Welcome to Fosco Park!
Learning to Swim at Fosco
Two young girls at girls day of play event at Fosco Park
Adult Women Playing Pickleball in the Gym at Fosco Park
Fosco Park Senior Club Group Photo
Junior Bears football at Fosco
The fitness center at Fosco
The gym at Fosco
Interactive water spray at Fosco
Location:

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608

Supervisor: Obi Allmon
Phone Numbers: (312) 746-5086

 

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 7:00 am-8:00 pm
Tuesday 7:00 am-8:00 pm
Wednesday 7:00 am-8:00 pm
Thursday 7:00 am-8:00 pm
Friday 7:00 am-8:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am-5:00 pm

Description

Located in the Near West Community, Fosco Park totals 6.05 acres and features an indoor Olympic-sized zero-depth swimming pool, a fitness center, meeting rooms and a kitchen. Outdoors, the park offers two playgrounds, including one with interactive water features.

Young park-goers come to Fosco Park to participate in the Junior Bears football and cheerleading programs, to learn to swim, or to enjoy after school activities like table games and  arts & crafts. In the summer, youth attend the Park District's popular day camp or participate in one of the fitness partnerships offered at the park.

Adults and seniors enjoy a range of activities at Fosco Park, including swimming in the pool or working out in the fitness center. Parents also gather at Fosco Park with their preschoolers for Bitty and Tiny Tot recreation programs.

In addition to programs, Fosco Park hosts fun special events for the whole family, including holiday activities, Movies in the Park screenings and other Night Out in the Parks events.

 

History

The Near West Side, one of Chicago's most fashionable neighborhoods in the mid-nineteenth century, had experienced significant decline by the Depression Era. Soon after the founding of the Chicago Housing Authority in 1937, it began replacing deteriorated buildings in the neighborhood with new multi-unit public housing developments. Built between 1938 and 1961, the area's four large housing complexes, known jointly as ABLA, include: the Jane Addams Houses, Robert H. Brooks Homes and Extension, Loomis Courts, and Grace Abbott Homes.

In 1945, the City's Bureau of Parks and Recreation created Fosco Park on Board of Education property to serve the growing population. The two-acre park included a playing field and a small brick recreation building. The City named the park for Peter Fosco (1894--1975), president of the Laborer's International Union of North America and former Cook County Board commissioner.

In 1959, the Chicago Park District assumed management of Fosco Park. The following year, the Park District also began leasing an adjoining 1/2-acre housing authority property which included the Robert H. Brooks Homes Community Center. The Board of Education transferred ownership of its two acres to the Park District in 1991.  In 2010 and 2015, the Chicago Housing Authority transferred property to the Chicago Park District for the park.

At the turn of the 21st century, Fosco Park and its surrounding neighborhood experienced significant changes. Some of the existing ABLA housing units were rehabilitated, while others were replaced with new low-rise residences. Fosco Park's small brick recreation building and the adjacent community center were razed and a new state-of-the-art facility was erected at 1312 S. Racine. The 80,000-square-foot Community Center opened in Summer 2005.

Advisory Council

Parking/Directions

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

Map & Facilities

Fosco Clubrooms

1312 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Fosco Fieldhouse

1312 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Fosco Fitness Center

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Fosco Gymnasium

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Fosco Playground - E

1344 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Fosco Playground - W

1313 S. Throop St.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Fosco Park Pool

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

:
(312) 743-0135

Fosco Water Playground

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Imagining the Possibilities | Artwork

1312 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Fosco Park | Pickleball Courts

1312 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

:
Fosco Clubrooms

1312 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Show on Map
Fosco Fieldhouse

1312 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Show on Map
Fosco Fitness Center
Fosco Fitness Center

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Show on Map
Fosco Gymnasium

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Show on Map
Fosco Playground - E
Fosco Playground - E

1344 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Show on Map
default image
Fosco Playground - W

1313 S. Throop St.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Show on Map
Fosco Pool
Fosco Park Pool

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

:
(312) 743-0135
Show on Map
Fosco Water Playground

1312 S. Racine Ave
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Show on Map
Imagining the Possibilities
Imagining the Possibilities | Artwork

1312 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

Show on Map
Fosco Park | Pickleball Courts

1312 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60608
United States

:
Show on Map