The sun's up, the field opens, the ball is sailing through the air. Swoosh, the sound you hear as the ball hits the back corner of the net. Summer's here and everyone in Chicago is up and ready to have fun! Playing soccer is a great way to spend time with your friends and family while also exercising your body.
Soccer is at its peak and the tension is rising as the Copa America and Euro Cups reach an end. This is the perfect time to experience new things, learn, and have fun! As someone who has played soccer since I was two and who is always active and ready to play, turf fields and parks are the ideal spots to release my energy playing soccer. Chicago is the perfect place to practice your dribbling skills, perfect your shot, and who knows, maybe become the next Lionel Messi. Plus, most of the areas are empty for just you and your peers.
Here are some of the recommended areas and fields to play soccer:
Foster Turf Field, located at 5199 North Lakeshore Drive, offers a lot of different fields and space to exercise. These fields are also home to the AYSO, a kids and teens soccer program offering soccer for players ranging from beginners to advanced. For a reasonable price, beginning in the fall and lasting until the end of spring, you can enlist your kids on a soccer team, which includes uniforms, practices, and games. This is also a way for your kids to make new friends who share their common interests! The best part….there is free parking, and it's right next to the beach!
Highlights:
- Offers access to multiple grass fields and two large turf fields
- Across the street from Lake Michigan
- Lots of space to play
- Daily ice cream trucks, food vendors, and more!
Fleet Fields, located at 1397 West Wabansia Avenue, offers three public fields, out of which there is one full-size field and two mini-turf fields, and it’s open to the public. They are also home to the Chicago Kics FC, a club soccer team for kids ranging from all genders and all age groups. Depending on your interest in soccer, you can sign up for KICs and play competitive soccer all around the state!
Highlights:
- Multiple turf fields
- Events hosted at field
- Space to play
CIBC Fire Pitch CIBC Fire Pitch, located at 3626 N Talman Ave, is proud to call itself the home of The Fire Juniors, the official youth soccer clubs of the Chicago Fire. The Fire Juniors Youth Club model was the first youth program of its kind in Major League Soccer (MLS) and today includes more than 4,000 travel players nationwide. The Fire Pitch also houses Little Sparks (into classes for ages 2-5), adult rec leagues (male & female), pick up games, birthday parties, and more. While you are there, enjoy some delicious food and cold drinks from the Heineken-pub-97, all while playing foosball or watching your favorite players battle against each other in a Cup match among other enthusiastic fans. This pub even hosts events and birthday parties for soccer fans and even has a game room!
Highlights:
- Beautiful turf
- Air supported, temperature controlled, Dome during winter
- Adjoining Bar and Grill
Chase Park, located at 4701 North Ashland Ave, is the perfect place to play indoor soccer, outdoor soccer, and is surrounded by tennis courts, a pool, and a playground. What better way to spend your hot summer weekend than playing soccer on hot turf and jumping in the pool? You can also join a community youth soccer team and play games with a team on Saturdays.
Highlights:
- Indoor soccer, softball, and volleyball leagues
- Four lane track
- Adult basketball leagues
- Baseball fields
Kilbourn Park, located at 3501 N. Kilbourn Ave, is another great place to play some soccer. Join your friends for a game at the Nike Grind Field Turf surrounded by lush areas of greenery and nature. Short on friends one day, try a pick up game. If you are ever looking to play some soccer but don’t have enough people, use Endalgo. Endalgo is a free app that lets you join soccer groups in your community and arranges pickup games for adults and kids. Join Endalgo at https://www.endalgo.com/.
Highlights:
- Large turf field
- Multiple green areas
- Various activities
Diversey/Lake Shore Turf Field, located in Lincoln Park between Barry and Diversey, just west of Outer Lake Shore Drive, is a brand new turf field and a great place to play soccer with a splendid view of the lake and city. Because this field just opened up and is a little bit hidden, not many people take advantage of playing on this beautiful field. So if you're looking for a cool spot to play soccer with your friends, go out there and enjoy the new turf! Even better, the field is located directly next to the lake, a literal walk under a bridge leading to the lake, so on a hot summer day, gather your friends, play some soccer, and take a swim!
Highlights:
- Located right next to the lake
- Big and new turf field
- Lights for the nighttime
