Bonnie E.
Yelp
This Fieldhouse, along with the one in nearby Garfield Park is a "must visit" if you are at all interested in Chicago history and architecture.
As a community member, it's a "must visit" if you want to get involved with some cool local events and to check out what's going on in the neighborhood. If you are just interested in the fitness center, that's cool too. It's a long rectangular room that looks out over a lagoon and charges a monthly or an annual fee.
When I first spotted this building against the dramatic clouds and bright blue sky yesterday, my spirit soared. I don't even care if that's silly talk because that's how enamored I was with the view. "What is this place?" I had to pull in the lot and go inside.
What I found were crafty-colorful witches greeting me....
I roamed along to where some voices were coming from and before I knew it, I was standing in an "old-school" gym/basketball court/auditorium. The space looked out of "Dead Poet's Society" or so like that. I backed up toward the wall to take a photo and whoa!! radiant heat from the grate (looks original!) on the wall. I was wrapped in all kinds of warmth.
Further wrapped figuratively, by the one lady employee who saw me marveling at this place. She began telling me all about the programs, the fitness center and you could tell she loved her job, the city of Chicago and the place she worked.
Thank you, Chicago Park District for keeping this kind of gem alive and housing such awesome community spirit here.
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/humboldtpark/ excerpt re: architecture:
"In 1928, the West Park Commission contructed a fieldhouse in Humboldt Park. The structure was designed by architects Michaelsen and Rognstad, who were also responsible for other notable buildings including the Garfield Park Gold Dome Building, the Douglas and LaFolette Park Fieldhouses, and the On Leong Chinese Merchant's Association Building in Chinatown. In 1934, Humboldt Park became part of the Chicago Park District, when the city's 22 independent park commissions merged into a single citywide agency."
(I'm learning why I love Paris so much...many nooks of Chicago were based on Parisian design: the Midway Plaisance in Hyde Park is another notable area: http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/Midway-Plaisance-Park/ )
