Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Black History Month.
Founded by Carter G Woodson, Black History Month traces its origins to 1926, at a time when Black history was largely excluded from textbooks and public education. Black History Week was officially recognized as Black History Month in 1976.
The Chicago Park District commemorates Black History Month this February with various events throughout the city. Residents are invited to a month-long celebration of culture and history in the parks. From our featured Umoja event to smaller events, several opportunities exist to celebrate this special month in the parks. Most events are admission-free or charge nominal fees.
Several parks across Chicago have been named in honor of African Americans who have been instrumental in shaping the legacy of our city, country, and beyond. Learn more about these influential leaders in the "Named in their Honor" presentation below.
HiSTORY Maker Spotlight: Dr. Conrad Worrill
Photo credit: Northeastern University
Dr. Conrad Worrill (1941–2020) was a prominent African American activist, scholar, and organizer whose work left a lasting impact on civil rights and empowering black communities, not just in Chicago but across the United States.
Worrill was a founding leader of the National Black United Front (NBUF), an organization that brought people together to protest unfair treatment by the police, fight against racism in schools, and challenge economic inequality. He played a key role in the anti-apartheid movement, helping to make Chicago one of the first U.S. cities to divest from South Africa, and was a strong advocate for reparations and Pan-African unity.
His legacy continues to through the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center a world-class athletic facility on the southside of Chicago. As one of the newest Chicago Park District facilities, this center stands as a living testament to his lifelong commitment to youth empowerment, community development, and racial equity.
Worrill dreamed for decades of a premier track and field facility where Chicago youth could train, compete, and thrive. As a high school track athlete himself, he knew firsthand that aspiring runners often had limited space to practice, resorting to running in school hallways in winter.
The Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park, opened in 2021 and named in his honor, features top-tier amenities—including a hydraulically banked 200-meter track, sprint lanes, jump runways, pole vault and high jump areas, and seating for 3,500 spectators—making it one of the most advanced indoor track facilities in the country. The Chicago Park District celebrates our local Black History Month “HiSTORY Maker.”
Learn more about Dr. Conrad Worrill:
- Historic Figures at NEIU Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies (Video)
- The HistoryMakers - The Digital Repository for the Black Experience: Conrad Walter Worrill
Feb 8, 2026 - Girls in Sports Summit Track Meet at Gately
Join us at the 5th annual BOWA Gives Girls in Sports Summit Track Meet at The Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park. Learn more about this event.
Events
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Named In Their Honor
Learn about the influential African Americans for which many Chicago parks are named after. Click on the image below to page through the presentation.