¿ì²¥ÊÓÆµ

Riis (Jacob) Park

Park Details

Main Address

6100 W. Fullerton Ave.
Chicago, IL 60639
United States

  • Tel: (312) 520-8694 | Main
Park Supervisor
Keith Hammerberg
Park Hours
Open
| 6:00 am-11:00 pm

Riis (Jacob) Park

Description

Located in the Belmont/Cragin community, Riis Park spans 57.30 acres and offers a variety of recreational amenities for all ages. The park features a newly renovated fieldhouse equipped with a gymnasium, an assembly hall with a stage, teen center, and multi-purpose rooms.

Outdoors, visitors can enjoy a water park [opening summer 2025] designed for young children, a large swimming pool with a changing area, and a track for running or walking. Sports enthusiasts can watch a soccer match on the artificial turf field or play on one of the park’s 10 tennis courts. Fishing fans can cast a line in the designated casting pool, complete with a pier.

For generations, Riis Park has served as a central gathering space for the community. The fieldhouse anchors the park, providing a wide range of recreational programs and activities.


Youth will enjoy our Park Kids program, soccer, volleyball, and other seasonal sports. Cultural programs include arts & crafts and ceramics. During the summer, children can join our traditional six-week day camp, packed with fun activities.


Adults/Seniors can get creative by joining one of our cultural programs. Our staff will share their knowledge in photography, ceramics, stained glass, among other programs. For those looking for a little pickleball; we got you covered.

The park’s signature playground features custom play equipment, rubberized soft surfacing, play mounds, a passive water runnel, a water bottle/bucket filler, and natural pathways surrounded by trees and shrubs.

When the weather warms up, Riis Park becomes a popular gathering spot for families. Designated picnic areas are available for reservations—contact park staff for more details.

Come out and explore everything Riis Park has to offer!

History

The Northwest Park District acquired property in 1916 to create this park.  During this time the playground movement Riis had helped to inspire had in turn fueled park-building across the nation. The park district designed Riis Park to provide a broad range of recreational amenities for its developing middle class neighborhood. The park remained essentially undeveloped until 1928, however, when the park district installed a ski jump and golf course, and commissioned locally-prominent architect Walter W. Alschlager to design a fieldhouse. In 1934, Riis Park became a part of the ¿ì²¥ÊÓÆµâ€™s portfolio after the 22 park districts were consolidated and the Park District used Works Progress Administration funding to further improve the park. Riis Park developed in two distinct halves separated by a steep glacial ridge, a remnant of the shoreline of Lake Chicago. To the east stood the Georgian-revival fieldhouse, surrounded by various other athletic facilities. Respected landscape architect Alfred Caldwell designed the western portion of the park. Caldwell's plan, fully implemented by 1940, incorporated naturalistic plantings; a stone-edged lagoon; shady, enclosed areas; and a broad, sunny meadow.

Teddy Roosevelt once said that Jacob A. Riis came nearer than anyone to being "the ideal American." Riis (1849-1914), a photojournalist and reformer, drew national attention to the plight of the inner-city poor through his expose, How the Other Half Lives. Riis advocated the creation of small playgrounds to provide "breathing spaces" for densely-populated urban neighborhoods. His 1898 speech at Chicago's Hull House inspired local reformers to petition for city playgrounds.

Additional Information

For directions using public transportation visit .

Contact: Jose Quiles, President

Contact Email: riispac@gmail.com

Meetings: 1st Monday of the month @ 6pm

 

Capital Projects

Facilities at Riis (Jacob) Park

17 facilities

Riis Art Room

Riis Auditorium

Riis Baseball Field

Riis Clubroom

Riis Fieldhouse

Riis Football/Soccer

Riis Football/Soccer

Riis Gymnasiums

Riis Gymnasiums

Riis Gymnasiums

Riis Natural Area

Riis Natural Area

Riis Natural Area

Riis Picnic Groves

Riis Playground

Riis Playground

Riis Playground - Wrightwood

Riis Pool

Riis Pool

Riis Pool

Riis Pool

Riis Running Track

Riis Soccer Fields

Riis Soccer Fields

Riis Teen Center

Riis Tennis Courts

Riis Water Play Area

Programs at Riis (Jacob) Park

Most programs run from Monday, June 16 to Sunday, August 10 Online registration beings In-person registration begins
Partnership Group
Sports - Tennis
18 and up
From June 27, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Friday from 7:30am to 8:30am
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$72.00
Partnership Group
Sports - Tennis
18 and up
From August 8, 2025 to September 12, 2025
Each Friday from 7:30am to 8:30am
$72.00
Instruction
Specialized
At least 6 but less than 18
From June 25, 2025 to August 8, 2025
Each Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 8am to 11am
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$86.00
Camp
General Interest
At least 6 but less than 13
From June 23, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 9am to 3pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$380.00
Camp
General Interest
At least 3 but less than 6
From June 23, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 9am to 12pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$110.00
Camp
Sports
At least 6 but less than 13
From June 23, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 3pm to 6pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$36.00
Camp
Sports
At least 6 but less than 9
From August 4, 2025 to August 22, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 10am to 3pm
$36.00
Camp
General Interest
At least 13 but less than 17
From June 23, 2025 to August 1, 2025
Each Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday from 9am to 3pm
Except the following dates:
Friday, Jul 4, 2025
$136.00
Partnership Group
Sports - Tennis
At least 5 but less than 9
From June 26, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Each Thursday from 3pm to 4pm
$60.00
Partnership Group
Sports - Tennis
At least 9 but less than 13
From June 26, 2025 to July 31, 2025
Each Thursday from 4pm to 5pm
$60.00

Events at Riis (Jacob) Park

4 Events