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Davis (Dr. Nathan) Square Park

Park Details

Main Address

4430 S. Marshfield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60609
United States

  • Tel: (312) 747-6107 | Main
Park Supervisor
Francisco Rodriguez
Park Hours
Open
| 6:00 am-11:00 pm

Davis (Dr. Nathan) Square Park

Description

Located in the New City community area, often referred to as “Back of the Yards," Davis Square Park totals 8.88 acres.  

The park's fieldhouse holds two gymnasiums, an auditorium, a kitchen, a fitness center and a boxing center. Outside, the park offers baseball fields, basketball courts, an athletic field for football or soccer, an artificial turf field, an outdoor swimming pool, a horseshoe area and a playground with an interactive water spray feature. The playground was renovated in Summer 2014 as part of Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Plays! Program, and the baseball fields were also renovated in 2014 as part of the Cubs Charities Diamond Project. 

Park-goers enjoy coming to Davis Square park for baseball, basketball and seasonal sports at the facility. 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, Davis Square Park hosts fun special events throughout the year for the whole family, such as holiday parties and Movies in the Park.

History

Davis Square was one of ten innovative parks, which opened in 1905 to provide social services as well as breathing spaces to Chicago's congested tenement districts.  The South Park Commissioners had designs for this park created in 1904, the same year the park land was acquired. 

Conceived by South Park Commission Superintendent J. Frank Foster, these innovative parks included a new type of building, the fieldhouse, inspired by Chicago's renowned settlement houses. The fieldhouses included classrooms, club and assembly rooms, the earliest branches of the Chicago Public Library, cafeterias, gymnasiums, and locker and public bathing facilities.

Renowned architects D.H. Burnham and Co. designed the buildings and Olmsted Brothers landscape architects laid out the whole system of new parks. In addition to Davis Square, the first ten parks included Mark White, Russell, Armour, and Cornell Squares, and Ogden, Sherman, Palmer, Bessemer, and Hamilton Parks.

Included in Davis Square's classically-designed fieldhouse is a notable mural entitled Constructive Recreation: the Vital Force in Character Building. Painted by William Edouard Scott, an African-American muralist whose work received critical acclaim, it was originally displayed in another south side park.

Davis Square pays tribute to Dr. Nathan Smith Davis (1817- 1904), one of the most significant figures in Chicago's medical history. Dr. Davis served as the chairman of physiology and general pathology for Rush Medical College. He went on to Lind University, forerunner to the medical department of Northwestern University. He was a founder of Mercy Hospital, the Chicago Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. Dr. Davis was also a prolific writer of medical texts and for many years served as editor of the Northwestern Medical Journal.  Davis Square, along with the other South Park Commission parks became a part of the 첥Ƶ’s portfolio in in 1934 when Chicago’s 22 park districts were consolidated into the 첥Ƶ. 

Additional Information

For directions using public transportation visit .

Facilities at Davis (Dr. Nathan) Square Park

14 facilities

Constructive Recreation:The Vital Force in Character Building | Artwork

Davis Square Baseball Fields

Davis Square Basketball Courts - Outdoor

Davis Square Boxing Gym

Davis Square Clubrooms

Davis Square Fieldhouse

Davis Square Fitness Center

Davis Square Football/Soccer Field

Davis Square Gymnasium

Davis Square Park Pool

Davis Square Park Untitled Mural | Artwork

Davis Square Playground

Davis Square Soccer/Football Field - Artificial Turf

Davis Square Water Spray Feature

Programs at Davis (Dr. Nathan) Square Park

Most programs run from Tuesday, September 02 to Sunday, December 07 Online registration beings In-person registration begins
Instruction
Fun & Games
At least 6 but less than 13
From September 4, 2025 to December 4, 2025
Each Thursday from 5pm to 6pm
Except the following dates:
Thursday, Nov 27, 2025
$0.00
Open
Fun & Games
6 and up
From September 4, 2025 to December 4, 2025
Each Thursday from 6pm to 7pm
Except the following dates:
Thursday, Nov 27, 2025
$0.00
Open
Fun & Games
6 and up
From September 6, 2025 to November 29, 2025
Each Saturday from 12:30pm to 2:30pm
$0.00
Instruction
After School
At least 6 but less than 13
From August 18, 2025 to December 19, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 3pm to 6pm
Except the following dates:
Monday, Sep 1, 2025
Thursday, Nov 27, 2025
$10.00
Activity Package
After School
At least 6 but less than 13
From August 18, 2025 to June 5, 2026
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 3pm to 6pm
$30.00
Instruction
Sports - Seasonal Sports
At least 6 but less than 13
From September 8, 2025 to December 1, 2025
Each Monday from 4pm to 5pm
$0.00
Open
Clubs
60 and up
From September 3, 2025 to December 3, 2025
Each Monday,Wednesday from 11:30am to 1:30pm
$0.00
Instruction
Sports - Soccer
6 and up
From September 6, 2025 to December 6, 2025
Each Saturday from 9:30am to 10:30am
$0.00
Instruction
Sports - Soccer
At least 6 but less than 13
From September 4, 2025 to December 4, 2025
Each Thursday from 4pm to 5pm
Except the following dates:
Thursday, Nov 27, 2025
$0.00
Instruction
Sports - Soccer
At least 3 but less than 6
From September 5, 2025 to December 5, 2025
Each Friday from 1pm to 1:45pm
$0.00

Most programs run from Monday, March 31 to Thursday, June 05 Online registration beings In-person registration begins

Most programs run from Monday, March 30 to Sunday, June 07 Online registration beings In-person registration begins

Most programs run from Monday, January 05 to Sunday, March 08 Online registration beings In-person registration begins