Oz Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Oz Park is a public park located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.


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Summary

The park is named after the popular children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, written by L. Frank Baum, who lived in the area.

There are several good reasons to visit Oz Park, including its beautiful gardens, open green spaces, and family-friendly atmosphere. The park also features several unique points of interest, such as a bronze statue of Dorothy and Toto, a playground with a Wizard of Oz theme, and a large outdoor chess set.

Interesting facts about the park include its connection to the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, as well as its history as a former landfill site that was transformed into a beautiful public space. The park is also home to a variety of wildlife, including birds, squirrels, and rabbits.

The best time of year to visit Oz Park is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is mild and the gardens are in full bloom. Visitors can enjoy picnics, stroll through the gardens, and take in the many attractions that the park has to offer. However, the park is open year-round, and visitors can still enjoy its beauty during the fall and winter months.

Overall, Oz Park is a must-see destination for visitors to the Chicago area, offering a unique and enchanting experience for visitors of all ages.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
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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