Summer camp back at Edgebrook Park after all; park district reverses course after canceling the camp

by BRIAN NADIG

The Chicago Park District reversed course Friday, April 11, and will offer a summer day camp at Edgebrook Park, 6525 N. Hiawatha Ave., after it initially canceled the camp due to a lack of a park supervisor.

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.

Earlier this week the park district said it would  increase capacities at three nearby parks to accommodate families that last year registered for the Edgebrook Park day camp.

There were going to be 20 more slots at Rosedale, 40 more at Wildwood and 20 more at Sauganash parks, Chicago Park District spokesperson Michele Lemons said.

“The park district will offer the park day camp at Edgebrook School this summer. There will be 80 slots. The supplemental spaces at Rosedale, Wildwood and Sauganash parks will be adjusted to their regular capacities,” 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.

Edgebrook School was tentatively  planning to hold a summer program for two or three weeks in July, school Principal Camille Unger said in a newsletter to parents earlier this week.

“(The day camp) is a fantastic opportunity for children to stay active, engaged, and social over the summer break through a variety of fun and enriching activities. The program is open to children of various age groups and typically includes sports, arts and crafts, nature exploration, and more. At some parks, enrollment slots fill up quickly, especially those with pools or extended hours,” Unger said in a letter Friday to parents.

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 $85 or $200. Prices reportedly are based in part on the economic levels of community regions.

The most expensive summer 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.

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