Wildwood Park

Stop by and say hello!

Come out and play baseball or football at Wildwood Park.

Stop by with the kiddos and enjoy the nature play area!

Location:

6950 N. Hiawatha Ave.
Chicago, IL 60646

Supervisor: Mike McNichols

Phone Numbers: Main (773) 631-7455

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	9:00 am-1:00 pm
Monday	8:00 am-4:00 pm
Tuesday	8:00 am-8:00 pm
Wednesday	8:00 am-4:00 pm
Thursday	8:00 am-8:00 pm
Friday	8:00 am-1:00 pm
Saturday	Closed

Hours Notes

The fieldhouse is open Monday-Friday, 5:30-8 PM. Access to restrooms would be available during those times.

Description

Wildwood Park, located just south of Touhy Avenue, west of Lehigh Avenue, and blocks away from the Billy Caldwell Forest Preserve, is 8.88 acres and it serves an active community with a rich history. The park fieldhouse is a hall of fame for many of the children who have grown up in this neighborhood park. Photos and news clippings cover the walls and ceilings, memorializing the community members who have made the park what it is over the years.

The gymnasium is shared with Wildwood School, where basketball, floor hockey, and volleyball programs take place. Outside of the fields the park staff offers soccer for youth. Adults looking to get in the game are invited to check out the 3 on 3 basketball league.

For those looking to get involved being a volunteer coach for the youth soccer league stop by the park and get a volunteer application.

Wildwood Park contains a senior and two junior baseball fields, a softball field, a football field, four basketball standards, two tennis courts, a nature play area, and a playground.

History

Wildwood Park was created as part of a ten-year initiative by the Chicago Park District to serve the city's booming post-World War II population. From 1949-1950, the Park District acquired vacant land in the rapidly-growing Forest Glen community for this park. Soon after in the winter, the Park District flooded a section of open field to create a temporary ice-skating rink. However, no further improvements were made until Wildwood Elementary School was constructed on adjacent property in 1953. Using the school gymnasium for recreational programs during evening hours and on weekends, the Park District began joint operations with the Board of Education. Within a few years, Wildwood Park had an athletic field, playground equipment, tennis courts, and a comfort station. Additional improvements, including tree planting, playground rehabilitation, and a new sand volleyball court, came in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The park was officially named Wildwood Park in 1953. Wildwood Park and the adjacent school take their names from nearby Wildwood Avenue. All three recognize the heavily wooded nature of the surrounding territory, once a Potawatomi hunting ground. Only a few blocks from the park and school, the Billy Caldwell Forest Preserve cuts through the community. Caldwell, a half-Indian, half-English chief of the Potowatomis, also known as Sauganash, sold most of his land to farmers when his tribe was removed from the area in 1836. Some of Caldwell's former land has been developed into the residential areas of Forest Glen, while a large portion was set aside for the Cook County Forest Preserve.

Advisory Council

Contact: Amber Damerow, President

Email: wildwoodparkpac@gmail.com

Meeting Details:

1st Thursday of the month @ 7pm

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

Parking/Directions

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

Name	Number	Type	Category	Ages	Dates	Fee
Dodgeball at Wildwood	500027	Instruction	Dodgeball	At least 4 but less than 7	From September 6, 2024 to December 6, 2024 Each Friday from 5:15pm to 6pm	$15.00
Storytime & Crafts at Wildwood	500039	Instruction	Recreation	At least 3 but less than 6	From September 10, 2024 to December 5, 2024 Each Tuesday,Thursday from 2:30pm to 3:15pm Except the following dates: Thursday, Nov 28, 2024	$15.00
Dodgeball at Wildwood	500421	Instruction	Dodgeball	At least 6 but less than 10	From September 3, 2024 to December 3, 2024 Each Tuesday from 4pm to 5pm	$20.00
Fun and Games at Wildwood	500596	Instruction	Fun & Games	At least 6 but less than 11	From September 9, 2024 to December 2, 2024 Each Monday from 4pm to 5pm	$20.00
Fun and Games at Wildwood	500597	Instruction	Fun & Games	At least 4 but less than 7	From September 9, 2024 to December 2, 2024 Each Monday from 5:15pm to 6pm	$15.00
Seasonal Sports at Wildwood	501323	Instruction	Seasonal Sports	At least 6 but less than 11	From September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024 Each Thursday from 4pm to 5pm Except the following dates: Thursday, Nov 28, 2024	$15.00
Seasonal Sports at Wildwood	501324	Instruction	Seasonal Sports	At least 4 but less than 6	From September 4, 2024 to December 4, 2024 Each Wednesday from 5:15pm to 6pm	$20.00
Seasonal Sports at Wildwood	501437	Instruction	Seasonal Sports	At least 4 but less than 6	From September 4, 2024 to December 4, 2024 Each Wednesday from 5:15pm to 6pm	$20.00
Soccer at Wildwood	501438	Instruction	Soccer	At least 6 but less than 12	From September 6, 2024 to December 6, 2024 Each Friday from 4pm to 5pm	$20.00
Young Scientist at Wildwood	501581	Instruction	Educational/Self-Help	At least 3 but less than 6	From September 5, 2024 to December 5, 2024 Each Thursday from 1:30pm to 2:15pm Except the following dates: Thursday, Nov 28, 2024	$15.00
Dino Diggers at Wildwood	505313	Instruction	Recreation	At least 3 but less than 6	From September 10, 2024 to December 3, 2024 Each Tuesday from 1:30pm to 2:15pm	$10.00
Girls Basketball - Open at Wildwood	500105	Open	Basketball	At least 12 but less than 15	From September 6, 2024 to December 6, 2024 Each Friday from 6:30pm to 8pm	$10.00
Volleyball - Open at Wildwood	501786	Open	Volleyball	18 and up	From September 4, 2024 to December 4, 2024 Each Monday,Wednesday from 6:30pm to 8:15pm	$20.00
Arts & Crafts at Wildwood	518551	Instruction	Decorative Arts	At least 6 but less than 12	From September 4, 2024 to December 4, 2024 Each Wednesday from 4pm to 5pm	$15.00

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