Chicago Parks & Gardens

The leaders of Chicago, both past and present, have been dedicated to preserving and enhancing the beauty of the city with parks, gardens and other green areas. The Chicago Park District manages over 220 stunning facilities throughout the city, with more than 7300 acres of parkland, 552 parks, 33 beaches, nine museums, two world-class conservatories, 16 historic lagoons, 10 bird and wildlife gardens, and thousands of special events, sports and entertaining programs.

The most prominent Chicago park is Grant Park, located along the lakefront, south of the Chicago River. Grant Park features outdoor concerts and hosts the annual Taste of Chicago. It is also home to Museum Campus and the Buckingham Fountain.

The Chicago area has a number of botanical gardens, including the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, Illinois, the Osaka Garden in Chicago’s south side and the Morton Arboretum is Lisle, Illinois.

Chicago’s top Lake Michigan beaches include Oak Street Beach, at the north end of the Magnificent Mile, and North Avenue Beach, further north. Enjoy sunbathing, biking, inline skating, volleyball or just people-watching.

Special Exhibits

May 4 - October 31
Niki in the Garden
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Ave. Chicago, IL 60624
877-244-2246, email: info@artofplaychicago.com
Come see Niki in the Garden, a spectacular exhibition of the oversized and whimsical sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle at the Garfield Park Conservatory. Art fans of all ages will enjoy entertainment and interactive experiences. Kids Free! Open May 4 - October 31.

See the Chicago Park District Press Release for "Niki in the Garden".

Ongoing

Buckingham Memorial Fountain
located at Columbus Dr. & Congress Parkway in Grant Park.
One of Chicago's most popular attractions, Buckingham Fountain is one of the largest in the world.
Centennial Fountain
300 N. McClurg Ct., at Chicago River
Chicago Botanic Garden
Lake Cook Road East of I-94, Glencoe, IL.
385 acres of natural beauty set on 9 lagoons. One of the most visited public gardens in the United States, it has 23 gardens with 1.7 million plants, open year round with a diverse array of plant shows, family activities, festivals and tours.
For more info, see the Calendar of  Chicago Botanic Garden Events.
Garfield Park Conservatory
300 N. Central Park Blvd. Chicago.
Grant Park
Lakefront Downtown Chicago.
Lincoln Park Conservatory
2400 N. Stockton Dr., Chicago.
Morton Arboretum
4100 Illinois Route 53 Lisle, IL 60532 630/719-2463
Established in 1922 by Joy Morton, The Morton Arboretum is a 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of more than 3,400 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants displayed in woodlands, gardens, restored tallgrass prairie, and other natural areas. 
North Avenue Beach
Chicago Lakefront
Volleyball
Oak Street Beach
Chicago Lakefront
People Watching
Osaka Garden
Jackson Park, Hyde Park 5900 S. Lake Shore Drive.

Suburban Parks, Gardens, Nature Centers

Spring Brook Nature Center
130 Forest ave, Itasca, IL 60143
630-773-5572, email: sbnc@itasca.com
Come enjoy a hike through the expansive freshwater marsh or explore our prairie, we hope that you enjoy your visit. Journey along our 700 foot boardwalk and over two miles of trail to see a flowing brook, shady woods, flower-filled prairies, and marshes thick with cattails and reeds. Then stop in to our visitor center to veiw some of the creatures found in the creek and enjoy the kid friendly discovery room, packed with fun activities and crafts for all ages. Don't forget to visit the raptor aviary right outside!

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