Union Park | Chicago Park District

Description

Located in the Near West Community Area, Union Park totals 13.77 acres and features a fieldhouse and separate building that houses the gymnasium, fitness center and locker rooms. The field house holds a theater room with a stage and meeting rooms. Outside, the park offers tennis courts, baseball fields, a swimming pool, a playground, an athletic field for football or soccer, and basketball courts.

Many of these spaces are available for rental. Park-goers can play seasonal sports at the facility, and the park also offers a community partnership with “Girls in the Game," a mentoring program for girls ages 9-14 years. Afterschool 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, Union Park hosts fun special events throughout the year, including Night Out in the Parks concerts, movie screenings, the Pitchfork Music Festival and other festival events.

History

The city created Union Park in 1853, after residents convinced developers to sell 13 acres of their subdivision at a reduced price. Named in honor of the Federal Union, it was one of the city's most fashionable places.

In 1885, the city transferred Union Park to the West Park Commission, which made the park its headquarters. Three years later, Jens Jensen, then working as gardener, planted an experimental wildflower garden called the American Garden, marking the beginnings of his venerable naturalistic style.

In the 1910s, African-Americans began moving into the neighborhood. While many other parks were inaccessible to black residents, Union Park became racially integrated.

Between the 1920s and the 1950s, the park became well-known for cultural and social events, and a number of notable musicians performed there. Among them were the noted pioneer of gospel music Thomas A. Dorsey; trumpeter Sunny Cohn; and jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis.

Union Playground

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Union Picnic Grove

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Union Park Pool

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

(312) 746-5466

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Union Park Harvest Garden

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Union Gymnasium

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Union Fitness Center

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Union Clubrooms

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Union Basketball Courts - Outdoor

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Union Gymnasium - Stage

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60606

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Pickleball Courts at Union

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Connolly (James) Monument

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Carter Harrison Memorial

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Union Fieldhouse

1501 W. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60607

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Name	Number	Type	Category	Ages	Gender	Dates	Fee
Park Kids - Spring at Union	254939	Instruction	After School	At least 6 but less than 13	Coed	From April 1, 2019 to June 14, 2019 Each Monday from 3pm to 6pm Each Tuesday from 3pm to 6pm Each Wednesday from 3pm to 6pm Each Thursday from 3pm to 6pm Each Friday from 3pm to 6pm	$240.00 - $480.00
Arts & Crafts at Union	253206	Instruction	Decorative Arts	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 1, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Monday from Noon to 12:45pm Each Friday from Noon to 12:45pm	$60.00 - $120.00
Badminton at Union	253224	Instruction	Badminton	18 and up	Coed	From April 2, 2019 to June 8, 2019 Each Tuesday from 6pm to 9pm Each Saturday from Noon to 3:30pm	$120.00 - $240.00
Baseball at Union	253309	Instruction	Baseball	At least 6 but less than 13	Coed	From April 5, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Friday from 4pm to 5pm	$19.00 - $38.00
Basketball - Open at Union	253445	Open	Basketball	At least 6 but less than 13	Coed	April 11, 2019 Thursday from Noon to 4pm	Free
Basketball at Union	253495	Instruction	Basketball	At least 13 but less than 17	Coed	From April 5, 2019 to June 8, 2019 Each Friday from 6pm to 8pm Each Saturday from 3:30pm to 5pm	Free
Basketball at Union	253496	Instruction	Basketball	At least 6 but less than 13	Coed	From April 6, 2019 to June 8, 2019 Each Saturday from 10am to 11:30am	$38.00 - $76.00
Bitty Basketball at Union	253598	Instruction	Basketball	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 6, 2019 to June 8, 2019 Each Saturday from 9am to 10am	$32.00 - $64.00
Boys Mentoring Program at Union	253670	Instruction	Educational/Self-Help	At least 13 but less than 18	Male	From April 6, 2019 to June 8, 2019 Each Saturday from 2pm to 3pm	Free
Chess at Union	253766	Open	Fun & Games	At least 6 but less than 14	Coed	From April 2, 2019 to June 4, 2019 Each Tuesday from 6pm to 7pm	Free
Conditioning at Union	253823	Instruction	Fitness	At least 13 but less than 17	Coed	From April 3, 2019 to June 6, 2019 Each Wednesday from 7pm to 8pm Each Thursday from 7pm to 8pm	Free
Dream Girls Mentoring Program at Union	254010	Instruction	Educational/Self-Help	At least 8 but less than 14	Female	From April 5, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Friday from 5pm to 6pm	Free
Fun and Games at Union	254172	Instruction	Fun & Games	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 2, 2019 to June 4, 2019 Each Tuesday from 12:45pm to 1:45pm	$32.00 - $64.00
Fun With Food at Union	254189	Instruction	Educational/Self-Help	At least 8 but less than 14	Coed	From April 12, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Friday from 4pm to 5pm	Free
Game Room at Union	254206	Open	Fun & Games	At least 13 but less than 17	Coed	From April 1, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Monday from 3pm to 4pm Each Tuesday from 3pm to 4pm Each Wednesday from 3pm to 4pm Each Thursday from 3pm to 4pm Each Friday from 3pm to 4pm	Free
Golf at Union	254229	Instruction	Golf	At least 6 but less than 13	Coed	From April 4, 2019 to June 6, 2019 Each Thursday from 5pm to 6pm	Free
Harvest Garden at Union	254266	Instruction	Gardening	At least 6 but less than 13	Coed	From May 10, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Friday from 4pm to 5:30pm	Free
Indoor Tennis at Union	254287	Instruction	Tennis	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 1, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Monday from 11am to 11:45am Each Friday from 11am to 11:45am	$60.00 - $120.00
Kickball League at Union	254313	League (Individual)	Kickball	At least 8 but less than 13	Coed	From April 3, 2019 to June 5, 2019 Each Wednesday from 4pm to 6:30pm	Free
Kiddie College at Union	254364	Instruction	Recreation	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 2, 2019 to June 6, 2019 Each Tuesday from 10am to 12:30pm Each Wednesday from 10am to 12:30pm Each Thursday from 10am to 12:30pm	$181.00 - $362.00
Mighty Fit Kids at Union	254649	Instruction	Fitness	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 3, 2019 to June 5, 2019 Each Wednesday from 12:45pm to 1:45pm	$32.00 - $64.00
Pickleball at Union	254989	Instruction	Pickleball	60 and up	Coed	From April 2, 2019 to June 5, 2019 Each Tuesday from 11am to 12:30pm Each Wednesday from 11am to 12:30pm	Free
Seasonal Sports at Union	255182	Instruction	Seasonal Sports	At least 13 but less than 17	Coed	From April 4, 2019 to June 6, 2019 Each Thursday from 5pm to 6pm	Free
Seasonal Sports at Union	255183	Instruction	Seasonal Sports	At least 6 but less than 13	Coed	From April 4, 2019 to June 6, 2019 Each Thursday from 4pm to 5pm	Free
Seasonal Sports Club at Union	255247	Instruction	Seasonal Sports	At least 6 but less than 13	Coed	From April 2, 2019 to June 4, 2019 Each Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm	Free
Seasonal Sports Club at Union	255248	Instruction	Seasonal Sports	At least 13 but less than 17	Coed	From April 2, 2019 to June 4, 2019 Each Tuesday from 5pm to 6pm	Free
T-Ball at Union	255670	Instruction	Baseball	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 5, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Friday from Noon to 1pm	$32.00 - $64.00
Tiny Talkers - Spanish at Union	255886	Instruction	Educational/Self-Help	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 1, 2019 to June 14, 2019 Each Monday from 1pm to 1:45pm Each Friday from 1pm to 1:45pm	$60.00 - $120.00
Tiny Tot Tumbling at Union	256067	Instruction	Tumbling	At least 3 but less than 6	Coed	From April 4, 2019 to June 6, 2019 Each Thursday from 12:45pm to 1:45pm	$32.00 - $64.00
Weightlifting at Union	256252	Instruction	Weightlifting	At least 13 but less than 18	Coed	From April 4, 2019 to June 6, 2019 Each Thursday from 6pm to 7pm	Free
Basketball - Open at Union	267824	Open	Basketball	18 and up	Coed	From April 4, 2019 to June 6, 2019 Each Thursday from 11:30am to 1pm	$29.00 - $58.00
Chess at Union	267825	Open	Fun & Games	At least 6 but less than 12	Coed	From April 2, 2019 to June 4, 2019 Each Tuesday from 6pm to 7pm	Free
Track & Field at Union	267826	Instruction	Track & Field	At least 8 but less than 15	Coed	From April 5, 2019 to June 7, 2019 Each Friday from 4pm to 5pm	Free

Name

Number

Type

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

Sunday	Closed
Monday	10:30 am-7:30 pm
Tuesday	10:00 am-7:30 pm
Wednesday	10:00 am-7:30 pm
Thursday	10:00 am-7:30 pm
Friday	10:30 am-7:30 pm
Saturday	10:00 am-1:00 pm

Description

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Park Hours

Fieldhouse Hours

History

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Advisory Council

2019 Spring: Zone 2: East of California

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