Intro The Rogers Park & West Ridge Issue

History Borders and Boundaries From Indian treaties to the Cabbage Wars to World War II, the forces that shaped Rogers Park and West Ridge. By Bill Savage

Memoir The Savages of Time Sex columnist Dan Savage and his brother Bill on the lost landmarks of their childhood. By Dan Savage and Bill Savage

Memoir The Shovelers of North Mozart The West Ridge way: rest on Saturday, help your neighbor on Sunday. By Adam Langer

Politics MVP or Mope? Alderman Joe Moore, whipping boy for the 49th Ward Ben Joravsky Plus: Where Bloggers Dodge Beers By Mick Dumke

Street Level What to do and where to do it: Architecture, bars, classes, GLBTQ, music, parks and beaches, theater and dance, dining, shopping, art, and volunteering

More Neighborhood Guides Ukrainian Village/East Village South Loop Logan Square Uptown

Parks & Beaches

February 5, 2009

Indian Boundary Park Named after and sitting on a boundary line set up in a treaty between the United States government and the Potawatomi, Indian Boundary Park features a field house (designated a historical landmark by the city in 2005), a small zoo, and an active cultural calendar that includes regular concerts by the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.  2500 W. Lunt, 773-764-0338.

Loyola Park Besides its premier attraction—the beach—Loyola Park’s 21.5 acres encompass facilities for baseball, boxing, and tennis, among other activities.  1230 W. Greenleaf, 773-262-8605.

Pottawattomie Park Pottawattomie Park, named for the Potawatomi Indians, features three baseball diamonds, a full-size football/soccer field, four basketball courts, and two tennis courts; the air-conditioned field house contains a fitness center and a racquetball court. It also offers multiple organized activities for kids, including an afterschool arts, crafts, and sports program, a museums program, and a summer camp.  7340 N. Rogers, 773-262-5835.

Touhy Park A smaller park—just over six acres—with softball fields, tennis courts, two playgrounds, a community garden, and a small field house with early-childhood programming.  7348 N. Paulina, 773-262-6737.

Warren Park At 90 acres, this is the largest park in the Park District’s north region. Facilities include batting cages, a skate park, the Robert A. Black nine-hole golf course, a bike path, racquetball, tennis, and basketball courts, and, in the winter, an ice rink.  6601 N. Western, 773-262-6314.

Willye B. White Park Formerly Gale Park, Willye B. White Park was renamed in 2008 for the Olympic track and field medalist. It boasts the Park District’s newest field house, which sparked controversy last summer when alderman Joe Moore’s proposal to let the Boys & Girls Club program it prompted protests from community members, who ultimately prevailed. The center includes facilities for floor hockey and indoor basketball and offers dance classes for all ages, summer day camp, and preschool programs.  1610 W. Howard, 773-262-5051.

Rogers Park also contains the following “street-end beaches,” acquired by the Park District from the city in 1959: Columbia Beach Park 1040 W. Columbia; Hartigan Beach Park 1031 W. Albion; Howard Beach Park 7519 N. Eastlake; Jarvis Beach & Park 1208 W. Jarvis; Juneway Beach Park 7751 N. Eastlake; North Shore Beach Park 1040 W. North Shore; Rogers Beach Park 7800 N. Rogers; 773-262-8605.

Compiled by Hal Conick

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