In yet another sign that the much anticipated Maggie Daley Park will be opening shortly, the Chicago Park District will begin offering fitness and other programs at the yet-to-be unveiled renovated field house on the site.
An ice skating ribbon at the downtown park - just east of Millennium Park - is set to open in December and, according to the park district's website, winter classes will be offered at the field house there early next year.
Online registration for winter programs - ranging from adult kickboxing to children's crafts- at Maggie Daley Park begins on Tuesday when web registration is available for all parks east of California Avenue, according to the park district. Internet registration starts a day earlier for parks west of California. In-person registration begins Dec. 6.
Adults living in Chicago can pay $30 for 11 sessions of weekly fitness classes which start in January and go through March held at the fitness center in the field house of the park, named for Chicago's onetime first lady. It's double the cost for adults living outside of Chicago.
Among the classes are a military-style boot camp workout, circuit training, yoga, Pilates, Zumba and kickboxing. There will also be ping pong tables available for open table tennis play during the week in the multi-use and club rooms.
The field house was closed during construction of Maggie Daley Park and used as a construction office before it was overhauled. The renovation included repairs to the facade, new interior finishes, improvements to the bathrooms and locker rooms, reconfiguration of space inside the facility and replacement of the entry doors, heating, air conditioning, plumbing and electrical systems.
While there are some adult classes, most of the programs offered at the new park are targeted at children including dodgeball, archery, arts and crafts, badminton, tumbling, ballet and tap dance. There's even a $40 one-day adventure camp at Maggie Daley Park for ages 5 to 13 held on Jan. 19 and Feb. 16.
At other park locations, adults can brush up on their acting or culinary skills, learn how to change the oil in their car or channel their inner Monet in an oil painting class. They can join sports leagues for water polo and floor hockey, take swim lessons or a jab at boxing and even sign up for a class in officiating baseball and basketball.
Prices vary for the fitness, dance and art programs.
The rest of the park is expected to be open by spring.
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