Walking tour

Family parks loop — Mary Bartelme to Skinner

A short loop connecting the three West Loop parks with the most family programming. Mary Bartelme is the marquee stop for younger kids (the stainless-steel mist arches and enclosed playground), Skinner Park has the organized-sports fields for older kids, and Heritage Green sits quietly between them. Together, an hour's walk with stops.

For: Parents with kids — works for ages 2 through 10.
Length: about 20 minutes of walking between stops — allow more if you linger
Start: Mary Bartelme Park (115 S Sangamon Street). Closest L: Morgan, then walk south five blocks.

Stops

1. 1 Mary Bartelme Park

   The standout enclosed playground with the stainless-steel mist arches at the entrance — the recognizable shot from West Loop real-estate marketing. Plan 20-30 minutes if your kids are under 8.

   115 S. SANGAMON ST

2. ↓ 7-minute walk

   2 Heritage Green Park

   Quiet pocket park between Bartelme and Skinner. Less play equipment, but a calm midway rest with benches and shade.

   610-30 W ADAMS ST

3. ↓ 13-minute walk

   3 Skinner Park

   Open fields, basketball courts, and organized sports for older kids. The Skinner West Elementary School next door uses the park as recess space.

   1331 W MONROE ST

Frequently asked questions

Are there public restrooms on the route?

Mary Bartelme and Skinner both have park fieldhouse restrooms; check seasonal hours. The /west-loop/restrooms page lists all West Loop restroom options.

What if it's winter or raining?

See /itineraries/rainy-day for indoor alternatives. Mary Bartelme has covered playground sections but the rest of the route is exposed.

Sources

• Chicago Park District

See all walking tours or the themed itineraries hub for stop-by-stop visit sequences. Heritage context lives at /west-loop/heritage.