California Park, which takes its name from adjacent California Avenue, is one of six parks created by the River Park District. Established in 1917, the district was one of 22 independent park systems consolidated into the Chicago Park District in 1934. Northwest Chicago residents formed the River Park District to provide recreational opportunities along the North Branch of the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel and to prevent commercial encroachments there. Soon after its formation, the park district began to purchase more than 13 acres south of Irving Park Road, between California Avenue and the North Shore Channel. Although land acquisition dragged on until 1931, development began in 1920, when Leesely Brothers prepared a landscape plan. Improvements were confined largely to plantings until 1927, when the River Park District began construction of an outdoor swimming pool that was, for a time, Illinois's largest. An athletic field, baseball diamonds, and playgrounds followed in 1928, as did a small brick fieldhouse designed by Chicago architect Clarence Hatzfeld.

In the 1970s, the Chicago Park District demolished the original fieldhouse and erected a new changing facility in its place. The park district also constructed an impressive new indoor sports complex, the first of its kind for the park district. The structure contains a year-round ice rink for figure skating and hockey, as well as six tennis courts. This facility was officially designated the McFetridge Sports Complex in 1974 for William L. McFetridge, who served as park district president in 1968, and as vice-president for the preceding 22 years.

The McFetridge Sports Center is owned by the Chicago Park District and managed by ASM Global.

Visit mcfetridgesportscenter.com to learn about the center and all of its features and operating hours.  

 

As part of the $5.4 million renovations to the facility, the skating rink was completely replaced and upgrades to the tennis court lighting and HVAC energy management.


Housing the Chicago Park District's only indoor ice rink and indoor tennis courts, McFetridge Sports Center (MSC) offers a unique sports experience for athletes of all ages and skill levels. Full of activity 18 hours a day, seven days a week, MSC welcomes more than 2,000 patrons each week for it's year-round competitive and recreational ice skating, hockey and tennis programs, as well as special events. MSC is located on California Avenue between Addison Street and Irving Park Road, just west of the Chicago River.

Youth Programs at McFetridge Sports Center (MSC) are extremely popular with kids from the Chicago land area. We invite you to join the fun and check us out! Features at McFetridge Sports Center within California Park include a NHL-size ice arena with seating for 1,200 spectators, six tournament-quality indoor tennis courts, four outdoor tennis courts, and exercise class studio. Other indoor amenities include a tennis pro shop, ice skating rental, as well as locker rooms and showers. The sports center is fully accessible to people of all physical abilities, and the adjacent parking lot affords ample parking.