Top Rated Parks to Visit in Brookfield

"Maggie Daley Park is a 20-acre public park located in The Loop community and was named after the city’s former first lady who passed away from cancer in 2011. It is an interactive park that features children’s play areas, rock climbing, a Skating Ribbon, mini golf, tennis court, field house, picnic areas, and a formal garden. The Maggie Daley field house hosts Chicago Park District programming such as their Summer Day Camp."

"Families love Maggie Daley Park's fanciful, free playgrounds in all their enchanted-forest and pirate-themed glory. There’s also a rock-climbing wall, an 18-hole mini-golf course, a winding, in-line skating track called the Skating Ribbon (used for ice-skating in winter) and tennis courts; these features have various fees. Multiple picnic tables make the park an excellent spot to relax."

"On the other side of the bridge sits Maggie Daley Park, a spectacular green space with massive rock climbing walls, mini golf, picnic groves, and an amazing play garden for children. STOP 3: THESE BUILDINGS TAKE UP WHOLE BLOCKS"

"There is a mini-zoo with farm animals including chickens, goats and llamas in this park on the city's north side. While it also includes a playground, unlike other parks, this one is a big wooden castle with slides, bridges and tunnels so kids of varying ages can really enjoy running around. Flanked by large apartment buildings which may give off a cool feel to the space, the pond with geese and ducks on the grounds and large willow trees providing shade is a beautiful, peaceful respite that transports you from the busy city."

"This park is smaller than the others so far on this list; it occupies a square block in a quiet, residential section of the West Rogers Park neighborhood. But if you visit Indian Boundary Park, you might find some surprises – most notably that Lincoln Park isn’t the only city park with a zoo. Bounded by Estes Avenue on the north, Lunt Avenue on the south and Rockwell Street on the west, Indian Boundary Park includes a small lagoon filled with ducks, a children’s spray pool, and a sandbox."

"West Loop’s Union Park, located on 13.46 acres in the Near West community area, is the site for two of the city’s biggest music festivals: Pitchfork and North Coast Music Festival. The park has several large fields, often used for various outdoor sports. The history of Union Park is also quite remarkable—it’s the site of several political protests and demonstrations since the early 1900s, most notably the Great American Boycott and the 2006 Immigration Reform protests."

"Union Park is a 13.46-acres park created in 1853 and became well known between the 1920s and 50s for cultural and social events. Today, the park features a field house with a theater room with stage, and a building with a gym, fitness center, and locker rooms. Outside facilities include tennis courts, swimming pool, playgrounds, an athletic field, and more."

"Plant Based Junkie takes your favorite burgers and other fast food and adds delicious plants to the mix. The "Chicken" sandwich comes in mild or spicy and their vegan cupcakes are the talk of the town!"

"Ground Control is a comforting, casual neighborhood spot that just so happens to serve vegan and vegetarian food. The no-frills space is the perfect spot to kick back and indulge in their elevated pub-grub offerings (minus the meat). Start your meal with tofu buffalo wings and a vegan Caesar-ish salad, before moving on to roasted sweet potato tacos, beet burger, Asian barbecue seitan, or the blackened tofu po boy."

"The best restaurants in Chicago also include some of the best signage in Chicago, and Ground Control is chief among them. A fun carrot-rocket ship greets you on the sign outside, happily combining the space-with-plants theme and fun diner fare. Enjoy sandwiches, burgers, BBQ, Asian and Mexican selections that will make you wonder how vegan food has gotten so good!"

"Looking for an eclectic and environmentally conscious brunch spot?. Look no further than Ground Control!. Saturdays and Sundays, their doors open at 11 a.m."

"Exit Millennium Park via the BP Bridge, a 925-foot-long winding bridge that provides incomparable views of the Chicago skyline, Grant Park and Lake Michigan. On the other side of the bridge sits Maggie Daley Park, a spectacular green space with massive rock climbing walls, mini golf, picnic groves, and an amazing play garden for children."

"Probably the best-known of Chicago’s comedy clubs, the Second City has a long history of tickling its audience’s funny bones. The original club opened in December 1959, and its members have redefined improv and sketch comedy over the past six decades. Just about everyone knows the names of its most famous alumni: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Murray, among other."

"It’s like walking into an extension of Chicago when you plan an entertaining night out at The Second City. This popular Chicago comedy club is known for bringing famous alums to the stage as well as improv and sketch groups. If you enjoy the shows, consider trying out your own form of comedy when signing up for the many classes offered at this venue."

"After dinner, catch transit to Second City to see a show. This theatre specializes in sketch comedy and improv. After opening its doors in 1959, it has become the most influential comedy theatre in the world."