Owens Park
Owens Park
Owens Park
Owens Park
Owens Park Playground
Owens Park Playground
Owens Park Basketball Court
Owens Park Basketball Court
Owens Park Lobby
Owens Park Lobby
Owens Park Fitness Center
Owens Park Fitness Center
Owens Park Gymnasium
Owens Park Gymnasium
Location:

8800 S. Clyde
Chicago, IL 60617

Supervisor: Jetaune Guyton
Phone Numbers: Main (312) 747-6709

 

Hours

Park Hours
Day Time slot Comment
Sunday: 6:00 am-9:00 pm
Monday: 6:00 am-9:00 pm
Tuesday: 6:00 am-9:00 pm
Wednesday: 6:00 am-9:00 pm
Thursday: 6:00 am-9:00 pm
Friday: 6:00 am-9:00 pm
Saturday: 6:00 am-9:00 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 South Calumet community, Owens (Jesse) Park totals 18.4 acres. The fieldhouse was built in 2009 and features a gymnasium, fitness center, and multi-purpose rooms. Green features include a G.O. friendly building, nature garden surrounding the fieldhouse, a green roof garden, and solar panels on the roof.

Outside, the park offers four ball diamonds, a multi-purpose field, tennis courts, an Olympic–themed playground, and 5 picnic groves. Many of these spaces are available for rental including our gymnasium, fields and multi-purpose rooms.

Park-goers can participate in the Park Kids after school program, seasonal sports, Special Recreation for youth, teens, and adults and youth, adult and senior fitness classes. During the summer, youth attend the Park District’s popular six-week day camp.

In addition to programs, Jesse Owens Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the entire family, such as holiday-themed events. Jesse Owens also offers rental space available on Saturdays from 12-4 pm. 

History

When Chicago's Calumet Heights neighborhood experienced a building boom after World War II, the Chicago Park District established a new park there to meet the area's increasing recreational needs. The Park District acquired more than 17 acres of property between the years 1947 and 1950.  The park was expanded in 1955 with the vacation of the streets and alleys within the park’s boundary. The District constructed a recreation building, a spray pool, and ball fields during the following decade. 

The new park was initially known as Stony Island Park for nearby Stony Island Avenue. In the 1980s, the Women's Committee for a Chicago Black Athletic Hall of Fame, the 87th Street Businessman's Association, and park district vice-president Margaret T. Burroughs suggested that the park be renamed in honor of world-renowned athlete Jesse Owens (1913-1980). Owens, an African-American, was born in Danville, Alabama in 1913 and attended Ohio State University, where he was an All-American in track and field. Owens won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics of 1936, running the 100-meter dash in 10.3 seconds (tying the world record), jumping 26'5.25" in the long jump (an Olympic record), running the 200-meter dash in 20.7 seconds (an Olympic record), and running the first leg of the 400-meter relay in 39.8 seconds (an Olympic and world record). Owens won much recognition for his athletic prowess. The Associated Press acclaimed him the "Athlete of the Half Century" in 1950, and President Ford awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1976. Owens, who travelled extensively throughout his life, served briefly as director of the Chicago Boys Club, the Illinois State Athletic Commission, and the Illinois Youth Commission.

Advisory Council

Contact: Barbara Cooley,   President
Phone: (773) 375-4713
Meeting Details:

2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.

Parking/Directions

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

Map & Facilities

Owens Baseball Field

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Basketball Court

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Clubrooms

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Fieldhouse

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Fitness Center

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Football/Soccer Field

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Gymnasium

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Playground

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Spray Feature

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Tennis Courts

8800 South Clyde Avenue
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Owens Playground Art

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Playground Art
Owens Playground Art

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

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Owens Baseball Field

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Show on Map
default image
Owens Basketball Court

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Show on Map
default image
Owens Clubrooms

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Show on Map
default image
Owens Fieldhouse

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Show on Map
Owens Fitness Center
Owens Fitness Center

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

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Owens Football/Soccer Field

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

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Owens Gymnasium

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

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Owens Playground

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

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default image
Owens Spray Feature

8800 S. Clyde Ave.
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

Show on Map
default image
Owens Tennis Courts

8800 South Clyde Avenue
Chicago, IL 60617
United States

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