Programs & Services for Veterans

The mission of Chicago Park District Veterans Programs is to provide access and engage veterans and active military personnel in sports, recreation, and leisure.

We strive to:

Expose veterans to recreation, leisure and enrichment programs
Keep veterans and active military actively engaged in recreation and leisure activities
Provide opportunities for adaptive sports skill development
Provide inclusive programming for veterans of all abilities
Provide annual family based events
Partner with local agencies to provide resources and program enhancement

All Chicago Park District Veterans Programs are FREE of charge with proof of service (DD214, signifier on driver's license, etc.).

Session Programs & Events

The Chicago Park District aims to provide a variety of recreation and leisure programs and events for veterans of all ability levels. Follow the link below to see this session’s current offerings.

VIEW CURRENT PROGRAMS

UPCOMING EVENT: Windy City Winter Sports Clinic
The Chicago Park District is excited to host the second annual Windy City Winter Sports Clinic at McKinley Park on February 15, 2023. The Windy City Winter Sports Clinic is a one-day urban adaptive sports clinic for disabled veterans and wounded, ill, or injured service members. This is an instructional clinic, no previous experience is required to participate. Attendees will have the opportunity to try ice skating, biathlon, curling, snowshoeing, mountain biking, and more. Registration opens December 1.

Valor Games

Valor Games Midwest is a three-day Paralympic Sport competition for disabled veterans and wounded, ill, or injured service members. This is a grassroots/introductory competition and no previous experience is required to participate. Sports offered at this year’s Valor Games Midwest include: indoor rowing, shot put, discus, archery, cycling, biathlon, powerlifting, and table tennis.

Athletes that live in the Midwest Region of the United States are encouraged to apply. These states include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Applications are accepted from those who have served or are currently serving in the US Armed Forces. The time frame in which you served, the location, or the cause of your injury will not preclude your application from being considered. Qualifying disabilities for Valor Games Midwest include traumatic brain injury, amputation, stroke, visual impairment, PTSD, multiple sclerosis (MS), burns, hearing loss, spinal cord injury, shrapnel injury, and other orthopedic impairments.

Valor Games takes place in August.