Turning of the dirt at the Clarendon Community Center ground breaking with officials
View of community garden at Clarendon Park
Historical photo of Clarendon Park - Promanade 1916
Clarendon Park Community Center - Playground
Location:

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640

Supervisor: Michael Brown
Phone Numbers: Main (773) 262-8658

 

Hours

Park Hours
Weekday 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

Description

Located in the Uptown community (two blocks east of Sheridan Road, two blocks south of Wilson Avenue, and just west of Lake Shore drive), Clarendon Community Center Park sits on 12.64 acres of land. The fieldhouse contains a fitness center, a gymnasium, and several clubrooms available for rental. Outside features two junior baseball and two softball fields, a two-hoop basketball court, new dog-friendly area and a playground with an interactive water play area.

The park staff offers a variety of recreation opportunities, particularly for older children and adults. However, Tot Spot is available for toddlers. Youth can enjoy basketball, cheerleading, drop-in, Junior Bears football, karate, seasonal sports—and the popular six-week, summer day camp. Programs for teens include basketball, drop-in, seasonal sports—and Teen Leadership Club during the summer. Adults can partake in basketball, dodgeball, the fitness center, soccer, and volleyball. Kuumba Lynx is the Arts Partner In Residence, which provides the following programming at the park: Poetry, Graffiti Art, Hip Hop, and skateboarding. Special events at Clarendon Park include an annual Easter Egg Hunt plus an outdoor Movie in the Park.

Clarendon Community Center Park is the home to the Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club. We welcome visitors of all ages to stop by and enjoy. Rekindle the emotions of model trains you had as a kid. The Garfield-Clarendon Model Railroad Club has a rich history and beautifully crafted layout. 
 

Swimming programs are available at the nearby Gill Park.

History

Clarendon Community Center takes its name from the adjoining avenue, honoring English statesman Edward Hyde (1609-1674), first Earl of Clarendon. Clarendon originated as a municipal beach. During the 19th century, Lake Michigan was rarely used for swimming because the heavily polluted Chicago River flowed into it. The new Sanitary Canal corrected the problem in 1900, and the Health Department began creating municipal beaches to provide the city's growing population with access to swimming as well as showers and changing facilities. In 1905, the city's Special Park Commission took over management of municipal beaches. Several years later, the Commission began planning a state-of-the-art facility, visiting well-known municipal beaches throughout the nation such as Belle Isle Beach, Detroit; the New York City Beach at Coney Island; and the Atlantic City Bath Houses. In 1916, the city opened the Clarendon Municipal Beach, featuring an impressive brick building with two stately towers, separate open-air locker areas for men and women, and two smaller buildings housing a laundry and a children's playroom. Accommodating more than 9,000 swimmers and a promenade for thousands of spectators, the facility provided bathing suits, towels, and lockers for the charge of ten cents per adult. The beach remained popular until the late 1930s, when the Chicago Park District expanded Lincoln Park north to Foster Avenue, thereby eliminating Clarendon's lake frontage. At that time, the city converted the facility into a community center, adding gymnasiums, clubrooms, a playground, and an athletic field.

The Chicago Park District assumed ownership of the Clarendon Community Center in 1957 pursuant to the Chicago Park and City Exchange of Functions Act. The Park District also leases the northern most portion of the park from the City Department of Water Management.  A major renovation project in 1972 resulted in the removal of the building's most distinguishing features such as its tile roof and towers. In recent years, the Park District has made the building accessible to people with disabilities, and upgraded the ball fields and playground.

Advisory Council

Contact: Katherine Boyda,   President
Meeting Details:

Please contact the Clarendon Park Advisory Council for meeting details.

Parking/Directions

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

Map & Facilities

Clarendon Baseball Fields

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Basketball

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Bocce Court

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Clubroom

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Dog Friendly Area

4501 N. Marine Drive
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Fieldhouse

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Fitness Center

4501 N. Clarendon Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Football/Soccer

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Gymnasium

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Community Garden

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Playground

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Tennis Court

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Water Spray Feature

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Lily, Birth-Rebirth | Artwork

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Uplift High School Pool

900 W Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Clarendon Park - Pickleball Courts

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago , IL 60640
United States

:
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Clarendon Baseball Fields

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Basketball

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Bocce Court

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Clubroom

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Dog Friendly Area

4501 N. Marine Drive
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
View of Clarendon Park Fieldhouse
Clarendon Fieldhouse

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
Clarendon Fitness Center
Clarendon Fitness Center

4501 N. Clarendon Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Football/Soccer

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Gymnasium

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
Clarendon Park Community Garden
Clarendon Community Garden

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
Clarendon Playground
Clarendon Playground

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Tennis Court

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Water Spray Feature

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
Lily, Birth-Rebirth
Lily, Birth-Rebirth | Artwork

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
Uplift High School Pool
Uplift High School Pool

900 W Wilson Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
United States

Show on Map
default image
Clarendon Park - Pickleball Courts

4501 N. Clarendon Ave.
Chicago , IL 60640
United States

Show on Map