Marquette Park, Chicago

Marquette Park used to be a mostly Eastern European neighborhood – one side of my family is from the area, and I have some relatives that still live there. A lot of African Americans moved in a few decades ago, and Hispanics have been coming there a lot lately. This makes the area pretty diverse as far as people go, which is always nice in a neighborhood. A lot of people have lived in Marquette Park for a long time, and there are plenty of bungalows and other homes. The area is friendly and neighborly. It has had issues with crime, and there are gangs in the area, but it has been improving.

There are plenty of neighborhood restaurants to choose from. There’s Mexican, Middle Eastern and Lithuanian. There are also pizza and hot dog joints, plus a diner or two.

The actual park is really huge and pretty, and has a lot of outdoorsy activities going on – soccer, baseball, golf.

Marquette Park was the site of some serious racial tension in the ‘60s when African Americans started moving in. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a march through the neighborhood. Luckily, today the area is filled with families of all kinds who all get along.

First thing to note about Marquette Park is that in the past it was not a particularly safe neighborhood. A lot has been done in recent years to correct this, and while I wouldn't say it's been entirely successful, it is definitely a lot better than it used to be.

My little disclaimer out of the way, I should mention that Marquette Park's main attractions would be some of the outdoor activities you can enjoy. First, you have the namesake park. The main area that was rehabilitated a few years back, it's a very large park with plenty of space to go for a walk, run, or afternoon bike ride. It wasn't that safe a few years back, but it has come a long way. No more of the drugs and prostitution that you used to see. At least during the day. I haven't visit the park at night, although I would be wary of visiting very many parks at night anyways.
The other outdoor activity worth mention is the Marquette Park Golf Course. It's one of the best the city has to offer. My uncle's a big golf fan, and while he mostly visits private clubs, he will from time to time enjoy a round of golf in Marquette Park.

Dining in Marquette Park is mostly characterized by Lithuanian food. There are other options available, but none of the others gives the neighborhood anything unique. I especially like the Lithuanian Plaza Bakery & Deli. I'm a big fan of delis and bakeries, and this one is pretty good. You can get some regular bakery goods as well as some specifically Lithuanian baked goods.

By far my favorite thing to do in Marquette Park is listen to some blues at Natasha's Rome. It's a cool club, and while I prefer Buddy Guy's Legends, it is still a great club with good blues played live every week. If you're a blues fan, definitely give it a look.

Overall, I'd recommend Marquette Park for a visit, although I'd be wary of advising anyone to live there. Not to say that you couldn't make a good home there, it's just that I don't entirely trust the safety yet. In a few years though, it could make for a prime destination for a home.

Chicago Lawn: this South Side park may see the occasional crime statistic, but for many it’s a source of fond memories of sledding, fishing and jogging. On the east side of the park you can find every outdoor activity you can imagine – softball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts, a running track and soccer fields are there for residents’ use, and the west side of the park is the side where you could take your book and just relax in the greenery or by the lagoon. (There is also a nine-hole golf course on this side, which I hear is not the most clear-cut of courses.) Summer sees a lot of roadside BBQs going on in the area.

On the down side, gang signs can be found tagged on nearby buildings and there is a strange lack of parking signs around. But: in recent years Mayer Daley really did a number on this park, cleaning up a place that used to have too much garbage, homelessness and prostitution in its midst.

People are always fishing in this park – though I’m not sure what exactly they are catching or if they actually can eat the fish.