Summer Starts Now: McKinley Park's Pool, Courts & River Trail Dreams Are Ready for the Season

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Mckinley Park · June 7, 2026

McKinley Park neighbors, it's officially time to dust off your swim gear and hiking shoes — summer programming at William McKinley Park is kicking into high gear, and the neighborhood's most ambitious green space vision is gaining momentum.

Starting June 15, the Chicago Park District is launching a fresh slate of summer programming at the McKinley Park Field House, 2210 W. Pershing Rd., including badminton sessions running Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays through August 22. The beloved six-week summer day camp for youth also fires up June 22, running weekday mornings through August 21 — a Southwest Side staple that gives kids a safe, active, and fun-filled summer right in their own backyard. The park's swimming pool will be open for the season as well, offering the full 71.75-acre park experience that has made McKinley Park a community anchor for generations. Note to neighbors: the water playground is undergoing a redesign and will remain closed this season, but the rebuild promises exciting upgrades ahead.

Meanwhile, the McKinley Park Development Council's South Branch Connectivity Project — a sweeping collaboration with over 600 neighbors — is continuing to take shape. The ambitious plan envisions a connected walking and biking path along the South Branch of the Chicago River from Western Avenue all the way to Ping Tom Park in Chinatown, linking McKinley Park to six culturally distinct neighborhoods. It's the kind of transformative infrastructure that turns a great neighborhood into a truly connected city. Head to mckinleypark.news to track both stories all summer long.

Sources:
1. https://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/mckinley-william-park
2. https://www.mpdcchicago.org/