Lifeguard Explorers Training Program at Austin Town Hall. Get paid $475 to learn & practice for the Lifeguard Skills Test. Open to all 15-22 year old Chicago residents. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7pm, January 9 - February 29. Enroll now!
Welcome to Austin Town Hall Park!
Welcome to Austin Town Hall Park!
The auditorium at Austin Town Hall
The auditorium at Austin Town Hall
An art room at Austin Town Hall Park
An art room at Austin Town Hall Park
SummerDance at Austin Town Hall
SummerDance at Austin Town Hall
Inside the music production room
Inside the music production room
Teen dancers at Austin Town Hall Park
Teen dancers at Austin Town Hall Park
Location:

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644

Location Notes:


Learn more about the Lifeguard Explorers Program here.

Supervisor: Tebrena Howard
Phone Numbers: Main (773) 287-7658

 

Hours

Park Hours
Day Time slot Comment
Sunday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Monday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Tuesday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Wednesday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Thursday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Friday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Saturday: 6:00 am-11:00 pm
Fieldhouse Hours
Day Time slot Comment
Sunday Closed
Monday 9:00 am-8:00 pm
Tuesday 9:00 am-8:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am-8:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am-8:00 pm
Friday 9:00 am-8:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am-5:00 pm

Description

Located in the Austin Community Area, Austin Town Hall Park and Cultural Center totals 3.69 acres. The park features a a fieldhouse with an indoor swimming pool, two kitchens, a gymnasium, a performance theater/auditorium and a fitness center. Outside, the park offers a basketball court and children’s playground. Many of these spaces in the Cultural Center and on the park grounds are available for rent for activities such as theater productions, family reunions or community meetings.

Majestic in design, the Austin Town Hall Park and Cultural Center was once the town hall of the Village of Cicero, Illinois. Today, the space is used for park activities including a variety of dance, music and theater classes, music production and more. 

After school programs are offered throughout the school year at Austin Town Hall Park, and in the summer youth attend the Park District’s popular six-week day camp. Specialty camps are offered in the fall and spring, and recreational opportunities are also available during winter and spring break camps.

In addition to programs, Austin Town Hall Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the whole family, including gym showcases, children's theater productions, dance recitals, Earth Day celebrations, SummerDance, and other Night Out in the Parks special events. 

History

In 1865, businessman and real estate speculator Henry W. Austin created a lovely 280-acre subdivision in Cicero Township. Austin's development included wide, tree-lined streets and a small park, originally known as Holden Park. The township selected Austin as its seat of government, and in 1870 constructed a brick town hall building, with a cupola and eclectic details, in the center of Holden Park.

In 1898, residents of Austin, having a majority on Cicero's town council, used political influence to allow the extension of the Lake Street elevated line into their community. This infuriated residents of other areas within Cicero Township, such as Oak Park and Berwyn, who retaliated the following year by holding a joint election to force Austin's annexation to the City of Chicago. Much to the dismay of local residents, this effort succeeded and Austin became part of Chicago in 1899. The City took over the Cicero Town Hall and began using it as a library and police station as well as for other public functions.

The City passed an ordinance that granted control of Holden Park to the West Park Commission in 1927. This was subject to a 99-year lease the City granted to the Chicago Public Library and also required the West Park Commissioner to build a community building in Holden Park. Because the old town hall had housed a branch library for several years, the West Park Commissioners agreed to the construction of a new public library in the park, designed by architect Alfred S. Alschuler. This public library is still operating today. At the same time, the West Park Commission also built a fieldhouse for the newly renamed Austin Town Hall Park. The large brick Georgian Revival-style building was influenced by Philadelphia's Independence Hall.  The structure was designed by architects Michaelsen and Rognstad, who were also responsible for other notable park buildings including the Garfield Park Gold Dome Building, the Humboldt and Douglas Park Fieldhouses.  The construction of the Austin Town Hall fieldhouse was completed in 1929.

In 1934, with the Park Consolidation Act, the 22 park districts were merged into one, the Chicago Park District, and Austin Town Hall Park came under the jurisdiction of the Chicago Park District.  The City transferred Austin Town Hall Park to the Chicago Park District in 1957 pursuant to the Chicago Park and City Exchange of Functions Act.

Advisory Council

Contact: Vanessa Stokes, Maggie Anderson,   Co Presidents
Meeting Details:

1st Thursday of the month, 12:30pm

Out of an abundance of caution Park Advisory Council Meetings will be held virtually for the near future. Please contact the Austin Town Hall PAC for details.

Parking/Directions

For directions using public transportation visit www.transitchicago.com.

Map & Facilities

Austin Town Hall Auditorium

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Austin Town Hall Basketball Courts - Outdoor

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Austin Town Hall Cultural Center/Fieldhouse

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Austin Town Hall Gymnasium

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Austin Town Hall Park Pool

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:
(773) 287-7764

Austin Town Hall Playground

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Austin Town Hall Music Production Room

5610 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:

Austin Town Hall Fitness/Dance Studios

5610 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:

Austin Town Hall Clubrooms

5610 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:

Austin Town Hall Park Community Butterfly Garden

5610 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:

Austin Town Hall Harvest Garden

5610 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:
Austin Town Hall Harvest Garden

5610 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:
Show on Map
Austin Town Hall Auditorium

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Show on Map
default image
Austin Town Hall Basketball Courts - Outdoor

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Show on Map
Austin Town Hall Cultural Center
Austin Town Hall Cultural Center/Fieldhouse

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Show on Map
default image
Austin Town Hall Gymnasium

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Show on Map
Austin Town Hall Park Pool
Austin Town Hall Park Pool

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:
(773) 287-7764
Show on Map
Austin Town Hall Playground
Austin Town Hall Playground

5610 W. Lake St.
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

Show on Map
Music Production Room at Austin Town Hall
Austin Town Hall Music Production Room

5610 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:
Show on Map
Austin Town Hall Dance Studio 1
Austin Town Hall Fitness/Dance Studios

5610 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:
Show on Map
Austin Town Hall Clubrooms

5610 West Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:
Show on Map
Austin Town Hall Park Community Butterfly Garden

5610 W Lake St
Chicago, IL 60644
United States

:
Show on Map