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Oz Park
Rating Details »
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
2021 N. Burling Street
(between Armitage Ave & Dickens Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 742-7898
2021 N. Burling Street
(between Armitage Ave & Dickens Ave)
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 742-7898
- Nearest Transit:
-
Armitage (Purple Express, Brown)
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
19 reviews for Oz Park
I just saw Breakfast at Tiffany's here last night and it was perfect.
What more can I say? I loved it.
Truly a night to remember.
Thank You Oz Park!
My mom stuck me in drama class as a little girl. But they casted me as the tin man. Why couldn't she just put me in chorus instead? Lol.
Ironically, years later, I came to Oz Park in search of the Tin Man statue. Let me tell you this place is like finding Waldo in a candycane factory. We asked 10 people and out of those, only 2 gave congruent directions.
I guess it was a good thing because we incidentally ran into a woman in a 70's outfit and a banjo player who gave us a quick history of Chicago. Lol. The entire surrounding area had a really nostalgic feel about it. It was almost like stepping into a timewarp.
Oz Park is a cute little park with a little playground area for the kids and plenty of walking grounds for strolling with ur dog or picnicking and gardens for smelling the flowers and frolicking (ehehehe).
They not only have a giant Tin Man statue, but statues of the other key characters as well. We saw Dorothy and The Scarecrow.
As a 'friend of Dorothy', I was (oh so) obligated to visit Oz Park. Finally a place where I can sashay about with my limp wrists dangling at my side, in tempo with the film's soundtrack, all while blending in with others. Blend in completely? Nah, there was going to be an extemporaneous film parody or song, in which the limelight would center around myself and what would be without a doubt a flawless pastiche -- all thanks to moi.
My experience was kind of like that... but much less gay and camp.
There was certainly an audience when I went -- friends of dorothy, friends of friends, walkers, bikers, and I swear I saw a child on a leash. Apparently the memo did get out I had planned to stroll through that day! The park is surrounded by the beautiful neighborhood and its lovely homes and embellished shops, sure to catch ones eye and maybe paycheck.
What makes the park unique? It's theme (and moniker), duh-- the Wizard of Oz! Large statues of Dorothy and crew are spread around, likely with a circular crowd of park-goers getting their photos taken with each character. There's open space of grass to do whatever, baseball fields nearby, and even a really nifty jungle gym crawling with kids! Seeing it was nostalgic of my childhood. I didn't 'play' on it though -- not going to happen in my ruby slippers, too risky.
It's an enchanting park, for sure. Perfect for a quick stroll through and ,dare I say, a splendid picnic? If you don't enjoy it, you're likely a 'witch' or
a similar sounding word..
I live right on the Park and it's an amazing place to be a dog owner. There is so much room for my dog to run and she loves it because there are so many other dogs around,
The other thing I love about it is that they show old movies in the summer time that a lot of the people that live around the park come to enjoy. And in the winter there is a big enough hill to sled down which is filled to the maximum on the weekends.
Great place to bring a dog, jog around the park, play a game of tennis, or even sled in the winter!
My mom 1st took me here as a 8 year old child, and i was completely amazed by BIG, MYSTERIOUS, INCREDIBLE wooden jungle gym...I had soooo much fun playing on it!
Now that im 21 and i came back here on my own with my friend I STILL LOVE IT lol seriously there is no other playground park around like this one!! oooh and the trees-soo pretty
fun dog watching spot too hehe
ps we came after dark
It was a warm Indian Summer evening, and the park's beauty was enhanced by colorful falling leaves as I strolled peacefully along various paths. Without this changing autumn foliage, Oz Park seems much less remarkable.
Every type of dog imaginable had come out to enjoy the fading warmth. The dogs were only outnumbered by their owners, both of which had gathered on a large, open field where the dogs playfully darted around their human obstacles. I stood watching, wishing I had a dog so I too had an excuse to join in the fun.
As the center of the park best serves athletes and canines, I found the outskirts much more rewarding. I appreciated that each Wizard of Oz statue differed stylistically, each reflecting its immediate surroundings. I also found the small flower garden to be a lovely spot to relax, reflect, and enjoy a little piece of nature in this often overwhelming city.
I have such fond memories of Oz Park. Running around the track for gym class. Sitting on the benches in the garden eating lunch. Playing baseball. Cutting class on a gorgeous spring day to bask in the sun and smoke some... OK, Oz Park is not only for the Lincoln Park High School stoners to enjoy. There's something for everyone.
Although, it's probably not the quietest place to go and relax when the weather is divine during the school year. It's bombarded with students. On the other hand, the children's park is completely fenced off and protected from LPHS kids by many yuppie mothers and nannies.
The Scarecrow was finished when I was in high school. The Tin Man has been there forever. Maybe when the Lincoln Park Association receives more donations, they'll be able to construct Dorothy, the Cowardly Lion, Glinda, the Wicked Witch and Toto too.
Even though I don't think it's technically a part of Oz Park, right down the Orchard Street courtyard is LPHS's amphitheater. It's an interesting spot to check out. Bring some costumes and act out your own Greek tragedy.
This is one of my favorite parks to take kids (especially little ones).Let me just focus on the playground area. Kids will not get bored here (although they might not want to leave).
It has the really cool, wooden castle maze structure- filled with windows to look through, things to climb, bridges to run across.Most kids of all ages love this.They like to play hide and seek or chasing one another through it. Older kids also like the plastic tire swing.
The playground also has equipment for the littlest ones who can barely walk, a separate slide, rocking animals and a wooden train to climb on.It's fenced and gated in so it's hard for little ones to just run out.
Its great too that they have plenty of places for the adults to sit, basically in the center so you have a view of everything.
Also a major plus is that the playground is mostly in the shade even on the sunniest of days- so it helps to keep things a bit cooler.
The place feels safe. When I've been there, haven't noticed inappropriate things going on, or teens hanging out (no offense to teens- there are other spaces better suited for them) or climbing the same spaces as the little ones (which can, even if nothing happens, put you on the edge of your seat).
All and all this playground is a great place to take your little ones or grade-school age kids.
This park has a beautiful garden, a fun playground for any children, tennis courts, baseball/softball fields, a huge lawn for chilling, & a basketball court. It's a fun, unpretentious place to hang out if you're in the neighborhood.
The other day, we sunbathed & flew a kite.
It was a good day.
One of my favorite parks. Of course my 3 and 4.5 year old boys love "Dorothy Playground" that sports a fantastic wooden playground. They love to see all the "doggies" as we walk around, tennis courts, baseball diamond, people having picnics, and a huge fenced off garden area just for laying out and being quiet. Plenty of benches on the curvy sidewalks, picnic tables, and basketball courts over in the northwest corner.
A+
=]
Where the hell are the flying monkey statues?
i went here tonight with the lovely and talented kristina b to see the wizard of oz for free. it was really nice and clean and there were some homeless men sitting on the bench enjoying the movie too. i didn't get the full experience but it was a nice quiet park tucked away from busy streets and being in LP i assume well kept and pretty during the day too. and it was really cool because i could see a few *gasp*stars in the sky and you can see the top of the hancock poking over the trees as a reminder that you are in fact in chicago.
i'd love to come here during the day and toss a football around.
I remember when oz park was built when I was a little kid - I took my rollerskates and never returned home. I made lots of friends at the playground, which has since been totally replaced with much nicer equipment. From age 14-18, I went to Lincoln Park High School, just south of the park by that big hill, and ditched a few classes. I think in college I came back and did some illegal things there, but my memory's hazy. Today we love to walk through it with our kids, they like the tinman statue and yellow brick road - some bricks were dedicated (several by people I know) and the money benefitted the park. I try not to talk about my childhood too much when we're there, but thanks for listening today.
I love this park. On a nice summer day its so relaxing to sunbathe out here or read. There's tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts nearby and an awesome playground for kids.. even I have to admit I've gone on the seasaw multiple times! And of course, the tin man statue is a classic photo op
A very nice park, just don't get overly excited about the Wizard of Oz aspect. It's just a few statues scattered about.
A park is a park - grass is grass - short skirts and doggies running around occur at all parks - which is all good. But let's deal with the real problem with the park - and that is the tennis court reservation situation. The fact that there are only 4 courts (many with cracks and no center nets) just won't cut it for players as great as me. How can I show off my 130 mph serve when the nets are 2 inches too high?
Most sucky tennis players can't last more than an hour at OZ Park (or on any tennis court) so the whole odd-even hour racquet saving process can confuse even the greatest (i.e: me) players in the city. For example, suppose a player has the courts from 4 to 5 PM and you have the courts from 5 to 6 PM. The players from 4 to 5 get off at 4:40 PM and surrender their court to you (for the remaining 20 minutes). So you go on the court at 4:40 and have the court now until 6 PM, right.?
WOOOAHHH. Wait a minute, Here comes a yuppie lincoln parker with his slutty trixie whore of a girlfriend claiming he has the courts next because he had his racquet up too - you know the type. the guy who played highschool tennis and tries to instruct his bitch how to hit a proper forehand - yelling out "low to high" when in reality he sucks worse than she does? sorry, I digress. (Not realizing he has the NEXT hour - the even hour - from 6 to 7. Confused yet? I am sure you are....The good thing, though, is that I will play with my good friend Sy, who I met at OZ Park years ago - solid groundies, mental toughness, and great at picking up a large bar bill during "no game Sunday" at McGee's.
So get to the park three hours early and you will get a court - you will see a few fights, a few tennis pros teaching students and hitting balls on your court, and at least a dog/dog attack during your stay.
Great park with a nice garden, plenty of green space, and a shaded playground. My family came here for a barbeque recently. Only complaint is there's no field house, so there's no where to wash your hands. Plus, there was no TP in the port o potty and it stank pretty bad.
When I first drove by Oz Park and saw the Tin Man, I assumed they were going to have all the characters from the Wizard of Oz. I dragged my fiance there with me yesterday and was so disappointed to see that they only had the Tin Man and the Scarecrow. They could have at least made a Dorothy and Toto! Regardless, the park was really nice and clean and it seems like a great place for a picnic. I just don't understand why they call it Oz Park!?
My 16 month old golden retriever loves going to Oz Park to play. In the morning and evenings there are usually several other dogs there to play with. Technically dogs are not allowed off leash there, but everyone does it and I've never had a problem. It seems that the people that let their dogs off leash here have more control of their dogs than a lot of the people that bring their dogs to Wiggly Field. The only real unavoidable problem with Oz Park are the puddles after it rains. I have seen many a dog make a bee-line for the big puddle on the baseball diamond. There is also a seemingly permanent mudspot across from the water fountain (there is a water fountain for dogs too!), so beware.
