With Grant Park, Millennium Park, and miles of beachfront, Chicago has no shortage of wide, open space. The city’s bigger parks host music festivals, farmers markets, and sports leagues. But what if you're looking for more of a low-key outdoor experience? Chicago’s neighborhoods have plenty of smaller parks with gardens, benches, and fewer crowds. Step off the beaten path and into these under-the-radar parks.

Austin Foster Park - Jefferson Park

Jefferson Park is one of Chicago’s northernmost neighborhoods. Bordered by acres of natural forest preserve, this community makes it easy for residents to get outside and enjoy some nature. But Jefferson Park is also home to a handful of diminutive parks that offer a respite from city living. Austin Foster Park, named for its location at the intersection of the two streets, is just 4.97 acres. The park has a baseball and softball field as well as a playground.

Avondale Neighborhood Park - Avondale

Avondale Neighborhood Park is a small triangle of space tucked away beside the Kennedy Expressway. The front of the park is dominated by a field house, but behind it, you'll find a grassy stretch shaded by trees. The park also has a playground and a small outdoor pool. Avondale residents also have the benefit of the tiny but vibrant Addison and Avondale Mural Garden, located near the Expressway and the CTA’s Addison Blue Line station.

Barnard Park - Beverly

Beverly has a well-earned reputation as a tight-knit, family-friendly community. Naturally, the neighborhood has a few different parks. On the southern end of the neighborhood, Barnard Park offers a little over two acres of space. The park’s main attraction is its playground, but it also has open space for soccer games and picnicking.

Bickerdike Square Park - West Town

West Town comes from industrial roots, which are still evident today. The neighborhood is more known for its art galleries and boutiques than its parks, but you can still find some pocket-sized park space to enjoy. Bickerdike Square Park is less than an acre in size, but it's a welcome part of the community. The park is a mostly open, grassy area with trees and blooming flowers hugging its low fence.

Cotton Tail Park - South Loop

The South Loop can feel less dense and busy than the Loop and West Loop, but it's still a downtown neighborhood at its heart. Residents can easily enjoy the outdoors thanks to easy access to Grant Park, the Lakeshore, and the paths of Museum Campus. If you want to skip the more heavily trafficked areas, the 2.35-acre Cotton Tail Park is a welcome alternative. The park has a path flanked by stately planters. You can take a short walk or stop to sit on one of the benches shaded by trees.

Haas Park - Logan Square

Logan Square’s most well-known park bears the same name as the neighborhood. Though small, it's located right off the Logan Square Blue Line stop and immediately recognizable because of the Illinois Centennial Monument. People regularly sunbathe at the park or stop to watch community performances. If you're looking for something a little less well-known, Haas Park, located off of Fullerton Avenue, offers 1.69 acres of space. The park is home to a soccer field as well as open space used for events like the city’s Movies in the Parks series.

Printers Row Park - Printers Row

Printers Row is a largely residential neighborhood, peppered with book shops and restaurants. It's widely known as the home of the summertime Printers Row Lit Fest. As a pocket neighborhood of the larger South Loop, it's no surprise that Printers Row doesn't have sprawling park space. What it does have is Printers Row Park. Officially named Park No. 543, this small space features a community garden and a decorative fountain. Visitors can take a short stroll around the space or take a seat.

Rogers Beach Park - Rogers Park

Chicago’s beaches are one of the most popular places to get outside in the summertime. Finding a place for your towel and beach gear can seem like a competitive sport at North Avenue Beach or Ohio Street Beach. For a quieter slice of lakefront space, look further north in the city to Rogers Park. At the very northeastern tip of the neighborhood, the 2.38-acre Rogers Beach Park offers a quieter place to enjoy Lake Michigan. Visitors can walk on the sand or take advantage of the park’s tennis courts.

Spruce Park - Hyde Park

Hyde Park is a neighborhood of greenspace. It's bordered by the vast open space of Washington Park. Plus, it has the Midway Plaisance, a piece of Jackson Park, and Promontory Point on the lake. Each of these spots has plenty of room to spread out, but they're well-loved and often visited by people who live in and visit Hyde Park. For park space on a smaller scale, try Spruce Park, which has a small walking path and playground equipment.

Throop Park - Pilsen

Throop Park in Pilsen is located right near the neighborhood’s collection of record stores, a favorite feature of music lovers. The park is less than an acre in size, but it has grassy, open space, a playground, and a basketball court.