Entrance Portage Park Chicago Illinois 60610
Our park kids are so creative!
Portage Park
Dog Friendly Area
Outdoor soccer at Portage
View of outdoor pool at Portage
Playground
Baseball Field
Baseball Field
Nature Area
Nature Area
Location:

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641

Supervisor: Doug Borders
Phone Numbers: Main (773) 685-7235

 

Hours

Park Hours
Day 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
Day Time slot Comment
Sunday Closed
Monday 8:00 am-9:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am-9:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am-9:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am-9:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am-9:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am-4:45 pm

Description

Portage Park is located in the Portage Park community.  Portage Park warmly welcomes patrons with a decorative gateway entrance at the corner of Irving Park Road and Central Avenue and an expanse of lush landscaping. Many Chicago residents choose Portage Park for their wedding ceremonies and special outdoor occasions because of its natural, scenic beauty. The 38.18-acre park is much more than a pretty picture—it’s the site for hundreds of valuable sports, early childhood recreation and cultural programs, as well as fantastic family special events.

Portage Park offers something for every kind of play—six tennis courts, a new soft-surface ADA accessible playground, a slab for in-line skating, a new dog friends area, a bike path, a nature walk, five baseball fields, two combination football/soccer fields and two fieldhouses, one housing a gymnasium and the other a cultural arts building.

In the heat of summer, Portage Park is the place to keep cool. Its Olympic-size pool features a large deck for sunning, misting sprays, an interactive water play area with slide and diving boards. The park also contains a smaller heated pool.

For youth, programming includes an exemplary after-school program, woodcraft, recreational tumbling and gymnastics, floor and roller hockey, music, and a wide range of sports each season. Adults can get involved with a walking or senior club, stay fit with an aerobics or conditioning class, or explore their creative side with lessons in piano, concert band, or woodworking.

The park features a boxing center where boxing programs are offered for ages 8 and older. The Chicago Park District’s boxing program has produced a number of professionals including Olympians Michael Bennett, David Diaz, Nate Jones and Leroy Murphy and former champion Montell Griffin. The Chicago Park District operates 20 citywide boxing centers.

In 2003, a 6,500-square-foot senior center was created in coordination with the City of Chicago Department of Aging.

In 2011 a 3,000 square-foot dog friendly area was developed at the north west corner of the park.

History

Portage Park was acquired in 1913 by the Old Portage Park District, an independent park board formed by local citizens to enhance property values and improve their northwest side neighborhood. The name of the new park district, and that of its first and largest park, makes reference to several nearby routes used by Native Americans and fur traders to portage their canoes between the Des Plaines and Chicago Rivers. The American Park Builders Company prepared the original plan for Portage Park and completed initial construction between 1913 and 1917. The park design included a naturalistic swimming lagoon, which opened to the public in July 1916. By the 1920s, the new park was thriving. Noted architect Clarence Hatzfeld designed a handsome prairie-style fieldhouse in 1922, followed by an attractive brick gymnasium in 1928. Portage Park quickly became the center of the community, providing athletics and team sports, cultural and club activities, festivities and special events. In 1934, the park became part of the Chicago Park District’s portfolio when the City's 22 independent park commissions were consolidated into the Chicago Park District, and the new agency soon secured federal funds through the Works Progress Administration. WPA improvements at Portage Park included additional plantings, whimsical stonework fountains and gateways, and a comfort station. WPA workers also removed the original swimming lagoon and constructed a kidney-shaped concrete pool. In 1959, the Park District replaced the concrete pool with an Olympic-sized pool in preparation for hosting the Pan American Games. In 1972, Portage Park hosted the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, where Gold Medalist Mark Spitz set new world's records. In 1998, the swimming pools and plaza area were rehabilitated and an interactive water play area was created for children. The 1922 fieldhouse is now being used as a cultural center, offering art crafts, drama, music, and senior citizens programs.

Advisory Council

Contact: Julie Egeland,   President
Meeting Details:

4th Monday of odd numbered months, 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Please contact the Portage Park PAC for meeting details. 

Parking/Directions

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

Map & Facilities

Portage Woodcraft Room

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

The Nature of the Place | Artwork

4100 N Long Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Three Dogs in the Park | Artwork

4100 N Long Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:

Canoes | Artwork

4100 N Long Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Hive | Artwork

4100 N Long Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:

Portage Baseball Field

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Nature Garden

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:

Portage Boxing Gym

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Clubrooms

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Dog Friendly Area

4100 N. Long
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Fieldhouse

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Football/Soccer Fields

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Gymnasium

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Water Play Area

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Pool - Indoor

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:
(773) 685-7189

Portage Pool - Outdoor

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:
(773) 685-4987

Portage Playground

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Roller Hockey Rink

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Tennis Courts

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Portage Park Outdoor Pool
Portage Pool - Outdoor

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:
(773) 685-4987
Show on Map
Canoes
Canoes | Artwork

4100 N Long Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
default image
Portage Playground

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

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default image
Portage Baseball Field

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
default image
Portage Roller Hockey Rink

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
Portage Boxing Gym
Portage Boxing Gym

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
default image
Portage Tennis Courts

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
default image
Portage Clubrooms

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
Portage Woodcraft Room
Portage Woodcraft Room

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
default image
Portage Dog Friendly Area

4100 N. Long
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
The Nature of the Place
The Nature of the Place | Artwork

4100 N Long Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
default image
Portage Fieldhouse

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
Dogs in relief sculpted into the base of a tree shaft.
Three Dogs in the Park | Artwork

4100 N Long Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:
Show on Map
default image
Portage Football/Soccer Fields

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
Woven branches forming a sort of nest affixed to the side of a tree shaft.
Hive | Artwork

4100 N Long Ave
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:
Show on Map
default image
Portage Gymnasium

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
Portage Natural Area
Portage Nature Garden

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:
Show on Map
default image
Portage Water Play Area

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

Show on Map
Portage Park Indoor Pool
Portage Pool - Indoor

4100 N. Long Ave.
Chicago, IL 60641
United States

:
(773) 685-7189
Show on Map