Wentworth Park

5625 S. Mobile Ave. Chicago IL 60638

Hours: Park: 6AM-11PM

Fieldhouse: M,W,F 9am - 10pm, T,Th 1:30pm-10pm, Sa - Su Closed

Park Supervisor:
Dan Ryan

(312) 747-6993

Description

Located in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood, Wentworth Park totals 15.08 acres and features a gymnasium, multi-purpose clubrooms, and an indoor pool (Wentworth Kennedy School). Outdoor, the park offers baseball/softball/football/soccer/ fields, tennis/ basketball courts, a playground and spray pool. Many of these spaces are available for rental including our multi-purpose clubrooms and gymnasium.

Park-goers can participate in seasonal sports, aquatics, preschool activities, gymnastics and arts & crafts. After school programs are offered throughout the school year, and in the summer, youth can participate in the Chicago Park District’s popular six-week day camp.

In addition to programs, Wentworth Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the entire family, including holiday-themed events.

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SPRING PROGRAMS:

Register online or in-person for spring programs now. Spring programs run the week of April 1 through the week of June 3.

SUMMER PROGRAMS:

Online registration for our park’s summer programs begins Monday, April 15 at 9 am, and in-person registration begins Saturday, April 20. The standard 6-week summer camp program runs July 1 through August 9. Most other summer programs run the week of June 17 through the week of August 19.

FACILITIES

FACILITY TYPE	ADDRESS	QTY	NOTES
Baseball Field	5625 S. Mobile Ave.	1
Basketball Court - Outdoor	5625 S. Mobile Ave.	2
Fieldhouse	5625 S. Mobile Ave.	1
Gymnasiums	5625 S. Mobile Ave.	1
Meeting/Event Space	5625 S. Mobile Ave.	1
Playgrounds	5625 S. Mobile Ave.	1
Swimming Pools - Indoor	6325 West 56th St.	1	at Kennedy High School Spring Post-Season Pool Schedule
Tennis Courts	5625 S. Mobile Ave.	1
Water Spray Features	5625 S. Mobile Ave.	1

History

Soon after World War II, the Chicago Park District began a major initiative to create new parks for the first time in many years. This Ten Year Plan identified 43 sites in neighborhoods with few recreational facilities and in undeveloped areas which were starting to boom. In 1947, the park district acquired property in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood, an area which doubled in population between 1940 and 1950. Before any improvements were made, the Board of Education requested that the northeastern corner of the park be devoted to a new elementary school. The park district sold the property to the board, and began improving the remaining parkland in 1956. By the time the Board of Education constructed John H. Kinzie Elementary School the following year, Wentworth Park included an athletic field; volleyball, basketball, horse shoe, and tennis courts; and a children's playground. The park district added a recreation building and sun deck in 1964. In 1965, the Board of Education built the new Kennedy High School on 56th Street across from Wentworth Park. For years, the park district has provided jointly-operated programs from both of the schools. John Wentworth (1815-1888), a well-known early settler and civic leader, originally owned much of the land located near what became the park. Raised in New Hampshire and a graduate of Dartmouth College, Wentworth decided to head west to seek his fortune at the age of 21. He was soon hired as editor of the Chicago Democrat, and also began studying the law. He went on to serve five terms in Congress, and two terms as Mayor of Chicago. Considered one of the city's most flamboyant politicians, he was known as "Long John" Wentworth because of his six-foot-six tall, three-hundred pound physique.