Located in the East Garfield Park Community Area, Altgeld Park totals 4.77 acres and features a fieldhouse, two gymnasiums, a fitness center, meeting rooms and a kitchen.
Outside, the park offers a swimming pool and and a multi-purpose artificial turf athletic field for football, baseball, soccer and more. The park also includes a small playground that was renovated in Fall 2013 as part of the Chicago Plays! playground initiative. Many of these spaces are available for rental, including the ball fields and meeting rooms.
Park patrons visit Altgeld Park to play football, baseball or soccer, and children enjoy the playground. After school programs are offered throughout the school year, and in the summer youth attend the Park District’s popular six-week day camp. In addition to programs, the park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the whole family, such as gymnastics showcases, egg hunts, Movies in the Park and other Night Out in the Parks events.
History
Established in 1873 as Congress Park, the land for this park was originally owned by local real estate developers Frank W. and James L. Campbell and donated to the City. The City conveyed this park to the West Park Commissioners in 1915. The West Park Commissioners expanded the park by acquiring an additional four acres in 1916. The following year the expanded park was named in honor of John P. Altgeld (1847-1902), Illinois' governor from 1893 to 1897, and an early proponent of neighborhood playgrounds. The controversial Altgeld, a strong supporter of labor, is best known for pardoning several of the Haymarket conspirators. Pursuant to the Chicago Park District Act of 1934, this park became part of the Chicago Park District inventory.
For directions using public transportation visit www.transitchicago.com.