River Park Fieldhouse
Welcome to River Park
2023 City-Wide Junior Citizen Finalists
newly renovated tennis courts at River Park
Newly renovated tennis courts
Boat House, Home to RiverLab at River Park
Boat House on the west side of River Park.
River Park Playground
River Park Playground
Location:

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611

Supervisor: Vera Onate
Phone Numbers: Main (312) 742-7516

 

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 8:00 am-4:00 pm
Monday 10:00 am-7:30 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am-7:30 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am-7:30 pm
Thursday 10:00 am-7:30 pm
Friday 10:00 am-6:30 pm
Saturday 9:00 am-3:00 pm

Description

Located at the convergence of the Chicago River and canal, River Park is 28.81 acres and it offers rich wildlife habitat, excellent fishing, and a canoe launch. River Park boasts a swimming pool and an interactive water playground in the summer months.

The artificial turf soccer field and running track, as well as a soft-surface playground, draw visitors from around the city. The park also features seven tennis courts and two baseball fields. 

Numerous children head to River Park for its strong Park Kids after-school program. Several programs are held in the park’s large auditorium, which is also available for rental by private groups. Basketball and indoor soccer are two popular programs for both youth and teens. Teens get together for a leadership camp in the summer, and preschoolers gather for playgroups. Adult programming at River Park includes men's basketball. 

River Park Boathouse, located west of the river is home to the Chicago RIverLab, and the Chicago Park District's family paddling programs. An accessible boat launch for the human-powered craft is available for public use at no charge. When launching from River Park, please park on the street and carry your paddle craft to the launch. Vehicles may not use the bike path for loading or unloading. See events below.
 

History

River Park is the largest of the six parks established by the River Park District, one of 22 independent park commissions consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934. Northwest side residents created the River Park District in 1917 to provide recreational opportunities and increase property values in the territory along the Chicago River's North Branch and the North Shore Channel. Almost immediately after its creation, the River Park District began to purchase land north of Argyle Avenue, where the river and the channel separate. Although the River Park District did not complete their land acquisition for River Park until 1930, the site opened to the public on July 4, 1920, when the park district dedicated a new flagpole there to neighborhood children. Formal improvements began two years later, with the remodeling of an existing building for fieldhouse use. In 1926, landscape architect and River Park District board member Jacob L. Crane, Jr. developed a plan for River Park. Crane's plan covered nearly 40 acres of land, including approximately ten acres northwest of the fork. (This ten-acre plot was never actually developed as parkland, and now belongs to North Park College.) In 1927, the Chicago Landscape Company implemented a modified version of Crane's plan that included beautiful greenspaces, a footbridge over the North Branch dam and waterfall, children's playgrounds, athletic fields, and pathways for walking, bicycling, and horseback riding. Chicago architect Clarence Hatzfeld designed an impressive brick fieldhouse with a three-story central section and a long wing on either end. Constructed in 1929 to replace the original structure, the fieldhouse included a 300-seat assembly hall and a fully-equipped kitchen.

 River Park became part of the Chicago Park District’s portfolio in 1934 when the 22 park districts were consolidated.  The Park District expanded the park in 1962 after leasing additional property form the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.  The Chicago Park District installed a new swimming pool in 1948. During the fall of 1999, the City of Chicago began constructing a boat launch and river walk along the south side of the North Branch, which the park district will operate once completed.  The Chicago Park District is reclaiming the Chicago River as a major system of parks and water-based recreation for all Chicagoans with the completion of four new boathouses and river launches. The River Park boathouse was completed in 2014. Two other boathouses opened in 2013 (Ping Tom and Clark Park), and the fourth boathouse opened thereafter at Park No. 571 (2828 S. Eleanor). 

Advisory Council

Contact: Sharon Waller,   President
Meeting Details:

Out of an abundance of caution Park Advisory Council Meetings will be held virtually for the near future. Please contact the River PAC for a schedule of meetings.

Parking/Directions

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

Map & Facilities

River Water Spray Feature

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Park Natural Area

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

:

Pottawattomie Village | Artwork

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Boathouse RiverLab

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Clubroom

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Baseball Field

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Dog Friendly Area

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Fieldhouse

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Football/Soccer

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Gymnasium

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Pool

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

:
(312) 742-4466

River Playground - E

5075 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Playground - W

Junior Fieldhouse
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Running Track

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Tennis Court

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

River Volleyball Court (Sand)

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

default image
River Playground - W

Junior Fieldhouse
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
Pottawattomie Village
Pottawattomie Village | Artwork

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
Track at River Park
River Running Track

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
RiverLab outing on the Chicago River
River Boathouse RiverLab

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
Newly renovated tennis courts at River Park
River Tennis Court

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
default image
River Clubroom

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
default image
River Volleyball Court (Sand)

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
default image
River Baseball Field

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
Water feature at River Park
River Water Spray Feature

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
default image
River Dog Friendly Area

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
River Park Natural Area
River Park Natural Area

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

:
Show on Map
River Fieldhouse
River Fieldhouse

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
River Park soccer field.
River Football/Soccer

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
default image
River Gymnasium

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map
River Park Pool
River Pool

5100 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

:
(312) 742-4466
Show on Map
default image
River Playground - E

5075 N. Francisco Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
United States

Show on Map