Rules
- Swim only when lifeguards are on duty.
- Follow lifeguards’ instructions.
- Only Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) are permitted. Person-children wearing PFDs should have adult present.
- No smoking.
- No alcohol.
- No dogs on the beach.
- Do not feed birds or wildlife.
- Dispose of trash and recycling in appropriate containers.
- Grill in designated areas only and dispose of coals in red barrels.
- Keep accessible beach walks clear. No bicycling, skateboarding or rollerblading is permitted in these areas.
- No surfing or kiteboarding. Kiteboarding is ONLY permitted at Montrose Beach.
Description
Located behind the park fieldhouse this man-made beach provides swimming and sand fun for the Humboldt Park community and beyond. Humboldt Park Beach is Chicago’s only inland beach, and not a naturally occurring body of water, which requires added attention to help keep it clean and accessible. The Park District encourages visitors to help do their part by:
- Disposing of trash in the receptacles provided,
- Refraining from feeding the birds,
- Using waterproof swim pants on small children, and
- Keeping dogs out of the water and away from the beach.
No distance swimming is available at Humboldt Park. Distance swimming is available at many Lake Michigan beaches.
For questions regarding Chicago beaches, email beaches3@chicagoparkdistrict.com.
History
Humboldt Park was named for Alexander Von Humboldt, a German naturalist and geographer famed for his five-volume work Cosmos: Draft of a Physical Description of the World. His single visit to the United States did not include Chicago. The creation of Humboldt and several other Westside parks provided beauty, linked together via Chicago's historic boulevard system.
With the support of the community, Puerto Rican leaders in Chicago leased the historic Humboldt Park stables near Paseo Boricua that house the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture. It is the only museum in the nation that is completely dedicated to the history of Puerto Rican culture.