Welcome to Cornell Square Park!
Welcome to Cornell Square Park!
The new playground at Cornell Square
The new playground at Cornell Square
The new playground
The new playground
Clubroom at Cornell Square
Clubroom at Cornell Square
After school fun at Cornell Square!
After school fun at Cornell Square!
Water spray feature
Water spray feature
Cornell Square Park
Cornell Square Park
Location:

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609

Supervisor: Ofelia Santiago
Phone Numbers: Main (312) 747-6097
Features: Free Lot Parking

 

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
Fieldhouse Hours
Weekday Time slot Comment
Sunday Closed
Monday 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am-7:00 pm

Description

Located in the New City community area, also known as "Back of the Yards," Cornell Square Park totals 8.85 acres. The park fieldhouse features include two gymnasiums, an auditorium and a kitchen.

Outside, the park offers baseball fields, basketball courts, an athletic field for football or soccer, an artificial turf field for soccer, a playground, an interactive water spray feature and an outdoor swimming pool. The park's playground was renovated in Summer 2014 as part of Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Plays! Program. Many of these spaces are available for rental for athletic tournaments or birthday parties.

Park-goers can play baseball, basketball and seasonal sports at Cornell Square Park. After school programs are offered throughout the school year, and in the summer youth attend the Park District’s popular six-week day camp. In addition to programs, Cornell Square Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the whole family, such as holiday events and Movies in the Park.

History

The South Park District acquired land for the park in 1904 and alleys and streets were vacated for the park in 1909.  The South Park Commission created Cornell Square in 1904 as part of a revolutionary neighborhood park system, which improved the difficult living conditions in Chicago's congested tenement districts. The innovative parks provided not only beautiful "breathing spaces," but also public bathing, the City's first branch libraries, classes and vocational training, inexpensive hot meals, health care, and a variety of recreational programs.  Nationally renowned landscape architects the Olmsted Brothers and architects Daniel H. Burnham and Co. designed the entire system. Five of the first ten properties, which opened in 1905, were known as squares because they were smaller than ten acres in size; the other five, which were larger than ten acres, were considered parks. In addition to Cornell Square, these were Mark White, Russell, Davis, and Armour Squares, and Ogden, Sherman, Palmer, Bessemer, and Hamilton Parks.

Cornell Square was named in honor of Paul Cornell (1822--1904), a lawyer and real estate developer who was a leading force behind the creation of the South Park System. In the mid-1850s, Cornell bought land south of Chicago and developed the community of Hyde Park. He arranged to have the Illinois Central Railroad provide commuter service to the newly developed area. Cornell believed that parks would provide "lungs to the great city and its future generations." He was instrumental in securing approval of the state bill, which established the South Park Commission in 1869, and served as a member of its board for 14 years.

Parking/Directions

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

Map & Facilities

Cornell Square Soccer/Football Field - Artificial Turf

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Cornell Square Gymnasium - Stage

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

:
312-747-6097

Cornell Square Baseball Fields

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Cornell Square Basketball

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Cornell Square Clubroom

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Cornell Square Fieldhouse

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

:
312-747-6097

Cornell Square Soccer/Football Field

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Cornell Square Park Pool

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

:
(312)747-0287

Cornell Square Playground

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

:
312-747-6097

Cornell Square Water Spray Feature

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Cornell Square Tennis Court

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Ezra Cornell Portrait

1809 W 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Paul Cornell Bust

1809 W 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

default image
Cornell Square Tennis Court

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map
default image
Cornell Square Soccer/Football Field - Artificial Turf

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map
Ezra Cornell Portrait
Ezra Cornell Portrait

1809 W 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map
default image
Cornell Square Gymnasium - Stage

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

  • :
    312-747-6097
Show on Map
Paul Cornell Bust
Paul Cornell Bust

1809 W 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map
Cornell Square Baseball Fields

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map
default image
Cornell Square Basketball

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map
Cornell Square Clubroom

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map
default image
Cornell Square Fieldhouse

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

  • :
    312-747-6097
Show on Map
default image
Cornell Square Soccer/Football Field

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map
Cornell Square Park Pool
Cornell Square Park Pool

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

  • :
    (312)747-0287
Show on Map
Cornell Square Playground

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

  • :
    312-747-6097
Show on Map
Cornell Square Water Spray Feature

1809 W. 50th St.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

Show on Map