Chicago’s Maggie Daley Park: Ice Skating Ribbon, Epic Slides & More

ice skating ribbon chicago maggie daley park

Chicago’s Maggie Daley Park: Ice Skating Ribbon, Epic Slides & More

337 E. Randolph St. Chicago, Illinois 60601

Maggie Daley Park is a favorite park in downtown Chicago. (If you know where The Bean is, you’ll be able to find it.)

Packed with huge slides, a sprawling play garden, rock-climbing walls, and the city’s famous Ice Skating Ribbon, it’s an easy yes.

Main Attractions at Maggie Daley Park

When you go, you can’t miss the towering rock-climbing walls with the Ribbon looping around them.

In warm weather it’s a rollerblading track, and once winter hits, it turns into one of the coolest ice-skating spots in the city.

The Slide Crater Playground is another crowd favorite. Kids spot those gigantic twisty slides with rope swing bridges and they’re off before you even finish the sentence.

Walking Paths and secret spots round out the experience. There’s even an Enchanted Forest – a winding, storybook-style corner of the park with upside-down tree archways, a giant spinning stone, a round tea-party table, and a mirrored maze tucked into a grove of aspens.

Ice Skating and Winter Fun

This is one of the only spots in the Great Lakes where you can ice skate on a trail! Called the Ice Skating Ribbon, this quarter mile long path winds through the park with curves and small slopes that make it way more fun than a regular rink.

There is a fee to skate, and reservations are suggested, even if you bring your own skates. Walk-ups might be available, but that’s a gamble.

The slides and play equipment stay open all year long, just remember to pack your snow pants.

Overall, in the winter, this park is really awesome after dark. When the city lights up, those sweet skyline views come into focus.

Warm Weather Stuff to Do

In the warmer months, the whole place opens up. The Ribbon switches over to wheels, so scooters and rollerblades take over the loop.

There’s also an 18-hole mini golf course at the south end of the BP Bridge. It’s full of quirky Chicago replicas, so you’re putting under a 6-foot Willis Tower and sending your ball up a Plinko-style Picasso.

Of course, the slides, gardens, and paths are a big draw when the weather thaws.

List of Things to do at Maggie Daley Park include: