Chicago Park District

The Great Depression spurred the consolidation of the City of Chicago’s 22 independent park districts into a unified Chicago Park District in 1934. Since then, the Chicago Park District has continued its tradition of innovative programs and ideas, and beautifully designed landscapes and facilities. The Chicago Park District is one of the largest municipal park managers in the nation, owning more than 8,800 acres of green space and offering a cornucopia of amenities and facilities for all ages and interests, such as parks, playgrounds, lakefront beaches, pools, cultural centers, fitness centers, golf courses, museums and harbors to name a few.

The mission of the Chicago Park District is to:
• Enhance the quality of life in Chicago by becoming the leading provider of recreation and leisure opportunities
• Provide safe, inviting and beautifully maintained parks and facilities
• Create a customer-focused and responsive park system that prioritizes the needs of children and families

While the mission is our purpose, our Core Values are our guiding principles. They include:
• Children First: Our most important task is to bring children and families into our parks and give them great reasons to stay and play for a lifetime.
• Best Deal in Town: We prioritize quality in our programs and accountability in our fiscal management to provide excellent and affordable recreation that invites everyone to come out and play.
• Built To Last: We use our capital to renew our aging infrastructure and leverage partnerships that produce new parks and facilities that are forward-thinking and world class.
• Extra Effort: We support innovation and welcome new ideas. We believe that professionalism, communication, technology, and team work serve as the foundation for great customer service and a productive workplace.