Gill Park

I only use the pool at Gill Park. It’s just like any other pool. Reasonably priced to use it quarterly if you’re a Chicago resident ($ 40/​quarter).
The only issue I have with this facility is the locker rooms. They’re never clean and need updating– badly. Nothing is worse than feeling dirty after taking a shower. And that’s how I feel after every swim. Where do my tax dollars go?!

Over the past 3 years, we have used Gill Park for their early childhood activities such as arts and crafts and now are registered for Kiddie College and lap swim. In the spring we will be registering for more early childhood activities such as tot swim and tot spot because… the price is ridiculously reasonable for the quality of programs you receive AND, importantly, the surrounding area has greatly improved. I will be the first to admit that I stopped sending my oldest son to the activities at Gill Park (I even asked our nanny at the time to stop bringing him to the park there) because of the «rif raf» in close proximity to the facility at the time. But now that a couple of the trouble spots have been closed down, I don’t see any of the former issues anymore.
As for the programs, we took our oldest son out of a high priced «preschool» after having issues with the teachers and management and used Gill Park’s Kiddie College as our backup while we were on the waiting list for another school. However, we’ve been so happy with program that we’ve decided to keep him there. The class is small and the teacher (who is great!!) focuses on each individual child and «tweaks» the activities to their developmental abilities.
The facilities are worth the price you pay. Yes, they’re a little old but I’ve never felt like they were dirty. In fact, everytime I’m in the women’s locker room before and after a lap swim, there is someone in there cleaning. The pool is one of the cleanest public pools I’ve swam in — including pools at some of the other higher priced gyms.
Finally, I love the staff at this facility. Everyone has been very friendly to our family. I am so happy I came back here by chance because it truly is a neighborhood gem.

The locker room floors in this facility are disgusting, and are not being cleaned for days to weeks at a time.

I have taken several classes at this location. It is in the neighborhood. I have taken my son to arts and crafts class, tot spot and swimming. I have taken a boot camp there which was great. Arts and crafts was good too. My son was just a little too young for it, I think. Tot spot was okay. It was basically a room with toys and parents can chit chat and keep an eye out on their little ones. Swimming is probably the most organized child class I have been to. However, it is frustrating that they keep the pool so cold! They say 84 degrees but I don’t believe it!

The City Park District athletic facilities and pools are the most affordable option for a gym in Chicago outside of not joining a gym/​pool at all. A little dysfunctional and understaffed and it sure ain’t pretty, but a good pool is hard to find in a big city. Yeah, you’re going to share a lane with a fellow swimmer. And yeah, you might find a stray Band-​Aid floating in the pool, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen before. This pool is solid. 25 yards of chlorinated goodness. I’m assuming the facilities are clean because I’ve seen the cleaning lady on multiple occasions, but it’s one of those old buildings that doesn’t look clean no matter how many times you scrub it down. Showers are rudimentary at best (read: no temperature controls; bring shower shoes). And people loiter on the steps sometimes…

I went in to take a look at their lap pool and get some information on how to register.
The pool looked fine. Unfortunately, that is the only good thing I can say…
The staff appeared as if they didn’t want to be there. They weren’t helpful. It is rude talking to people while walking away from them. So, my question isn’t that important for you to stick around. Hmmm.
As I stood there in amazement, someone else must have noticed my disgust and asked me if I had more questions. Well, I asked my question and they answered it wrong. Hmmmm… Not knowledgeable at all. All I asked if I sign up at Gill, will I be able to use other pools as well. The response was there are no other pools in the area. Really… CPD doesn’t have other indoor pools in the area of 60 640. Really…
So, of course I did some research and there are a few indoor pools in my area. However, I don’t think I will be signing up as the pool will be closed from 12÷16−1÷6.
Companies need to put people through Customer Service training!!!

I go often with someone for no reason.
We just use the swings. I love swings but he goes too high sometimes freaks me out. It’s right by a Starbucks so you can buy a drink and swing and talk. Perfect!
A little small and sometimes sketch balls hang. They really are disgusting, no offense to them. So im glad i go with someone. Anyways. It’s fun to let out you inner kid. Play. Get fresh air and sun!!!
And swings work your legs!
High five swings!!! There’s a slide and jungle gym and stuff. And like wood chips all over. The brainiac told me they are treated with carcinogens to not decay… then I tell him to describe a movie or repeat something he said
Don’t say hi if you see me or look at me I’ll flee, btw dead serious

Gill Park’s big selling point is its price: This year $ 45 dollars gets you a three month pass (pool access costs extra). The workout room is just fine: three treadmills, elliptical, free weights, etc. I’ve had to wait on machines a couple of times, but if you at the right time of day it’s rarely a problem. The staff seems somewhat apathetic, but then I’ve never really needed to consult them about anything. Most of the partrons are pretty respectful of the space — everyone knows to wipe down the machines when they’ve finished, and if it’s busy most people will hop off in a timely manner.
I’m also partially reviewing Gill Park because I find it slightly odd that no one has addressed the — let me be nice — disconcerting tone of one of these reviews (I’m looking at you, Robert S.: «Teenagers with, what I call, their „wiggidy-​whack cap to the side“ sitting around the entrance. I am the only male with pants not half-​way down my ass with underwear showing. Then I walk in… it’s like a ghetto-​as-​hell high school. Let me be nice: ‘At risk’ youths.» Yikes. Apologies if I’ve misconstrued your tone, but I really don’t think I have.) If you go on weekday afternoons, there are often a number of (mostly non-​white) kids from the elementary school across the street running around the place. I’m not the biggest fan of loud children in general, but jeez, they’re harmless, and for the price I could honestly care less.

I only use the pool so keep that in mind when reading my review.
So, finding a gym with a pool in the city is expensive, like 70 a month. And they are always super crowded, over chlorinated and have off hours. I decided to join Gill Park for the pool and I haven’t regretted it. It was 35 dollars for 3 ½ months. SUPER CHEAP. The hours are fine, Of course I always want I can’t have, ie, a pool that is open at 5:30 am, etc. But considering the price, this place is awesome. The locker room is nothing fancy, but then again it’s being maintained with my tax dollars so I’m fine with it.

wah wah this place is scary but im gettin fat again and im perpetually broke so chances are good ill *think* about gettin a park district pass

The pool: Really nice, but crowded. If you are like me (a slow/​not-​very-​good swimmer) it can be a little intimidating since most of the time you’ll have to share a lane. But don’t let that dissuade you– it’s a nice pool, very convient and you can’t beat the price.
The gym: No frills. A few cardio machines (treadmills, stair climbers, bikes; no ellipticals), a few machines, some free weights. That’s it. Convenient hours (6:30am-9:30pm, I think) and incredible price.
Both are worth a try if you’re looking for a great deal in the neighborhood.

I Just moved on the same block as this place! Its super cheap… I paid $ 40 for a pool pass which is apparently good for 4 months. The guy «working» there didn’t exactly know all the details. The place isn’t really organized and nobody has checked my pass yet (Ive been about 6 times). I just walk in, sign a sheet (I suppose I could just skip that part) and go swim.
The open swim hours during the week are:
7:00am-8:45am
12pm-2:30pm
8:30−9:30 (MWF only)
Schedule changes seasonally, try this link:
There are 6 lanes and they’re usually full. But you can hop in a circle swim. Everyone has been really nice so far.
Life guards are on Duty.
Locker rooms are pretty clean too.

This place is so great!
For about $ 15/​mo I didn’t have high standards, but this fitness center is fantastic! They have 2 treadmills, 2 stair climbers, 3 bikes, several Freemotion machines (YAY!), and free weights.
I had a membership for the past few years at a gym that had a juice bar, towels, ridiculous personal trainers, and clientele that would retouch their lipstick before their workout. I think half of the time, I ran so long because I was so amused by everyone around me. What an odd crowd.
This fitness center has none of those amenities and is the best thing ever. It’s super cheap, not crowded, they have great programs (yoga!), and it’s in a nice area. Win!

Cute little park tucked away between Broadway and Freemont streets in Lakeview. Have a softball (or kickball) field and a multi-​story building equipped with a gymnasium, fitness center, and swimming pool. Pretty quiet and has never been too crowded which makes this an ideal neighborhood rec center.

This year I paid for the Adult Lap pass of $ 22.00 so I could swim at any Chicago Park District Pool. The weather did not cooperate so I did spend some Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Gill Park Pool when it was too cold to go to Chase or actually swam at both pools in the same day. First off the Neighborhood appears to be nice but the park itself is full of homeless characters. I mean ones that will actually make jokes and comments while drinking as you walk up. Aside from the homeless people in the park the facility is very nice. The pool is a 25 yard pool not Olympic sized like an earlier post suggested. The water is always warm and the water is clean. The Adult Lap Swimmers are very serious about swimming so there is not a lot of chit chat between laps. The life guards are nice and friendly. The women’s locker room is the cleanest I have seen so far.

You all HAVE to be shitting me. Seriously. All these great reviews?
OK, maybe I have the wrong place for reviewing [checking]. Um, no. It IS the right place.
Let’s see… all is well until the 151 crossed Broadway. I get out. Not feeling safe. Little kids jumping on a car parked nearby. Kids play fighting in front of the Park District building. Teenagers with, what I call, their «wiggidy-​whack cap to the side» sitting around the entrance. I am the only male with pants not half-​way down my ass with underwear showing. I chide you, not.
Then I walk in… it’s like a ghetto-​as-​hell high school. Let me be nice: «at-​risk» youths. Standing around, talking, laughing, hanging around. Disorganized… no one at the desk. No security… Jesh, who’s running the show?
So I walk around. Pool. A small room with just a few pieces of equipment (2 treadmills, seriously???). Then I walk over to the desk and look into what appears to be an office with guys wearing yellow shirts… laughing, sitting, tv playing somewhere in the room.
OMG…get me the hell out of here. And THIS is what I read in the paper as such a great place to get a cheap gym membership? Um, no. I’ll walk along the lake front and use the pool in my building. GAWD.

The pool here is great! The prices for a membership are much better than a private gym. It is $ 40 for 3 months and sometimes cheaper the first two weeks in January.
My only complaint is the small workout room with only two treadmills.

Dig it. Being budget conscious and having one’s nose out of the air can yield cool results.
Apart from Gill Park’s walking proximity to my home, its workout room and Olympic size pool, together, cost $ 220 annually for unlimited use. I realize it’s not exactly apples to apples, but that’s still roughly a fifth of what the private gym had cost, and in the last year or so the private gym had gotten all testy about letting my kids swim in the small, hardly Olympic size pool I was paying for. «You think their going to pee in it or drown? You used to let them in the pool when they really did pee in it and when they couldn’t swim, but now their older!»
What’s more, at Gill you can pay for the pool and workout room separately per three month period; so, for instance, like now during summer when I have little use for an indoor workout room, I can simply use the pool, which makes it even more inexpensive. (And the small locker room is clean and not musty like many old field house locker rooms.)
Welles Park and many other Chicago Park District Field Houses offer similar options.
I’ll take it!
(five stars if it had better parking for winter access).

Givin that this place is about 3 steps from my door, it’s only $ 40 for 3 months of access to the fitness center (or $ 2 for a day pass), and I was clearly not walking my (ever-​expanding) butt down to Bally’s, I decided to pay my dues and use Gill Park for a close and cheap workout option. No more excuses about it being too far, cold, rainy, hot, or snowy to walk to Bally’s.
It’s not a fancy gym. There are only two treadmills, 3 bikes, a stairclimber, a handful or weight machines, some free weights and a ball. There’s no personal training, and no classes. But it’s cheap and close, it’s clean and the staff are nice. Sometimes I don’t get the machine I want, but there is always something available. Hours are limited, but did I mention it’s cheap?

This is one of the many branches of the Chicago Park District. They have a great little athletic center here, with a fitness room, an indoor pool, and a few basketball courts. Its a great place to be at anytime of the day. It’s well kept and the staff is nice too. There’s a little playground in the back for young children, so there’s something for everyone here. And if you don’t have membership at the Chicago Park District, you can buy a daily pass for a few dollars and then you can use the facilities for the entire day. This is a great place to take the entire family.