Chase Park

I’m such a pool whore. It’s a good thing I’m getting married, because if not, I may try to date you if you have access to a pool.
But I digress…
My guy and I were actually headed to the California Park Pool because «I want to submerge my body in water and that’s just not possible for me at the beach.» (I hate swimming in Lake Michigan) when I spotted the pool right off Ashland and quickly flipped a U-​turn to snag a parking spot right out front. I totally forgot about this pool!!!
Yes, the pool is small, but compared to some of the more hoppin’ Chicago Public Pools, this is a sweet find. The environment is pretty chill despite the pool being at full capacity on a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon. We scored two lounge chairs pretty quickly. The pool was clean and the staff was actually friendly and professional.
I’m into this pool I will be back as soon as humanly possible.

One of my (tween) kids took a spring class here (this was her 2^nd time trying something out at Chase), and another (primary) is in camp this summer. For kids’ classes, I can’t recommend it. The areas where my kids’ classes have been in are filthy. The same 4 used bandaids have adorned the halls and stairs for about 1 ½ months, on top of layers of grime. I get that it’s camp season, but they don’t ever seem to clean anything here… ever. The kids’ staff is friendly and they mean well, but we’ve been to programs at 6 other north side parks, everything from swimming to art to camp, and Chase falls well below what the other area parks offer in terms of supplies, creative ideas, variety, structure, social skills interacting with the parents, and developmentally knowledgeable staff who are just plain on top of their game.
The kids sit in a semi-​dark room for a lot of the day, don’t go to the playground much, color really simplistic xeroxed pictures, and play an inordinate amount of «Duck Duck Goose,» «Freeze Dance» with no music because often the box or the outlet isn’t working, and «Simon Says.» The description of the camp emphasized how creative it was and how much cool stuff they’d do, but it’s been very basic. So far the «clothes to get messy in» that I was supposed to send my kid in every day have endured the large plastic box of crayolas pretty well.
The pool is clean, and family swim is well monitored, and of course the playground is awesome, so it’s a good place to go with the family for that kind of thing. The park programs are a great deal compared to private classes and camps, for sure, but for the same price, the other area parks offer a more sophisticated, developmentally informed set of options for paid activities for kids.

This spot gets an additional star from me for helping me shed my winter weight via the rubberized track.

I took my son to a class twice a week over the last couple of months. Everyone was friendly and our two instructors were so great with all of the kids. The class was an open play with music, crafts and games. It is relatively clean. I wish the bathrooms were a little cleaner. I would definitely take more classes here. I would also utilize their outdoor pool. It looks great!

I took my first Zumba class last night at Chase Park.
It was a BLAST! It was a super cold night, so I didn’t think there would be so many people in the class, but by the time it started there were over 30 of us. The instructor, Sabrina, was so awesome. She made everyone feel welcome and comfortable and she is a great dancer! She played all types of music: Hip hop, Salsa, Cumbia, bachata, pop, rock, Indian pop, etc. Her moves were easy to follow and so much fun.
She also did sign language during the songs! It was very cool. Apparently she also teaches Zumba for deaf people. Amazing!
Everyone in the class was friendly. It was a really good experience. I will definitely being going back.
It is Tuesday nights from 6:30 to 7:30. Only $ 5.00
It is not close to my house (I am in West Town) so I hope she teaches a class closer to my area soon. (Eckhart Park Please!!!)

Chase is truly as good as it gets as far as public parks go.
I was planning on joining a Northside gym so I could do the usual things that facilitate staying healthy and living longer, but I was looking at paying hundreds of dollars for gym memberships, B.S. So I walked over to my local park and what did I find?
They have everything an upscale gym has, sort of. Work out room, basketbal court, zumba classes, awesome paved track, 4 tennis courts, 2 baseball diamonds, and a public swimming pool. I am not disclosing how much they charge because then everyone who reads this will join (I honestly feel like I am ripping them off its so cheap, sick!)
They have a summer camp too which seems like something I would encourage my future child to check out. Really friendly and awesome people who work there who will answer any question you have!
«The groundwork for happiness is good health» JLH

Yep… my 5 star rating for this park still stands!
I LOVE my weekly Zumba classes and look forward to it every week! I have even recuited some friends and 4 of us now head out every Tuesday at 6:30 to take this high engery, heart pumpin’, fun class. Our instructor Star is still wonderful and I can’t imagine taking it from anyone else.
I hope Chase keeps this class around forever because it’s the best $ 5 I have ever invested!

I’m mainly reviewing Chase Park for it’s awesome fitness centre.
It may be small and a bit cramped, but there are plenty of machines and weights to work out to your heart’s content such as treadmills, Precor machines, and even an Abcore machine to work out on your abs and obliques! The machines are brand new and kept up very nicely. There is even disinfectant, paper towels and hand sanitizer for cleanliness, great for germophobes like me :).
Only one thing, if you go during the day be prepared for Romper Room. I had about 10 little preschoolers invade the bathroom while I was trying to do my *ahem* business which is kinda disconcerting. I love little ones, just not in the ladies room.
I cannot wait for summer to try the pool!

This past summer I joined the Chi-​Town Tennis League and North Chase Park was conveniently located midpoint to me and the majority of my opponents home court. So a lot of matches were played here. Dailey got this one right. The pool is a bit creepy, but all in all it was a nice renovation. There are four courts that are rarely used at the same time and it’s just got this great feel to it. Join the league, I’m sure you’ll play here at least a few times.

Chase Park has been getting more popular for tennis since they resurfaced their courts. These courts are conveniently located on the North side. Chicago Tennis Collective is trying to get enough supporters to get lighting on these courts. To show your support click here.

We have been going to Chase Park for years. My son was part of the Park Kids program when he was younger. The staff are great with kids and work hard to produce assorted programs for them. They also have a great aikido program with a great instructor.
In recent years the Park has been going through many changes. Their programs are growing in great ways. They have a dedicated playroom for young children with a padded floor and a fun range of toys. They have just put in a work out room that is still largely undiscovered by the local community. And they are having renovations start on their theater in the next couple of months. Best of all, they are ready to embark on a brand new playlot outside to replace the old one. Their staff has been so dedicated to making this happen and to working with the community for support… it is amazing!

I used to hate Chicago Summers, The heat, The crowds the lack of a pool to swim in. Not any more. I have been spending the past 2 summers at Chase Park Pool. The pool itself is not as large at River Park or other Park District pool but the location and crowd make up for the size. The staff and all of the lifeguards are super friendly and make an effort to get to know everyone that swims. I usually make it to Adult Swim-​Lap after work about 2 nights a week and spend the day there from 3 – 7 on the weekend. The lap swim can get crowded some nights and the non lap swimmers that tread water stay over to the side. This is also a pool where grown adults have been known to do a cannonball or two for a change of pace. The staff lets the swimmers bring their items out onto the deck if they want to. The women’s’ locker room is a little small and some times dirty on the weekends.
This is also a bike friendly pool with bike racks bikes along the fence at the pool deck. This park is the reason I now love Chicago Summers

I have a garden plot here. It’s awesome to be able to grow something — I don’t get afternoon sun or have a balcony.
I have a pool pass. In the late afternoon it’s adult swim or adult lap. It’s really not a bad pool and it’s super cool that I can go swimming here right after work and watering my garden.
I wish I was more active in rec sports. There are several soft/​tee/​kickball fields. And soccer! There are 4 brand new tennis courts. Indoor basketball courts. There’s also a really nice rubber track that I finally felt confident enough to test my times on!
If I had kids, I’d enroll them in some of the cool classes that this place offers — theater, gymnastics, art, etc. I was talking to one of my fellow gardeners and she told me that Chase just received some money and will be renovating the children’s play area.
Seriously, this place rules!

The rubberized track is stellar!
5 laps = One mile. Totally fenced in, with grass on either side (for pooch to run… errrr…lollygag on).
Plus, a POOL! I’ve yet to check it out, but plan on it.
Parking is fairly easy on Clark or Leland… watch for meters.

I said goodbye to my dog today here. I spent the morning trying to yank her away from Tamale vendors and watching this adorable kid throw Cheetos in the air to lure pigeons in and then chase them. My dog, Princess decided to race those pigeons to see who could hoover up the most of the processed snacks. I think the pigeons got maybe two.
Bought a cola from another vendor, watched the whole world go by.
I am going to miss this neighborhood.

This is the only public pool I’ve been to in the city, so I don’t have much to compare to, but its definitely not bad. Maybe because its the end of the outdoor pool season, but at 3 pm on a Sunday, I was pleasantly surprised to find it uncrowded. There were a couple of families, a teenage couple, and a few people like me (just looking to read a book, take a dip, and catch some rays). I had no problem finding a chair.
The locker room isn’t sparkling clean, but I wasn’t grossed out at all, safe in my flip flops. The pool itself is maybe the size of half a basketball court? So its not huge or anything, and there is no diving board. The depth goes from 3ft. to 8 ft. Its open from around 11am-​7pm with lifeguards taking 15 minute breaks approximately every 1.25 hours. They do have designated types of swim hours (e.g. family, youth, open, aquatic exercise) so it may be useful to call before or just be patient with rugrats if need be.
Sooo…the outdoor pools close September 1^st, anyway, I think. Hurry! Its not too late to get to smell chlorine and sunscreen *at the same time* in Chicago! Its worth it, it was nice.

I recently discovered the pool here. Heck, I wasn’t even really aware there was a full park/​field house until I heard the splish! splash! of water while walking home from the Ravenswood Metra stop. The adults-​only swim every day after work… rocks! A relaxing way to end the day… after an icky day at work and a commute longer than be allowed by law…

I live near Chase Park, don’t participate in many activities there, but from what I’ve seen it’s a good neighborhood park with enough types of activities to keep children and adults happy. The softball fields are usually quite busy in summer, and last year they participated in the «Movies in the Park» program. But what’s really cool about Chase is that their drama program has of late featured works by… Shakespeare! Yes, «Shakespeare in the Park» Chicago style! Not the easiest material for «amateur» players to tackle, but they usually do quite well.

I must say that no longer live in this part of town. However I’ve lived most of my life in this part of town and I must say despite the lack of outdoor basketball courts (thanks to local gangs) this place has helped serve the community for as long as I can remember. Back in the 80’s me and my break dance crew would practice in the gym. My grade school had gym in the old and new filed houses (yes, there was an older one than the one you see now).
Ah. the memories.
Now a days after running about 5 miles from my current place of residence, I’m glad that the park is still here because it has an easily accessible bathroom and a water fountain. Yay!