Gwendolyn Brooks Park
Rate this placeNearby: Kennicott Park Harsh Park
Last Updated: December 5, 2025
Gwendolyn Brooks Park is a public park located in Chicago, Illinois.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park is named after Gwendolyn Brooks, a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who was born and raised in the city.
There are several reasons to visit Gwendolyn Brooks Park. It offers a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city and provides a space for outdoor recreation. The park has a playground for children, basketball courts, and a baseball diamond. It also features a walking path, benches, and a picnic area.
One of the main points of interest in the park is the Gwendolyn Brooks monument, which was dedicated in 2018. The monument features a bronze bust of Brooks and quotes from her poems etched into the surrounding concrete.
In addition to the monument, visitors can also enjoy the park's natural beauty. The park is home to several mature trees, including oak and maple. There is also a small pond that is home to ducks and other wildlife.
The best time of year to visit Gwendolyn Brooks Park is in the summer, when the weather is warm and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is open year-round and can be enjoyed during any season.
Overall, Gwendolyn Brooks Park is a beautiful and peaceful place to visit in the heart of Chicago. Whether you're looking for a place to play with your kids, enjoy a picnic, or simply relax in nature, this park has something for everyone.
Weather Forecast
Park & Land Designation Reference
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References
Kennicott Park
Harsh Park
Honeysuckle Playlot Park
Williams-Davis Park
Kenwood Community Park
Burnham Park Harbor
Montrose Harbor
Wolf Lake
Des Plaines River
Powderhorn Lake