3400 N. Rockwell St.
Chicago, IL 60618
Hours
Park Hours
Description
Richard Clark Park comprises 22.42 acres of greenspace along the east bank of the Chicago River in the North Center neighborhood. At the park you'll find soccer field, a free-ride bike park known as The Garden, the WMS Boat House, and new Kerry Wood Cubs Field.
The park's soccer fields and bike trails sit on land once occupied by the fondly-remembered Riverview Amusement Park.
Kerry Wood Cubs Field will be a great resource for park kids, student-athletes and the community. The field, which includes seating for 1,250 spectators and fans, will be used by Chicago public high schools citywide throughout the high school baseball season during and after school hours. The Park District will use the field for recreational leagues and use by the general public.
The Chicago Cubs, Chicago Cubs Charities, Wood Family Foundation, City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Schools and Turner Construction all contributed to make the $5 million stadium project possible.
The Chicago Park District’s WMS Boathouse at Clark Park is the premier rowing center in the city, with year round training and facilities unmatched in the region. Through our partnership with Chicago Rowing Foundation [ [CRF] they will provide low-cost community programs in addition to our existing recreational and competitive teams. In addition to hosting Park District campers and community-inclusive learn-to-row and open rowing events, the Foundation (CRF) will also facilitate participation of high schools and middle schools in rowing at Clark Park ..
The Clark Park Boat House is an approximately 22,620 square foot rowing training and boat storage facility. The building consists of a two story mechanically heated and cooled building and a one story tempered boat storage building and a floating boat launch dock in the Chicago River. The two story building houses row tank space, ergometer work out space that accommodates approximately 36 ‘erg’ machines, a community room, main office and restrooms with shower facilities. The one story boat storage building will have kayak and canoe vendor storage, a vendor office and restroom, and a clear span boat storage space to store approximately 50 rowing shells and support equipment.
The Clark Park boathouse building costs $8.8 million and includes $3.2 million in private funding, including $2 million from WMS, $1 million from North Park University, and $200,000 from the Chicago Rowing Foundation, and $1 million matched by Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th ward)from TIF.
The WMS Boathouse at Clark Park has been thoughtfully designed by Jeanne Gang, FAIA, and her firm, Studio Gang.
The boat house also offers canoe & kayak rentals and a public dock that is available for use by non-motorized boats during park hours. Restrooms are also available to the public when the boathouse vendor is operating.
The Garden is a set of dirt jumps located right in the City of Chicago. There are 3 jump lines and a pump track with multiple routes. The Garden is free, open to the public, and has terrain for all ages and skill levels.
History
Richard Clark Park comprises over 22 acres of greenspace along the east bank of the Chicago River in the North Center neighborhood. The park's soccer fields and bike trails sit on land once occupied by the fondly remembered Riverview Amusement Park. Riverview, created in 1904 on the site of a former German hunting preserve, was for a time the world's largest amusement park, with a massive roller coaster, a double Ferris wheel, a tunnel of love, a water slide, a parachute drop, and carnival games of skill and chance, among many other things. After the amusement park's demolition in 1967.
The City of Chicago acquired the property along the River bank and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District owned property adjacent to the City property. The Park District leased this property and transformed the site into parkland in 1979. The Park District still leases property from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and the City transferred the property along the riverbank to the Park District in 2006. Also in 2006, the Park District acquired additional property to expand the park.
In 1986, the park was officially designated Richard Clark Park in honor of a Chicago police officer killed in the line of duty. Richard Clark (1938-1986) was an 18-year police veteran and member of the nearby Belmont Tactical Unit at the time of his death. Clark was shot and mortally wounded on April 3, 1986, while attempting to rescue a victim wounded by a gunman who had barricaded himself in his north side apartment.
Advisory Council
3rd Tuesday of the month at 7pm. Out of an abundance of caution Park Advisory Council Meetings will be held virtually for the near future. Please contact the Clark PAC for details.
Map & Facilities
Clark (Richard) - Canoe & Kayak Rentals
3400 N. Rockwell St.
Chicago, IL 60618
United States