Playin’ In the Streets!

  1. Updates

Chicago’s Active Transit Alliance hosted the first Open Streets on State Street event, where seven blocks of our famous "great street" were closed to traffic and transformed into an urban playground filled with activities for all ages.

There was a mobile skate park, a dunk tank, a chalk art street mural, yoga classes and break dancing demos, just to name a few! Playworks Chicago ran the recess area, where crowds of all ages played (and sometimes relearned how to play) four square.

Hundreds of passerbys got into the action! Kids and adults alike were excited to see four square at the event;  the kids were experts from practicing during their school recesses and got to show off their skills, and adults who had forgotten about their favorite playground game got to relive childhood memories! We even had a turkey stop by and play for a while! 

The goal is to have this be an annual event, and Playworks will be on hand each year to bring a healthy dose of playground games to the public. It’s a fun event for everyone, especially families, and we loved seeing adults playing one of our tried and true games!

More Updates


February 11, 2025

Resourceful Play with Minimal Equipment ›

Imagine a rainy day when outdoor recess is canceled or a play area with no traditional play equipment in sight. Even in these moments, kids, with the help of adults,…

January 13, 2025

Making Any Space a Playspace ›

Play is essential to a child’s development, regardless of whether it happens on a bustling playground, in a quiet classroom, or even in a small hallway. While a traditional outdoor…

November 20, 2024

Building a Foundation for Change ›

Relationships are the foundation of building a shared future. Schools, as microcosms of our communities, are the perfect starting point for driving the systemic change we need. We can most…