Midway Plaisance Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Midway Plaisance Park is a public park located in the state of Illinois that was created for the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893.
°F
°F
mph
Wind
%
Humidity
Summary
The park is one of the most visited attractions in the state and offers a wide range of activities for visitors of all ages.
One of the main reasons people visit Midway Plaisance Park is to enjoy the outdoors. The park has many areas for walking, jogging, and picnicking. There are also playgrounds for children, sports fields, and tennis courts for those who want to get active. In addition, the park has a beautiful lagoon that is perfect for boating and fishing.
There are many points of interest to see at Midway Plaisance Park. The park is home to the Midway Plaisance Ice Skating Rink, which is open year-round and offers ice skating lessons and public skating sessions. The park also has a historic carousel that was built in 1905 and is one of the few remaining wooden carousels in the world.
Another interesting fact about Midway Plaisance Park is that it was the site of the first Ferris wheel. The Ferris wheel was designed by George Ferris for the World's Columbian Exposition and was a huge success. Today, visitors can ride a modern version of the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier in Chicago.
The best time of year to visit Midway Plaisance Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and the park is in full bloom. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for visitors in all seasons.
Overall, Midway Plaisance Park is a must-see attraction in the state of Illinois. With its beautiful scenery, historic landmarks, and wide range of activities, it's easy to see why so many people visit the park each year.
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
Hansberry Park
Prairie Wolf Playlot Park
Mamie Till-Mobley Park
Arnita Young Boswell Park
Moccasin Ranch Park
Burnham Park Harbor
Wolf Lake
Des Plaines River
Powderhorn Lake
Montrose Harbor