Basketball in the city? (Chicago, Bellwood: crime, house, neighborhoods)

[jsuh84]

I need to play some basketball without resorting to going back to the suburbs. Any good places to ball (Outdoor or in / Pick-up or organized) in the city?!

[noid_1985]

South Side-
63rd Hayes Dr.- Jackson Park
55th-57th st.- Washington Park
Between 31st & 35th st.- Lake Shore Drive

West Side-
Jackson& Central- Columbus Park
North Ave& California- Humboldt Park
X sport fitness- Narragansett & fullerton/Grand w/o pass $10

North Side-
Loyola Park
Northeastern Illinois University- Foster & St.Louis $5 cover

Western burbs-
Memorial Park- Bellwood
Memorial Park- LaGrange Park
Schroeder Park- Broadview
Broadview Park District- Sundays Only $5

Some of the courts are in areas that are kinda "rough" but the people who are there are there to play ball just as you are.

[Avengerfire]

"Some" are "kinda" rough? Many of these are in a ghetto. Want to get shot over a game of B-Ball? Want to get your car stolen? Want to get robbed?

Besides the OP wants city sites,so why even list some burb sites?

[chet everett]

I think avengerfire may be a bit overblown, but several of the areas the kind of places that have major issues with the parks.

Pick up game in Lincoln Park at Oz Park off of Burling is a good bet, indoors the North Beach Place on Sheffield has had leagues forever

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

"Some" are "kinda" rough? Many of these are in a ghetto. Want to get shot over a game of B-Ball? Want to get your car stolen? Want to get robbed?

Didn't see you give any suggestions....
Depends on your definition of Ghetto, Sorry no Nazi or Jewish people in most of these places, perhaps the worst place on the list is Columbus Park. Sorry if it doesn't make yuppies feel welcome, but then again he could always play a game of cricket at U of C or Northwestern. Im sure there's plenty of competition there.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by noid_1985

Didn't see you give any suggetions....
Depends on your defintion of Ghetto, Sorry no Nazi or Jewish people in most of these places, perhaps the worst place on the list is Columbus Park. Sorry if it doesn't make yuppies feel welcome, but then again he could always play a game of cricket at U of C or Northwestern. Im sure there's plenty of competition there.

For the record I am not a Nazi,Jewish,or a yuppie. I am stating the facts. To be honest I dont care much for Basketball,but I sure know what areas I would (do) not want to be in, nor many other people would want to be in, be it the day or night.

[noid_1985]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

For the record I am not a Nazi,Jewish,or a yuppie. I am stating the facts. To be honest I dont care much for Basketball,but I sure know what areas I would (do) not want to be in, nor many other people would want to be in, be it the day or night.

I never said you were a Nazi or Jewish...Implying that you are a yuppie... perhaps. For the record I gave the OP a few basketball parks & gyms that I often play. I was fortunate enough not to have been shot or robbed... Yes I survived. Northeastern= VERY DANGEROUS, LOYOLA PARK= VERY DANGEROUS etc. etc. People visit the United Center and visit Garfield Park Conservatory everyday without incident; IMO I think those two places are in far more dangerous neighborhoods than few I named.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by noid_1985

I never said you were a Nazi or Jewish...Implying that you are a yuppie... perhaps. For the record I gave the OP a few basketball parks & gyms that I often play. I was fortunate enough not to have been shot or robbed... Yes I survived. Northeastern= VERY DANGEROUS, LOYOLA PARK= VERY DANGEROUS etc. etc. People visit the United Center and visit Garfield Park Conservatory everyday without incident; IMO I think those two places are in far more dangerous neighborhoods than few I named.

Please note---I am the farthest thing you would find from a yuppie ever.


South Side-
63rd Hayes Dr.- Jackson Park------Very Dangerous
55th-57th st.- Washington Park--------Very Dangerous
Between 31st & 35th st.- Lake Shore Drive----Dangerous

West Side-
Jackson& Central- Columbus Park-----Very Dangerous
North Ave& California- Humboldt Park----Dangerous
X sport fitness- Narragansett & fullerton/Grand w/o pass $10----Somewhat Dangerous to Dangerous

North Side-
Loyola Park---Dangerous
Northeastern Illinois University- Foster & St.Louis $5 cover---Not very Dangerous

Western burbs-
Memorial Park- Bellwood----Dangerous
Memorial Park- LaGrange Park----Ok
Schroeder Park- Broadview---Somewhat Dangerous
Broadview Park District- Sundays Only $5---Somewhat Dangerous

"Some of the courts are in areas that are kinda "rough" but the people who are there are there to play ball just as you are."

[noid_1985]

Lol Broadview being dangerous..Bellwood's Memorial Park is next door to a police station...Sorry that your view of these places are so skewed. All I can say to the OP is drive around and take a look for yourself. I've traveled Chicago and have played ball at a lot of parks, when the OP asked if there are any good places to play ball I had competition and safety in mind (hints the heads up I gave him). There are a lot of "safe" basketball courts across the city and most of those are lacking opponents and/or competition.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by noid_1985

Lol Broadview being dangerous..Bellwood's Memorial Park is next door to a police station...Sorry that your view of these places are so skewed. All I can say to the OP is drive around and take a look for yourself. I've traveled Chicago and have played ball at a lot of parks, when the OP asked if there are any good places to play ball I had competition and safety in mind (hints the heads up I gave him). There are a lot of "safe" basketball courts across the city and most of those are lacking opponents and/or competition.

I said Broadview is SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS. If you look at its crime stats you will see this is the case.

I dont care if Memorial Park in Bellwood is next to a police station or next door to Barack Obamas house in Hyde Park-Bellwood is declining fast and is not a place I would go to if i could help it. Yes, I have been to Bellwood many times over the years,so no need to attack my credibility.


When I gave my ratings I was speaking of the quality of areas that the places you mentioned are in.