids, me thinks. read more

I adore this park. It's a cool little piece of serenity not too far from busy Michigan ave and Rush street. I've come here through out the four seasons in the city and it's beautiful. It's small but serves as a nice escape from it all -and somehow, sitting in this park with cabs honking at each other down the street and police sirens going off, it still feels so peaceful. I've sat on one of the benches during the weekday, people and dog watching in the fall and sat here waiting for my bf in the winter so we can take a walk around the neighborhood together. See, this area can be likeable and neighborhoody. It's not all whores and gold diggers ;-) read more

Washington Square Park came ALIVE today during this bout of gorgeous weather! There were dogs everywhere - big ones, little ones, playful ones, loud ones, curious ones exploring off the leash. The school day had just ended nearby, meaning a flurry of moms and nannies with strollers arrived, giving all the dogs some very convenient companions to play with. A group of boys started kicking around a soccer ball. Heck, some suit-wearing businessmen even stopped by for a mid-afternoon break. Watching all of this while sitting on one of the many wooden benches here and sipping on an iced mocha was such a lovely little remind of why I adore Chicago. Some background - this square-shaped park is right in front of the old and beautiful Newberry Library, with a huge fountain smack-dab in the middle (though seeing as it's still winter, it's not yet been turned on). Aside from the little sidewalk paths leading to the center and the benches, this park has trees and grass galore, making it a nice little oasis if you're in the Gold Coast and want to take a refreshing break from shopping or work. It is also a people watching gold mine. Once the weather turns consistently warm again, I will be spending many afternoons here lounging on the grass in a sundress and flipflops, reading an old book and watching the world go by. I highly recommend you do the same. Enjoy! read more

Beautiful park in the middle of a busy area, but you'd never know! The water fountain in the middle is so luxurious and relaxing. Keep an eye out for some of the events they hold here - they're great! read more

Dog friendly Park, but must keep your dog on a leash. And it is a public park so it can tend to get the sporadic homeless visitors. The Chicago Park District does a great job with maintenance. read more

Nice little traditional city park centered on a fountain. Good place to bring that bag lunch and eat it on a bench. A little oasis in the city. read more

Love this place. The only reason I didn't give five stars is because there are frequently homeless people loitering around. Other than that the park is a great little oasis in the middle of the city. read more

Great little dog park. I stopped by one day after riding my bike and I met a chick and her dog. We ended up going out on a couple of dates but things didn't work out.... Damn I miss her dog :( In any case, don't make eye contact with the homeless people and they will just leave you alone. read more

My cousin got married in this park and it was a nice little area, wasn't too thrilled that there were homeless people sleeping around while we were having the ceremony but it was nice and simple. It's tiny and sort of like a dog park with grass and a fountain in the middle but nothing extraordinary. read more

I just love this park, it is such a peaceful heaven in the middle of this city filled with so much violence. The fountain is so delightful, today I saw that the water was back on and it sounded so great, the trees are starting to come out and yet the park needs help. Some of the benches are broken, the grass needs to be seeded, the trees need to be trimmed and the park district I don't think really cares to much about this place. Yet this will not stop me from going, many nice people go there with their dogs which is great, and some of the people care about the park and help take care of it. This is truly one of the few places in the city that I feel safe going there. read more

Pretty nice park. I saw two homeless people make Love in this park from the 12th story of an apartment building while I was on mushrooms. I learned a lot about myself that night. I learned how to accept things that might seem gross at first because in the end they can actually be beautiful. read more

Chicagoans! Yes, there is a bit of the present, but ordinary, happenings in Washington Park, BUT, Washington Park is really the past! During the civil war, besides "Drilling" by the troops (I may be wrong on that one,) there were other confrontations there! During the Haymarket riot, there were antagonistic and vitriolic speeches held there! During wartime, events took place regularly, as that was the center of all political engagements! And Ogden, an early mayor, built his home right across the street from the park! To me, every time I passed by the park, I felt like I was entering another century past! TWA read more