Cornell Square Park in Chicago is an 8.85-acre Chicago Park District park in the New City community area, also known as Back of the Yards. Its outdoor facilities include sports fields and courts, a playground, a spray feature and an outdoor pool, with a fieldhouse for indoor activities.
- Address: 1809 W. 50th St., Chicago, IL 60609
- Park hours: daily, 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
- The fieldhouse is open Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where is Cornell Square Park?
Cornell Square Park is at 1809 W. 50th St. in Chicago’s New City community area, also known as Back of the Yards.
The South Park Commission created Cornell Square in 1904 as part of a neighborhood park system intended to provide recreation and services in congested tenement districts. The system was designed by the Olmsted Brothers and Daniel H. Burnham and Co.
The park takes its name from Paul Cornell, a lawyer and real-estate developer who helped establish Chicago’s South Park Commission and served on its board for 14 years.
The South Park District acquired land for the park in 1904; streets and alleys were vacated for it in 1909. Chicago Portage National Historic Site is another local-history destination covered in this guide to Chicago Portage National Historic Site.
What can you do at Cornell Square Park?
The park’s outdoor facilities include baseball fields, basketball courts, a football or soccer athletic field, an artificial-turf soccer field, a tennis court and a playground. There is also an interactive water-spray feature and an outdoor swimming pool. The park also has a clubroom, a gymnasium-stage facility, an Ezra Cornell portrait and a Paul Cornell bust.
The fieldhouse has two gymnasiums, an auditorium and a kitchen. The pool is 25 yards long, has four lanes, ranges from 2 feet 4 inches to 5 feet deep, and has an ADA pool lift.
Its listed hours are 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, although the park’s facilities list labels the pool “Closed.” Check the official site before you go if swimming is part of your plans.
When are the park and fieldhouse open?
Opening hours
- Monday to Sunday: 6 AM–11 PM
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
After-school programs run during the school year, youth day camp runs for six weeks in summer, and park events include holiday events and Movies in the Park. The playground was renovated in summer 2014 as part of Mayor Emanuel’s Chicago Plays! Program.
How do you get to Cornell Square Park from the Midway area?
From the Midway area, you can drive to Cornell Square Park or get public-transit directions from the Chicago Transit Authority. For broader local transportation planning, getting around Chicago from the Midway area is a natural starting point.
From a hotel in Chicago, Cornell Square Park is about a 16-minute drive or a 75-minute walk. If you need to confirm park details by phone, the Chicago Park District gives the number (312) 747-6097.
The park is about a 16-minute drive or a 75-minute walk from a hotel in Chicago.
FAQs
Is Cornell Square Park in Back of the Yards?
It is in Chicago’s New City community area, also known as Back of the Yards.
Does Cornell Square Park have a swimming pool?
Yes. It has an outdoor pool with four lanes and an ADA pool lift, though the park’s facilities list labels it “Closed.”
Are programs offered at Cornell Square Park?
After-school programs run during the school year, and youth day camp runs for six weeks in summer. The park also hosts holiday events and Movies in the Park.
Where can you get public-transit directions?
The Chicago Park District directs visitors to the Chicago Transit Authority for public-transit directions. The Midway-area transportation guide covers broader local travel planning.