Arrigo Park

This little park is definitely a hidden gem in this area. You can find a nice statue of Christopher Columbus as you walk in. Lots of people with their dogs. Great open lawn and a paved walking path around it. Downside are there are very few benches so brings blanket!

Are you a runner? Looking for a great place to do a track or interval workout? Arrigo Park has a path around it that’s exactly a quarter of a mile long. There’s also a water fountain and benches for when you want to rest afterward.
If you’re not a runner, but rather a diner at one of Taylor Street’s many restaurants looking for a post-​meal stroll, this would also be a scenic destination within close walking distance.

This is my little oasis. I love this park. It’s my escape during the workday, and I am not ashamed to say that at times, when I sit here, I actually fall asleep while sitting on a bench under a tree, listening to the wind and the water from the fountain in the distance. This park is so quiet and so hidden that it’s easy to forget that it’s so close to the Medical District and the hustle and bustle of UIC/​Little Italy. No loud people, no craziness — however, if I time is right, I can listen to church bells from the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii serenade me.
Sometimes I bring my lunch, sometimes I bring my gym shoes and walk around the park a few times, sometimes I bring a book to read, sometimes I bring a friend and share this secret garden.

Arrigo park is a great spot for a jog, dog walk, or just for some sun. The walking path is shaped like a peanut, so you will often hear locals refer to it as the «peanut park» Pickup games of just about every sport can be found daily and often lasting into the dark hours. The monument water feature is also a beautiful addition.

A really nice park to relax with a book or to take a short nap under a tree or a shaded area. We came today on a beautiful sunny day and the park was so green and serene. The statue of Christopher Columbus with the fountain of water was very beautiful. Its located across a residential area and the houses in the area were also very nice.

a little bit of heaven. my husband and i used to go here for morning runs and now come here with our dog Brady for walks or play. it has a 400 Meter walking path around a nicely kept lawn area. with another smaller field right next to it. the park is surrounded by trees and there’s plenty of room for getting sun or staying in the shade. i wish i lived closer so take advantage of it more but it’s nice when i have the time to walk the mile down. i find it relaxing.

Pleasant, small park with a great mix of trees along with birds, squirrels and the occasional rabbit. The statue of Christopher Columbus (not a fan of his) and fountain are a nice touch.

So, we were touring around Little Italy (I refuse to call it by its slave name, «University Village») when we came across this really creepy statue of Christopher Columbus. Like, Lost, creepy. Hmm, no, maybe more like those paintings on Scooby Doo where the eyes came alive and followed folks. Yeah, like that. So, as we were contemplating what lies in the shadow of the statue, I thought to myself, «I really like this park.»
No, it wasn’t the threat of polar bears lounging on the beach or buggy-​eyed weirdos that gave me Stockholm-​Syndrome and made me think I liked something that was, actually, bad for me. It was:
–the cool entrance to the park. As creepy as the statue is, it is impressive. It’s large, looming and distinct. Surrounding the statue is an undulating concrete design that goes well with the pool of water in which CC stands (and glares). Chicago is known for its architecture and I love finding small gems such as the CC statue/​patio to remind me of this. Our group was transfixed by the scene and spent a lot of time throwing pennies into the pool, making wishes, mocking the statue and looking over our shoulders to ensure that said statue wasn’t coming alive and preparing to chase us;
–the peaceful easy feeling of the layout of the park. You won’t play in a baseball diamond and it’s likely you won’t buy tamales from a cart here, either. This park is about sunbathing, reading books, playing frisbee and enjoying a breezy, greenspace. The park layout is rather simple: a huge plot of green grass, bounded by a thicket of trees. That’s it. But this description doesn’t give the park it’s due. This is the kind of park that you bring your little ones to in order to play tag and tire themselves out. This is the park you come to with a blanket, your honey and… well, if you need me to fill this in for you, odds are you’ll never come here with your little ones. This is the kind of park that is not too big, not too small — it’s just right;
–the secret nature of the park. Like I mentioned, it’s smack dab in the middle of Little Italy. It’s bounded by trees and, beyond the trees, homes. The homes are large and breathtaking. This is one of the few areas of Little Italy that resembles the way the neighborhood looked before it was laid to waste by Daley the First. I felt a serenity whilst walking the grounds. In a lot of city parks, despite the beauty, you never forget that you’re in a city. Not here. It’s quiet and I was easily transported away from the hustle and bustle of the city. It’s not sceney, but you’ll feel like an insider for having made this your spot.
The above applies to the park in daytime.
If cartoon dogs, hungry stoners, immortals with guyliner and freckle-​faced women who travel through time in order to mess up my girl’s, Juliette, good thing are more your speed, come here at night and wear your Nikes. CC tops out at, about, a 4.35. Good luck.

JB is spot on. Sunday afternoon after a leisurely bike ride followed by a ultimate frisbee match and nap…
A+ in my book. every sunday. you might possibly find my sleeping in the park after a wonderfully relaxing afternoon…
It’s true, people are friendly, I was invited to play in a pick up game, joked with a couple american footballers and met a number of jovial canines… never crazy, never crowded and if you’re lucky a breezy sunday with smell of taylor street calling your name… mmmmmm

I used to run around on the peanut-​shaped trail of beaten down concrete around the edge of the park and play catch with some friends on the other side of the tree line. I’d estimate the track length around a sixth of a mile, but I was never very good at estimating distances… or running.
For a while, a bunch of the Pakistani and Indian students played regular pickup cricket games in the field. It was fun to watch, even if I still don’t understand that game.

This is a great park in the Little Italy … when its nice out its great to sit and study in this park! Great place to take dogs and a picnic!