This 0.16 acre park is located in the Uptown neighborhood (slightly west of Broadway Street, two blocks south of Foster Avenue). Local children and families enjoy the playground equipment. While there is no structured programming taking place at this location, we invite you to check out our great programs at nearby Broadway Armory Park.

Chicago's post-World War II housing shortages brought dramatic change to the Uptown community. Many of the area's large homes and mansions were divided into multiple units, while others were replaced with modern apartment buildings. To better serve the growing population, the City of Chicago's Bureau of Parks and Recreation acquired property in 1950 and created a small municipal playground in 1951. Named for the street on which it is located, Carmen Park makes reference to French composer Georges Bizet's famous opera, Carmen. The City transferred Carmen Park over to the Chicago Park District in 1957 pursuant to the Chicago Park and City Exchange Functions Act. Re-planting the landscape and adding new playground equipment in the 1960s, the Park District made further improvements in the early 1990s.