Kennedy (Dennis) Park

Park Details

Main Address

11320 S. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60655
United States

  • Tel: (312) 747-6198 | Main
Park Supervisor
Rebecca Medrano
Park Hours
Open
| 6:00 am-11:00 pm

Kennedy (Dennis) Park

Description

Located in the Morgan Park community, Kennedy Park totals 18.44 acres and features two multi-purpose rooms. Outside, the park offers four baseball diamonds, swimming pool, playground, roller rink and spray pool. 

Park-goers can participate in seasonal sports, preschool activities, T-ball, Moms & Tots, and arts & crafts. During the summer, specialty camps are offered which include Lil’ Campers and Summer in the City.

In addition to programs, Kennedy Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the entire family such as holiday-themed events.

History

At 18 acres, Kennedy Park was by far the largest park created by the Calumet Park District, one of 22 independent park commissions consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934. The Calumet District began to purchase land for this park in 1911 at the urging of Morgan Park residents. By 1912, the Calumet Park District had completed acquisition of a dump site and an existing ball field for park development. The Park District immediately erected a bath house. Fourteen years later, a swimming pool was added. Although much of the property remained unimproved through the 1920s, the Park District worked with the Morgan Park Woman's Club to create a bird sanctuary and wild flower preserve on 5 undeveloped acres. The Park District began full-scale improvements in 1930, using labor from the state's Unemployed Relief Service. The laborers removed hundreds of tons of old auto frames and concrete from the site, graded it, planted trees and shrubbery, and constructed a fieldhouse, all by hand. The Chicago Park District took control of Kennedy Park in 1934 when the 22 Park Districts were consolidated, and constructed a new pool and fieldhouse in the early 1960s.

Initially known as Western Avenue Park, the park received the name D.J. Kennedy Memorial Park in 1932. The new name honors Dennis J. Kennedy (1871-1932), a member of the Calumet Park District commission from 1910 until his death in 1932, and its president for twenty years.

 

 

Additional Information

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

Capital Projects

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Facilities at Kennedy (Dennis) Park

15 facilities

Programs at Kennedy (Dennis) Park

Most programs run from Monday, June 16 to Sunday, August 10 Online registration beings In-person registration begins
Lil' Campers at Kennedy
Camp
General Interest
At least 7 but less than 10
From June 24, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 9am to 12pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$152.00
Lil' Campers at Kennedy
Camp
General Interest
At least 7 but less than 10
From June 24, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$152.00
Lil' Campers at Kennedy
Camp
General Interest
At least 6 but less than 7
From June 24, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$152.00
Lil' Campers at Kennedy
Camp
General Interest
At least 6 but less than 7
From June 24, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 9am to 12pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$152.00
Play Camp at Kennedy
Camp
General Interest
At least 4 but less than 6
From June 24, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 9am to 12pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$138.00
Play Camp at Kennedy
Camp
General Interest
At least 4 but less than 6
From June 24, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$138.00
Rec Leader in Training at Kennedy
Camp
Special Interest
At least 13 but less than 16
From June 24, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Monday from 9:30am to 3pm
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 9am to 12pm
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 12:30pm to 3:30pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$0.00

Events at Kennedy (Dennis) Park

2 Events