Mary Bartelme Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Mary Bartelme Park is a popular urban park located in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
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Summary
The park spans over 1.4 acres and has a variety of amenities and attractions to offer visitors.
Some great reasons to visit Mary Bartelme Park include its beautiful landscaping, modern playground equipment, and multiple sports courts and fields. The park is also home to a large dog park, making it a great spot for pet owners to bring their furry friends.
One of the most notable points of interest in the park is the unique water feature, which includes a series of fountains and reflecting pools. The park also offers plenty of seating and picnic areas, making it a great spot for families and groups to gather and relax.
Interesting facts about the area include the fact that the park was named after Mary Bartelme, a pioneering lawyer and judge in Chicago who was the first woman to serve as a judge in a court of record in Illinois. The park also features a number of art installations, including a large sculpture titled "Solitude of Self" by artist Jane DeDecker.
The best time of year to visit Mary Bartelme Park is during the warmer months, when visitors can take advantage of the park's many outdoor amenities and enjoy the beautiful landscaping and greenery. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of activities and events throughout the year, making it a great spot to visit no matter the season.
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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.
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