Ping Tom Memorial Park
Rate this placeLast Updated: December 5, 2025
Ping Tom Memorial Park is a public park located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois.
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Summary
The park, which covers 17 acres, offers a variety of recreational activities, including basketball, volleyball, and boating. It is a popular destination for picnics, family outings, and community events.
One of the main attractions of Ping Tom Memorial Park is the Chicago Riverwalk, which runs through the park. Visitors can take a scenic stroll along the river or rent a boat to explore the waterway. The park also features a playground, a fitness center, and a fieldhouse that hosts fitness classes and community events.
An interesting fact about Ping Tom Memorial Park is that it was named in honor of Ping Tom, a prominent community leader and businessman who was instrumental in the development of Chinatown. The park was built on land that was once part of a rail yard and was transformed into a green space thanks to the efforts of the community and local government.
The best time of year to visit Ping Tom Memorial Park is during the summer months, when the weather is warm and the park is bustling with activity. However, the park is open year-round and offers a variety of seasonal activities, such as ice-skating in the winter.
Overall, Ping Tom Memorial Park is a vibrant and welcoming community space that offers something for everyone. Whether you're looking to enjoy the great outdoors, connect with the local community, or simply relax and unwind, this park is definitely worth a visit.
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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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