wellness
Old Town Chicago Residents Access Free Fitness at Two Parks
Old Town residents can access no-cost pull-up bars, resistance stations and running loops at two established park sites without signing up for memberships.
How we reported this
Chicago Park District crews completed upgrades to pull-up stations and dip bars at Old Town Park on July 1, adding rubberized flooring under each piece of equipment along Schiller Street.
Summer heat and longer daylight hours have pushed more locals outdoors for workouts, with the Chicago Park District reporting 2.3 million visits to outdoor fitness equipment citywide in 2025. The trend aligns with the neighborhood’s active wellness culture, where residents seek no-cost alternatives to indoor gyms amid rising membership fees elsewhere in the city.
Two spots stand out for variety and access
Old Town Park at 310 W Schiller Street features a circuit of eight stations including chest presses, leg raises and battle rope anchors spaced 50 yards apart. A short walk north, the Washington Square Park loop on North Clark Street offers a 0.4-mile gravel path marked with distance posts plus four pull-up and parallel-bar stations installed in 2023. Both sites sit within the Old Town Triangle Association boundaries and open daily at 6 a.m.
Equipment at both locations receives monthly safety inspections from Chicago Park District crews, with the last round completed June 15. No permits or fees apply for individual use, though groups of 10 or more must register through the district’s online portal at least 48 hours ahead.
Getting started this week
Residents can download the Chicago Park District mobile map for exact station locations and current maintenance notices. Arrive before 8 a.m. on weekdays to avoid peak foot traffic, and bring a water bottle since fountains at both parks run on timers set for 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Those new to outdoor circuits should start with two rounds of the eight-station loop and increase repetitions after two weeks.