Pricing structures vary by the type of event as indicated below.

Interested in partnering with the Chicago Park District? Click here to learn about ARCS 

 

Athletic Training Programs

Boot camps, fitness classes, marathon training, and other recurring athletic training programs require a Special Event Permit - Athletic Training level. Permit rental fees for this level are charged in 2 hour increments per location per day of the week. 

Fees are assigned based on park cluster. All Chicago Park District Parks are assigned a cluster (1-3) based on variables such as demand, amenities, and location. Click here to see a list of the Parks and their assigned Cluster. 

Charged in 2 hour increments per Location per Day of the Week

Cluster 1 Parks  Cluster 2 Parks  Cluster 3 Parks 
$300  $400  $500 


Pricing Examples: 

  • 1 hour class on M & W April-October at a Cluster 3 Park $500 x 2 days = $1,000
  • 2 hour class on M & W April-October at a Cluster 3 Park $500 x 2 days = $1,000
  • 3 hour class on M & W April-October at a Cluster 3 Park $1000 x 2 days = $2,000
 

Fee and Document (e.g. insurance) Deadlines 

Item  Amount Due Date  Penalty
Reservation Down Payment  50% of Permit Fee  30 days prior to reservation start date 

- $35 late fee and/or 

- possible denial of application
Payment of balance 50% of Permit Fee 15 days prior to reservation start date

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application
Document submission N/A 15 days prior to reservation start date

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application 

 

To book a space: click here to start the application process.

Baptisms, Dedications, Religion Services, Weddings (Commemorative)

Outdoor ceremonies such as baptisms, dedications, memorials, religious services, and weddings require a Special Event Permit – Commemorative level.  

This permit allows for use of designated outdoor space for a 2 or 4 hour time frame. 

Fees are assigned based on park cluster. All Chicago Park District Parks are assigned a cluster (1-3) based on variables such as demand, amenities, and location. Click here to see a list of the Parks and their assigned Cluster.
 

Refundable security deposit charged in addition to the rental fee. 

  Cluster 1 Parks  Cluster 2 Parks  Cluster 3 Parks  Security Deposit
2 Hour Commemorative  $400 $500  $625  $200
4 Hour Commemorative  $545 $725  $905  $200

 

Fee and Document (e.g. insurance) Deadlines 

Item  Amount Due Date  Penalty
Reservation Down Payment  50% of Permit Fee  30 days prior to reservation start date 

- $35 late fee and/or 

- possible denial of application
Payment of balance 50% of Permit Fee 15 days prior to reservation start date

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application
Document submission N/A 15 days prior to reservation start date

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application 

 

To book a space: click here to start the application process.

Events with daily attendance up to 10,000 people

Picnics, Outdoor Parties, Run/Walk/Bike, Concerts, & All Other Outdoor Events are assigned an event level 1-5 based on attendance. Fees for each level are assigned based on park cluster. All Chicago Park District Parks are assigned a cluster (1-3) based on variables such as demand, amenities, and location.  Click here to see a list of the Parks and their assigned Cluster.

Fees for these events are calculated by adding the base rental fee plus any add-ons and charged once per event day. If set up and teardown dates are needed, they will be billed at the base rental fee only for each date requested. A refundable security deposit may be charged in addition to the permit rental fee.

The base rental fee is calculated using the assigned park cluster and expected daily attendance. 
Some features such as a route (run/walk/bike/parade) or alcohol result in an additional charge. If there are no add-ons, the base rental fee is the permit rental fee. 
 

Base Rental Fee: Charged per location per date (including setup & tear down days) 

Daily Attendance (Event Level)  Cluster 1 Parks  Cluster 2 Parks  Cluster 3 Parks 
Up to 200 people (Event 1)  $120  $160  $200 
201-500 people (Event 2)  $590  $780  $970
501-1000 people (Event 3)  $1,960  $2,630  $3,300
1001-3000 people (Event 4)  $3,910  $5,250  $6,570
3001-10,000 people (Event 5)  $7,110  $9,480 $11,850 

 

Alcohol Add-on: Charged per location per event date 

Events that include alcohol require the alcohol add-on fee regardless of location or number of participants. Alcohol must be provided by a company (such as a caterer) that is properly licensed by the State of Illinois Liquor Commission, and the City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Licensing. Click here for a list of Preferred Professionals. Security personnel is required at all events with alcohol.  

ALCOHOL SERVICE ONLY: Alcoholic beverages served at an event at no charge and/or sampling of alcoholic beverages at an event at no charge. This is primarily used for private, invite only events which are not open to the general public. 

Daily Attendance (Event Level)  Alcohol Fee 
(Service Only) 

Alcohol Fee
(Service/Sales) 
Up to 200 people (Event 1)  $1,000   $1,000 
201-500 people (Event 2)  $1,000  $2,000  
501-1000 people (Event 3)  $1,500  $3,000 
1001-3000 people (Event 4)  $2,000   $4,000 
3001-10,000 people (Event 5)  $2,500  $5,000

 

Route (Run/Walk/Bike/Parade) Add-on: Charged per location per event date  

Events that include a run, walk, bike, parade or another element in which participants follow a designated course require the route add-on fee regardless of location or number of participants. 

Daily Attendance (Event Level)  Route Fee
Up to 200 people (Event 1)  $300  
201-500 people (Event 2)  $350 
501-1000 people (Event 3)  $1,000 
1001-3000 people (Event 4)  $2,500  
3001-10,000 people (Event 5)  $2,500 

 

Other Add-ons: these are set fees as listed below, not attendance based 

Type  Fee
Aid Stations  Basic $500 per station/Expanded $4,125 per station 
Animals (e.g. petting zoo, pony rides)  $150 per location, per date 
Beach Volleyball Courts  $30.00 per court, per date 
Early Entry (before 6am)/Late Exit (after 11pm)  $450 per hour 
Pyrotechnics (E.G. Fireworks) $500 per date

 

Security Deposit: Charged once per location in addition to the permit rental fees 

Daily Attendance (Event Level)  Security Deposit
Up to 200 people (Event 1)  $0  
201-500 people (Event 2)  $500 
501-1000 people (Event 3)  $1,500 
1001-3000 people (Event 4)  $3,000  
3001-10,000 people (Event 5)  $5,000 

 

Pricing Examples  

  • Run with 150 people (event 1) at a cluster 3 park: $200 base fee + $300 route add-on = $500 
  • Birthday party with 50 people (event 1) & a petting zoo at a cluster 1 park: $120 base fee + $150 animal add-on = $270
  • Health fair with 600 people (event 3) at a cluster 2 park: $2550 base fee + $1,500 security deposit = $4,050
  • 2 day Concert with 9,000 people (event 5) at a cluster 1 park, 2 setup days, 1 teardown day, & alcohol sales: $6,900 base fee x 5 days + $5,000 alcohol add-on x 2 event days + $5,000 security deposit = $49,500
     

Fee and Document (e.g. insurance) Deadlines 
 

Events 1-2 (under 500 people) 

Item  Amount  Due Date  Penalty 
Reservation Down Payment  50% of Permit Fee  30 days prior to reservation start date 

-$35 late fee and/or 

-possible denial of application 
Payment of balance  50% of Permit Fee  15 days prior to reservation start date 

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application 
Document submission  N/A  15 days prior to reservation start date 

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application 


Events 3-5 (501-10,000 people)  

Item  Amount  Due Date  Penalty 
Reservation Down Payment  50% of Permit Fee  90 days prior to reservation start date 

-$250 late fee and/or 

-possible denial of application 
Payment of balance  50% of Permit Fee  30 days prior to reservation start date 

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application 
Document submission  N/A  30 days prior to reservation start date 

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application 

 

To book a space: click here to start the application process.

Events with daily attendance over 10,000 people

Concerts, Festivals, Runs/Walks, and all other outdoor events with a daily attendance over 10,000 people are designated an event level 6. 

Fees are assigned based on park cluster. All Chicago Park District Parks are assigned a cluster (1-3) based on variables such as demand, amenities, and location. Click to see a list of the Parks and their assigned Cluster.

Permit Rental fees are calculated at $0.02 per square foot for every day the park is in use (setup, event, and tear down) + $1.00 per daily attendance for each event day. That total is multiplied by the park cluster factor. 

A $20,805 security deposit is required in addition to Permit Rental Fees. 

Permit Pricing Graphic E6


Pricing Example:
Cluster 1 Park (Jackson Park groves 19A&B & surrounding) totaling 1,200,000 sq. ft.  with 4 setup days, 2 event days, & 3 teardown days and 20,000 attendees. 

  • .02 * 1,200,000 sq. ft. * 9 total days = $216,000
  • $1 * 20,000 attendees * 2 event days = $40,000
  • $216,000 + $40,000 = $256,000
  • $256,000 * .75 park cluster factor = $192,000
  • $192,000 + $20,805 security deposit = $212,805 

 

Fee and Document Deadlines 

Item  Amount  Due Date  Penalty 
Reservation Down Payment  50% of Permit Fee  90 days prior to reservation start date 

-$250 late fee and/or 

-possible denial of application 
Payment of balance  50% of Permit Fee  30 days prior to reservation start date 

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application 
Document submission  N/A  30 days prior to reservation start date 

- late fee 1% of permit fee, per day and/or  

- possible denial of application 

 

To book a space: click here to start the application process.