From Neglected Lot to Community Hub: McKinley Park's DIY Skate Park Gets a Spotlight Moment

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/Mckinley Park · August 18, 2026

A scrappy, volunteer-run community space tucked into a forgotten city lot is getting the recognition it deserves — and the story behind it is pure McKinley Park. Borderless Magazine just published a feature on Marshfield Courts, a DIY skate park and community gathering spot at 3630 S. Iron St. that artist, curator, and skateboarder Alejandro Quiroz has helped run and maintain for the past five years.

Quiróz, born and raised on Chicago's South Side, guided the magazine through his personal neighborhood guide for McKinley Park — from restaurant favorites to the cultural spaces that define the community's spirit. Marshfield Courts stands out as the crown jewel. The volunteer-maintained space includes a rare amenity for Chicago's skate scene: shade. It also features a free little library, a community garden area, and a hands-on culture of neighbors pitching in — including ongoing conversations about skate ramp improvements happening right now.

It's exactly the kind of grassroots, neighbor-built infrastructure that makes McKinley Park unlike anywhere else in Chicago. No city contract, no ribbon-cutting ceremony — just community members turning a neglected lot into something alive and loved. Head over to 3630 S. Iron St. to check it out for yourself, and keep following mckinleypark.news to stay connected to the people and places shaping this neighborhood from the ground up.

Sources:
1. https://borderlessmag.org/2026/08/13/mckinley-park-alejandro-quiroz-chicago-south-side-neighborhood-guide/