Illinois Skate Parks

Illinois has a long history with skating. From the Roller Derby Skate Corporation being founded in Litchfield to Chicago’s epic street scene, Illinois has seen all stages of the skateboarding revolution. Thanks to its iconic architecture, a unique style of street skating formed in Chicago. As the city started to allocate money to official skateparks, this influence bled into the design. So, whether you’re looking for a park underneath a roaring freeway or a quiet neighborhood skatepark, you’ll find what you’re looking for in our list of the top Illinois skateparks. 

This list features skateparks inside the Chicago metro area and beyond. We’ve included both indoor and outdoor parks, highlighted their features, and noted anything particularly outstanding about the design or community at the park. Enjoy! 

But first…skate gear! 

Besides your deck and wheels, your skate helmet is your most important piece of skateboarding gear. Having the right helmet and following skatepark etiquette can keep you and others safe and riding longer.

Top Illinois Skateparks

1. Montrose Beach (Wilson) Skatepark

Location: Wilson and Lakeshore Dr, Chicago, Illinois 60614

Cost: Free

Hours: 6 am – 11 pm 

Best for: Intermediate to advanced skaters

Kicking off our list of Illinois skateparks is Montrose Beach skatepark, also known as Wilson skatepark. This place is made for skaters only (no bikes, no scooters) and is a great spot for intermediate to advanced riders. A pair of deep bowls with big transfers, fast transitions, and steep hips are the focal point of this park. Montrose also has several ledges, a large manual pad, several sets of stairs and rails. We love this park’s location right on Lake Michigan and north of the downtown area, sort of near Wrigley Field.

2. Burnham 31st Street Skatepark

Location: 1200 S. Lakeshore Dr., Chicago, Illinois 60615

Cost: Free

Hours: 6 am – 11 pm 

Best for: Street skating

Just a few miles south of the Shedd Aquarium is Burnham 31st skatepark. Connected to the 31st Street Beach, this is a popular skate spot during the warmer months in Illinois, with lots of spectators and crowds watching enjoying and supporting the Illinois skate scene. While this park features a healthy balance of street and park elements, the street section is in far better condition. With multiple levels of stairs, ledges, and rails, this is one of the best parks to practice street tricks.

     3. Grant Skatepark

Location: Ninth Street and Columbus Dr., Chicago, Illinois 60601

Cost: Free

Hours: 6 am – 9 pm 

Best for: All-around

Located right in the historic Millennium Park, Grant Skatepark has become an icon of the Chicago skate scene. This is a huge park with a wide variety of elements. Featuring long rails, granite ledges, and unique obstacles like pyramid ramps. This park offers something for all levels, with pyramid style banks with ledges. There are also multiple quarter pipes. The street section is made to resemble parts of Chicago’s urban architecture, street skaters will love this park. 

4. Audubon Skatepark (Indoor/Outdoor Skatepark)

Location: 300 E. Elk Grove Blvd, Elk Grove Village, Illinois 60007

Cost: $4 

Hours: Varied, Check Website

Best for: Beginners, All-around

Just 30 minutes outside of downtown Chicago is Audubon Skatepark – an indoor/outdoor skate haven. This 11,000 square foot park has something to offer all levels of skaters. The outdoor park is highly versatile and features several ramps, stairs, banks, hips, rails, ledges as well as a gap. While the outdoor park stays open and staffed for most of the year, the indoor park is a great option for skaters year-round. This supervised skatepark features several large ramps, hips, rails and ledges. This park has a big emphasis on safety and welcomes skateboarders, inline skaters, and quad skates. Helmets are available for rent. 

5. The Asylum Skatepark (Indoor Skatepark)

Location: 29850 N. Skokie Highway, Lake Bluff, Illinois 60044

Cost: Varied, Check website

Hours: Varied, Check website

Best for: DIY community

For those looking for a DIY skateboarding community in Chicago, the Asylum Skatepark is a standout. Located less than an hour from both downtown Chicago and Milwaukee, this indoor park is accessible by train. Inside, skaters can enjoy an ever-changing configuration of ramps, hips, street obstacles, ledges, a-frames, and more. Filled with skate art and graffiti from local Illinois artists, this park is almost like a living museum. This park does accept donations and also has a skate shop with your favorite brands, lessons, and events. 

6. Centennial Park Skatepark

Location: 500 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, Illinois 60540

Cost: Free

Hours: 8 am to Sunset

Best for: Skate scene

Built in the early 2000s, Centennial Park Skatepark was the result of years of campaigning by local skaters. Twenty year later, it is the center of Central Illinois skate scene! This free outdoor park features several deep bowls decorated in layers and layers of graffiti. The deep end is about 8 feet deep with the shallow end about 5 feet. This park is brilliantly designed with graceful transition and great hips that keep lines interesting and fresh. 

7. Olympic Park

Location: 1675 E. Old Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg, Illinois 60173

Cost: Free

Hours:  7 am – 11 pm

Best for: Urban skating, All-around

This 13,000 square foot park in the west Chicago metro is a hidden gem. Highly influenced by Chicago’s classic street skate scene, this park features curbs, staircases, benches, and walls that offer all the fun of urban skating in a safe and legal space. There’s also a giant bowl at this park, making it one of the more versatile parks in the greater metro area. 

8. Logan Boulevard Skatepark

Location: North Western Ave. and Logan Blvd., Chicago, Illinois 60647

Cost: Free

Hours:  6 am – 11 pm 

Best for: Local skate culture

We just couldn’t end this list without mentioning Logan Boulevard Skatepark. This gritty skatepark exists underneath the Kennedy expressway, a living testament to Chicago’s edgy skateboard culture. Filled with street art and graffiti, this park is one-of-a-kind, and tourists should be respectful! Featuring a bowl, spine, quarter-sized ramps, and a kicker – this park is best suited for experienced skaters. This park is open to both skaters and BMX riders. The park officially closes at 11 pm but it’s not uncommon to see skateboarders enjoying late night sessions here.  

This concludes our list of the top skateparks in Illinois! Whether you’re visiting Chicago or Springfield, we hope that you find what you’re looking for at these parks. We love hearing from you, a always, you can tag us on our Instagram!