Plans dropped for summer day camp at Edgebrook Park; online camp registration begins April 14 and 15

by BRIAN NADIG

Plans for a summer day camp at Edgebrook Park, 6525 N. Hiawatha Ave., have been dropped due to a lack of a park supervisor, and area parents are being urged to register at nearby camps.

Online registration begins Monday, April 14, for parks west of California Avenue, and Tuesday, April 15, for parks east of California Avenue. In-person registration begins either April 19 or 21, depending on the park. Camps run for 6 weeks beginning Monday, June 23.

“The park district has increased capacities at the three nearby camps to accommodate families that (last year) registered for the 80 Edgebrook Park day camp slots. The increased day camp slots are as follows: Rosedale (20), Wildwood (40) and Sauganash (20) parks,” Chicago Park District spokesperson Michele Lemons said.

Lemons said that the district is “actively” working to hire a new supervisor and that an interim supervisor has been assigned to Edgebrook, which uses Edgebrook School for its indoor activities due to a lack of a fieldhouse. The previous Edgebrook supervisor transferred to another park.

“In an effort to accommodate as many families as possible, we have increased our day camp capacity at three surrounding parks, including Wildwood, Sauganash, and Rosedale Parks this summer. While these locations may not be within walking distance, they are nearby and will allow families to continue enjoying the summer camp experience. In the meantime, we believe these additional camp options will provide a strong alternative for this year,” the park district told Edgebrook School leaders.

Edgebrook School is tentatively planning to hold a summer program for two or three weeks in July, school Principal Camille Unger said in a newsletter to parents this week. The offerings will be based on funding and staffing availability, according to school administrators.

At some parks, enrollment slots fill up quickly, especially those with pools or extended hours.

One of the more popular camps on the Northwest Side is held at Jefferson Memorial Park, 4822 N. Long Ave., which has a pool.

“It’s the ‘Hunger Games,’” a parent said about the race to register her child as quickly as possible once the online portal opens at 9 a.m., with multiple family members logging in and trying to secure the coveted spots.

For many families, park district camps represent an affordable option compared to private camps — even with this year’s enrollment price increases, the parent said. The park district dropped prices during the pandemic, but this summer prices have been set closer to pre-2020 levels.

The cost at many Northwest Side camps ranges from $300 to $465, while camps in other areas of the city can be as low as about $100 or $200. Prices reportedly are based in part on the economic levels of community regions.

The most expensive day camps in the city are at Jesse White Park for $670, the Lake Shore Park for $720, $660 at the Lincoln Park Cultural Center, and $720 at Maggie Daley Park, according to the park district Web site.

Cyryl Jakubowski contributed.

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