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Brooks (Oscar) Park

4.5 ★★★★★ 119 Google reviews · Running trail in Chicago, Illinois · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Paved
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Brooks (Oscar) Park's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

PavedDog-friendlyWaterTrailhead parking

This site features a rec center with fitness programs, horseshoe pits, tennis courts & ball fields.

What runners say about Brooks (Oscar) Park

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (119 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

well-maintained 4 mentions

“Is very well maintained by the City of Chicago and great spot to escape to no matter the season.”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“I walk my dog here, it's quite and clean.”

I walk my dog here, it's quite and clean. The kids are polite, people actually say good morning and smile. It's a good way to start your day.

★★★★★ — Bobbie , Aug 2018

Have lived across from this park for 5 years. Is very well maintained by the City of Chicago and great spot to escape to no matter the season. There are tennis courts, Horseshoes, baseball fields, a water feature, and a nice walking trail and play ground. These days, the park is pretty busy regardless of time of day.

★★★★★ — Alissa , Apr 2021

Clean. Walking path. Water fountains. Horse shoe stakes. Concrete sprinklers for playing in summer. Huge fields. Baseball diamond. Playground & tons of activities for kids & families

★★★★★ — Michele , Oct 2018

Tons of activities for the whole family. Beautiful walking path. In summer they have a concrete sprinkler area for kids to run through.

★★★★☆ — Michele , Jan 2019

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 119 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🅿️ Trailhead parking 5 mentions

“However, the out of neighborhood visitors take up all the parking on the street, and they don’t know how to parallel park, so they take 2-3 spaces.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 5 mentions

“I walk my dog here, it's quite and clean.”

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🛣️ Paved surface 2 mentions

“In summer they have a concrete sprinkler area for kids to run through.”

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🚰 Water fountains

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Plan your run at Brooks (Oscar) Park

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, water — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitechicagoparkdistrict.com
  • Phone+1 773-631-4401
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 6 am–11 pm
Tuesday 6 am–11 pm
Wednesday 6 am–11 pm
Thursday 6 am–11 pm
Friday 6 am–11 pm
Saturday 6 am–11 pm
Sunday 6 am–11 pm

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Brooks (Oscar) Park

7100 N Harlem Ave, Chicago, IL 60631

Get directions

Running trails near Chicago

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

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Caldwell Woods (Forest Preserves of Cook County)

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Miami Woods

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PavedScenicDog-friendly

113 acres of restored woodlands & prairies, featuring a 1.5-mile paved path for biking & walking.

1.5 miles away

St. Paul Woods

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Verdant space ideal for picnics and drives features plenty of picnic benches, plus deer sightings.

1.6 miles away

Sidney Yates Flatwoods

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PavedScenic

Peaceful, leafy nature preserve along a river, with unpaved walking trails & local wildlife.

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.