Ogden (William) Park

Park Details

Main Address

6500 S. Racine Ave.
Chicago, IL 60636
United States

  • Tel: (312) 747-6572 | Main
Park Supervisor
David Bailey
Park Hours
Open
| 6:00 am-11:00 pm

Ogden (William) Park

Description

Located in the Englewood community, Ogden Park totals 60.08 acres and features a gymnasium, fitness center, boxing gym, dance studio, and a multi-purpose room. Green features of the park include a Nature Garden. Outside, the park offers three playgrounds, a carousel, walking track, swimming pool, baseball diamonds, basketball/tennis courts. Many of these spaces are available for rental including our gymnasium, fields, and multi-purpose clubroom.

Park-goers can participate in the Park Kids after school program, seasonal sports, Junior Bears Football, dance, boxing, wrestling, track & field. During the summer, youth can participate in the Park District’s popular six-week day camp.

In addition to programs, Ogden Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the entire family including our Englewood Back to School Parade and other holiday-themed events.

History

The South Park Commissioners acquired land for this park from 1903 until 1904.  Named for William B. Ogden (1805-1877), Chicago's first mayor, Ogden Park opened to the public in 1905. The site was one of ten revolutionary parks created to provide relief to Chicago's overcrowded tenement districts. The other nine were Sherman, Palmer, and Hamilton Parks and Armour, Russell, Davis, Cornell, and Mark White Squares. (Mark White Square is now known as McGuane Park.) Offering a variety of valuable recreational, educational, and social services to their surrounding communities, these ten properties soon influenced the development of other parks throughout the nation. Nationally renowned landscape architects the Olmsted Brothers and architects Daniel H. Burnham and Co. created a unique design for each park. Ogden, however, shared traits with Sherman Park in terms of both size and design. Each site was 60 acres in size. Additionally, each had a beautiful landscape with a meandering waterway near a meadow of ballfields. The park became a part of the Chicago Park District’s portfolio in 1934 when the 22 park districts were consolidated. Ogden Park's waterway was drained and filled in 1940. The classically-designed fieldhouse underwent a major remodeling in 1972. In 1998, the Chicago Park District created a major regional playground in Ogden Park.

Additional Information

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

Contact: Sandy Streeter, President

Contact Email: ogdenpac1@gmail.com

Meetings: 3rd Thursday of the month @ 6:30pm

Out of an abundance of caution Park Advisory Council Meetings will be held virtually for the near future. Please contact the Ogden PAC for details.

Facilities at Ogden (William) Park

21 facilities

Ogden Pool

Programs at Ogden (William) Park

Most programs run from Monday, June 16 to Sunday, August 10 Online registration beings In-person registration begins
Boxing Skills at Ogden
Instruction
Sports - Boxing
At least 8 but less than 18
From June 17, 2025 to August 22, 2025
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 4pm to 6pm
Each Saturday from 9am to 5pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$0.00
Boxing Skills at Ogden
Instruction
Sports - Boxing
18 and up
From June 17, 2025 to August 23, 2025
Each Tuesday,Wednesday,Friday from 12:30pm to 2:30pm
Each Saturday from 9am to 5pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$15.00
Day Camp at Ogden
Camp
General Interest
At least 6 but less than 13
From June 23, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 10am to 4pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$95.00
Junior Bear Football - Pee Wee at Ogden
Instruction
Sports - Football
At least 8 but less than 11
From June 24, 2025 to October 24, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 4pm to 7pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$0.00
Junior Bear Football - Varsity at Ogden
Instruction
Sports - Football
At least 11 but less than 14
From June 24, 2025 to October 24, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 4pm to 7pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$0.00
Rec Leader in Training at Ogden
Camp
Special Interest
At least 13 but less than 16
From June 23, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 10am to 4pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$0.00

Events at Ogden (William) Park

1 Events