Berger Park Cultural Center

6205 N. Sheridan Rd. Chicago IL 60660

Hours: Park: 6am - 11pm

Fieldhouse: M 10am - 9pm, Tu-Th 9am - 9pm, F 10am - 6pm, Sa 9am - 5pm, Su Closed

Park Supervisor:
Deborah Maddox

(773) 761-0376

Description

Located on Sheriden Rd in the Edgewater community, the park overlooks beautiful Lake Michigan. As an early proponent of developing street-end beaches on Chicago's north side, Berger Park Cultural Center has now become a neighborhood icon.

Great for fun learning and excitement, events such as Concerts and Movies in the Park and the Annual Jewelry and Ceramics Show have contributed to the cultural façade of Chicago’s north shore area. Boasting programs that include Art and ABC's, Jewelry Making, Writer’s Workshop, an arts based Park Kids after school program and Pottery, the Cultural Center is currently home to one of the most popular ceramics program within the Chicago Park District. Proud partner to some of Chicago's finest arts organizations, Berger offers patrons the unique opportunity to study with MadShak Dance, Journeymen Theatre and Soul and Duende Flamenco Dance.

This quaint historic landmark mansion features hardwood floors, original woodwork and antique light fixtures among other charming details--it could be the ideal place for your next special event.

The mansion also boasts a magnificent outdoor space along Lake Michigan with breathtaking views. Located just minutes from downtown, this unique space offers many opportunities for special event and meeting rentals including three rooms that can be used individually for intimate gatherings or together for functions that can accommodate up to 100 guests.

In July 2005, former General Superintendent Timothy J. Mitchell joined Alderman Joe Moore, 49th Ward, and community members to dedicate the new state-of-the-art playground. The 8,000-square-foot playground has an ADA-accessible drinking fountain and ADA-accessible equipment. In addition, the new playground features a play area shaped like a pirate ship, new drainage, soft surface tiles and rubber surfacing, new walkways, new concrete curbing, trash cans, benches--including a mosaic art bench--and new landscaping.

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Winter programs begin the week of January 9 and run through the week of March 25. In-person registration at the park continues until all spots are full.

Spring program registration begins Tuesday, February 21 at 9am online, and Saturday, February 25 at the park. An account must be created before registering on our new system. Visit the Programs section to set up your account.

FACILITIES

FACILITY TYPE	ADDRESS	QTY	NOTES
Ceramics Studios	6205 N. Sheridan Rd.	1
Cultural Centers	6205 N. Sheridan Rd.	1	North Lakeside Cultural Center
Fieldhouses	6205 N. Sheridan Rd.	2
Lapidary Studios	6205 N. Sheridan Rd.	1
Meeting/Event Space	6205 N. Sheridan Rd.	10	Clubrooms & Ball Room
Playgrounds	6205 N. Sheridan Rd.	1

History

Berger Park honors Albert E. Berger (1900-1950), a native Chicagoan and Edgewater resident. Berger, who lived with his family in one of the large homes that lined the Sheridan Road before 1950, was a tax consultant and real estate developer, and a member of numerous philanthropic and civic groups. He was also an early proponent of developing street end beaches on Chicago's north side. Such beaches met the summertime recreational needs of Edgewater residents who lived beyond easy reach of the Lincoln Park beaches. By 1937, the city's Bureau of Parks and Recreation was operating 27 street-end beaches, including one at the end of Edgewater's Granville Avenue, near Berger's home. The city transferred Granville Beach and Park to the Chicago Park District in 1959. By this time, many of Edgewater's fashionable Sheridan Road homes had given way to modern highrises. In an attempt to address the recreational needs of the many apartment dwellers, the city in 1976 constructed a playground along the northern right-of-way of Granville Avenue, leasing it to the park district. Residents of crowded Edgewater needed still more parkland, however, and the park district purchased three additional lakeshore acres from the Viatorian Fathers in 1981. The property included two of the few remaining Sheridan Road mansions, the south one designed by William Carbys Zimmerman and the north one by Myron H. Church. In 1988, the park district rehabilitated the homes, which are now used as a recreational building and a cultural center, respectively. The north mansion's original coach house is now the location of a neighborhood cafe. The south coach house also still stands. Berger Park now offers many activities, including senior aerobics; computer, jewelry making, and writing classes; and theater and music programs for children and adults.