Maggie Daley Park
4.7(8.6K)google
4.5(237)yelp
FamilyKidsOutdoor
Overview
Connected to Millennium Park via the architectural BP Pedestrian Bridge, Maggie Daley Park is a modern wonderland for recreation and imaginative play. The park features a whimsical, sprawling Play Garden inspired by classic fairy tales, climbing walls, and a magnificent quarter-mile ice-skating ribbon that winds beautifully through the landscape during winter. Surrounded by dramatic skyline views, it offers a dynamic, world-class outdoor playground experience enjoyed by kids, local urbanites, and international tourists alike.
Practical Info
Suggested DurationAbout 1.5-3 hours
Best TimeWinter (November to March) is magical for skating on the unique Ice Skating Ribbon, a winding ice path framed by the city skyline. Summer is ideal for families to enjoy the massive Play Garden and mini-golf.
Getting ThereLocated directly east of Millennium Park, connected by the BP Pedestrian Bridge. Take the 'L' to Washington/Wabash station and walk east through Millennium Park for about 8 minutes into the park grounds.
Travel Tips
- The park's famous Ice Skating Ribbon is exceptionally popular in winter. Bringing your own skates drastically lowers the cost; if renting on-site, you must book your session weeks in advance online, as walk-ups are virtually non-existent during weekend peak hours.
- The summer rock climbing wall and bungee trampolines are paid attractions operated on a per-use fee. They enforce strict height and weight limits; check your measurements at the official scales before joining the long ticket lines.
- The park connects to Millennium Park (and the Cloud Gate 'Bean') via the sinuous, stainless-steel BP Pedestrian Bridge. It is highly recommended to pair these two parks into a single morning or afternoon itinerary to eliminate backtracking.
Reviews
Positive
- It boasts one of the finest children's Play Gardens in the nation and an iconic winter Skating Ribbon, delivering an off-the-charts visual impact.
- The park is completely free to enter, and secondary activities like the climbing wall and mini-golf are reasonably priced, offering stellar fun.
- Perfectly linked to Millennium Park via the architectural BP Bridge, its public transit convenience is unbeatable, serving as a signature downtown green axis.
- Dedicated safety patrols and cleaning crews are visible everywhere; signage is multilingual and clear, and accessible features give great peace of mind.
Heads up
- On summer weekends or sunny afternoons, the crowd density gets suffocatingly high, with long lines at hot play areas and zero tranquility.
- Because the play zones are massive and features are rolling and complex, parents can easily lose sight of running kids, requiring intense alertness.
- The winter skate-rental counter queue management can be slow, with waits up to an hour; the ice ribbon can get choppy without timely maintenance.
- Most trees inside are young, lacking expansive mature shade; under the midday summer sun, it gets scorching hot without enough shaded resting spots.