Whether in the ice and snow of winter or the sunshine of summer, Maggie Daley Park offers a year-round Chicago bucket list experience.
During winter, the park’s quarter-mile winding skating ribbon becomes an ice rink offering an “alpine in the city” adventure and one of Chicago’s most beloved winter-time activities.
In summer, this ribbon instead opens as a scooter and rollerblade path providing the public with the same exhilarating experience, minus the ice.
What makes it all extra special, however, is that within the winding ribbon sits the City of Chicago’s first and only outdoor Climbing Park. Made up of custom-designed sculptural rocks and boulders, the park is situated over a total area of 19,000 square feet and reaches up to 40 feet in the air.
With it being outdoors the notorious Chicago weather hinders the ability to use it for much of the year but come late May the wall opens to the public to once again offer a truly unforgettable Chicago experience for beginners and experts alike scaling the climbing wall in the heart of our urban jungle.
Having opened last week, the wall is now open to the public and free to be scaled all the way through to the end of summer!
With varying routes for different ages, sizes, and skills, anybody and everybody can give the climbing wall a shot and instructors are on hand throughout the season to assist.ç
The climbing wall hours for the 2024 season are 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. from Sunday to Thursday and from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Note that all hours are weather permitting.
Prices for the climbing wall are as follows (tax not included):
- Auto Belay 30 minutes – $20
- Top Rope Orientation – $29 (daily fee included)
- Boulder/Belay Check – $15
- Private Belayer – $45
- Kid’s Lesson 15 minutes – $19 (private lesson, includes a climbing instructor to assist child, ages 4-8)
- Belay/Boulder/Check – $15
- Climbing Wall Instructions – 4 Classes – $125
- Climbing Wall Instructions – 8 Classes – $235
- Top Rope/Bouldering Daily Fee – $15 (Orientation Boulder/Belay Check required)
Shoes and harnesses are included for all of the above activities while helmets are optional. For those who pass the belay check helmets, harnesses and shoes are available to rent for $5 apiece.
Climbers under the age of 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
The skating ribbon is open to daily and can be enjoyed for free between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. for those with their own roller blades, roller skates, and scooters.
Rentals of roller blades and Micro Scooterscare are $10 for half-hour and are managed by Lakeshore Sport and Fitness.
More information can be found at maggiedaleypark.com.