Bike Ride from Horner Park to Portage Park
Let’s bike from Horner Park to Portage Park on June 29. We will meet at the Horner Park parking lot off California, be ready to ride at 10:00 am. This is an urban ride, often on city streets--including busy ones when necessary. We’ll take our time to admire many natural and built environments.
The ride includes river views, nice parks, and a wide range of architecture, including several buildings designated as a Chicago Landmark and/or on the National Register of Historic Places. We start by riding south through Horner Park and California Park (McFetridge), then over the 2019, 1,000-foot-long Riverview Bridge (longest bike/pedestrian bridge in Chicago), seeing Lane Tech and stopping for Studio Gang’s WMS Boathouse in Clark Park.
We continue on the bike path past the offroad bike park to Belmont and take a short ride to Diversey to see the 1938-built Lathrop Homes, now converted to private rentals. After backtracking to Addison Rd. to see gold-brick Spanish Revival style Athletic Field Park, Prairie style Schurz High School, and The Villa Historic District with its tree-lined boulevards, we go to Portage Park, noted for its Prairie style Field House.
We can stop briefly at Portage Grounds (café, limited menu) next to the park, but bring lunch or snack to eat in one of the parks. Next, on to Portage Park Bungalow Historic District (1915-1930), where we ride up and down its few, striking blocks. Finally, using side streets as much as possible, back to Horner where people may want to lock their bikes and walk along the multi-level, usually abundantly blooming paths by the river. We cover a lot of cultural territory in 15 miles or so.
Where/When: Meet at Horner Park at field house (corner California and Montrose), east side entrance at 9:45 AM. Ride starts at10 AM
Parking: Big parking lot, entry on California Ave.
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Date: Sunday, June 29, 2025
Registration Closes: Thursday, June 26, 2025
Cost: Free
Event Leader: Carol Yoken
Email: carolyoken@gmail.com
Cell: (773) 633-4748