Humboldt Park

The near west side Chicago neighborhood of Humboldt Park boasts one of Chicago's largest parks; 207 acres with a beach, an outdoor swimming pool, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, playgrounds, and bike paths. The Humboldt Park (1400 N. Sacramento Ave) also has an assembly area, ice skating in winter, 10 picnic areas and a field house with two gyms.

Named for German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt (a statue of whom stands near the park's boathouse), Humboldt Park officially became part of Chicago in 1869, and remains today much as it was then; a working-class neighborhood filled with older frame and bricks houses, flats, courtyard buildings and somewhat newer brick bungalows. Humboldt Park's residents are a fairly balanced blend of many ethnicities, and there is a strong sense of community, with ongoing beautification and improvement projects in the works.