The Chicago Park District (CPD) is the oldest and largest park district in the U.S. The city owns and operates some 8,100 acres of green space amongst the skyscrapers, streets, and commerce of an urban environment. The celebrated CPD is responsible for:
- 570 parks (7,300 acres of parkland)
- 26 miles of lakefront
- 18 miles of lakefront bike path
- 2 world-class conservatories (Lincoln Park Conservatory and Garfield Park Conservatory)
The beauty of Chicago lies not only in its magnificent architecture, but in the preserved green space including:
And with Chicago's amazing deep dish pizza and famous Italian sausage around every turn, it helps to have topnotch athletic facilities including:
- 51 outdoor pools
- 23 swimming beaches
- Hundreds of basketball courts and baseball diamonds
- Archery ranges, ice ranks, skate parks, and more
Chicago's park district partners with its rich neighborhoods for:
- Movies in the Parks a program that presents totally free movie showings in over 100 locations throughout the city. 2012's lineup includes classics like E.T. and The Wizard of Oz and recent blockbusters like Moneyball and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
- The CPD celebrates 60 years of Theater on the Lake the city's summer celebration of drama. 2012's lineup includes eight lively productions including Moby Dick and Hit the Wall.
- Concerts in the Parks is a program that offers everything from free classical music to indie rock in the Loop. Larger events include the annual Jazz Fest and the Grant Park Music Festival.
No tour of Chicago's green spaces would be complete without a walk through the city's famed Grant Park. "Chicago's front yard" is over 300 acres of biking paths, beautiful gardens, public arts and museums. The space is inspiring, easily accessible, and open to the public. Visitors will be shocked by Buckingham Fountain, one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks.
Millennium Park wasn't opened until 2004, but has quickly become one of the city's most popular attractions. With remarkable, larger-than-life public art and the world-class Pritzker Pavilion concert venue, Millennium Park is a must visit for anyone exploring Chicago.
