Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
223
the bustling Magnificent Mile. On the lawn sit two r ecent sculptures by nationally rec-
ognized artists:
Ben,
a bronze horse by sculptor Debra Butterfield, and
Farmer's Dream,
an abstract piece b y sculptor Richar d Hunt. The play lot is named for E li Schulman
(1910-88), a w ell-known restaurateur who founded E li's, the P lace for Steak, and who
was active in promoting recreational activities for children. The park itself takes its name
from adjacent Seneca Street, named for the Iroquois tribe of upstate New York.
4
SPORTS & GAMES
BASEBALL
Chicago's Park District offers baseball in many of its 552 parks; one diamond that's easily
accessible and in a central location is
Lincoln Park.
The baseball fields are on the south-
ern tip, just north of the Chicago H istorical Society. Even if a game is under way, you'll
find some r oom to thr ow a ball back and for th with y our child. For more information
on baseball in city parks, visit www.chicagoparkdistrict.com.
Chicago par ents who want to get kids inv olved in baseball should contact
Little
League.
Kids ages 5 to 12 can par ticipate. Teams change every year, so the best way to
find one near you is to visit www.littleleague.org. Click on the “Finding a Local League”
link to start your search for a team for y our child.
Still basking in their stunning World S eries win in 2005, the
Chicago White Sox
attract the same kind of loyalty as the Chicago Cubs. At their home,
U.S. Cellular Field,
333 W. 35th St. (
&
312/674-1000;
www.whitesox.mlb.com), the White Sox do a great
job getting kids ex cited about baseball. B efore every home game, White Sox Training
Center coaches conduct a baseball clinic. Kids can practice in the batting cages, at the
base-running drill, and in the practice pitching ar eas. It's all fr ee of charge. E nter U.S.
Cellular Field at Gate 3 or ask a G uest Services Representative how to get ther e. FUN-
damentals, as the pr ogram is called, opens the gates about 1
1
/
2
hours befor e game time
and stays open for 1
1
/
2
hours after the game star ts. (If you're hungry after your pregame
workout, stop by the Pepsi Kids Corner near Section 100 for kids' concessions like pea-
nut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, plus other kid favorites. Near Section 101, you'll find a
kids' gift shop, featuring kids' souvenirs and apparel.)
If it's a little batting practice you're seeking, head for the batting cages
Sluggers Sports
Bar,
near Wrigley Field at 3540 N. Clar k St. (
&
773/248-0055
). This neighborhood
sports bar is super-kid-friendly. Dozens of TV screens bring in games via satellite, provid-
ing a fitting backdr op for you and your kids to test y our skill in the batting cages. The
upstairs batting cages approximate both softball and baseball pitches; ther e's also Pop-a-
Shot and high-ball (a basketball-type game played on a trampoline) and an arcade. In the
northern suburbs, try
Skokie Sports Park,
3459 Oakton (
&
847/674-1500
). The cages
are open April through October, Sunday to Thursday from 8am to 10pm, and Friday and
Saturday from 8am to 11pm.
8
BASKETBALL
One of Chicago's better public parks to catch (or watch) a game of hoops is
Blackhawk
Park,
at 2318 N. Lavergne Ave. in the Irving Park neighborhood (
&
773/746-5014
). A
basketball court and baseball and softball fields dot the gr ounds of this family-friendly
park. B asketball pr ograms ar e offer ed for ages 5 and up . You'll also find an outdoor
