The state-of-the-art Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center will host the "Citywide Chicago Park District Indoor Track Meet" & the "Bowa Gives 2023 Girls' Invite" in mid-November
CHICAGO – For the first time ever, the Chicago Park District is proud to announce the beginning of the indoor track season, ushering an opportunity for young athletes to participate in state-of-the art facilities to prepare themselves for high school, collegiate, and even Olympic competition. The Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park, located at 10201 S. Cottage Grove Ave. and constructed in 2021, will host two Chicago Park District indoor track meets this November.
“The Chicago Park District has made strides to bring world-class facilities to communities throughout Chicago,” says Chicago Park District General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escareño, “It is not only our responsibility, but also our joy to get children and families to reap the fruits of fitness and healthy competition within our facilities. The more children are equipped to support their physical health, the more they will be mentally prepared to tackle the challenges of our day.”
The first opportunity to participate is at the Chicago Park District Indoor Track Meet on Saturday, November 11, 2023. The event is open to track and field athletes ages 5 to 14 years of age. With a registration fee of $5.00, and 400 openings, Chicago residents are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Athletes may compete in four different events: 60-meter, 200-meter, 400-meter, and 800-meter. Check-in begins at 8:00 a.m.., followed by an opening ceremony at 9:00 a.m. Races will begin at 10:00 a.m. Interested patrons can register here.
Additionally, the Chicago Park District, in partnership with the philanthropic arm of BOWA Construction, Bowa Gives, will host the Bowa Gives Girls’ Invite Track Meet at Gately Park on Saturday, November 18 and Sunday, November 19, 2023. This girls-only event falls under the Chicago Park District’s Girls P.L.A.Y. initiative, as young women ages 5 to 18 are invited to participate. Registration is open now at this link and costs $10.00. The action begins at 9:30 a.m.
Ashley Ehimwenman, Co-founder of BOWA Gives, added, “Being a former female student-athlete, I know firsthand, the significant role that sports played in crafting the woman that I am today. So, it is my responsibility to uplift the next generation of female athletes.”
Last year, alongside local track enthusiasts and community members, the Chicago Park District and BOWA Gives garnered over 250 registered youth athletes participated in a similar race. These athletes competed on the world class track of the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center. To elevate the experience for the athletes, BOWA Gives and the Chicago Park District had three Olympic athletes present for high fives and photos coupled with the support of leading brand partners.
About the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park
The Dr. Conrad Worrill Track and Field Center at Gately Park is a world-class facility with the area’s first hydraulically banked 200-meter track. Located in the Pullman community, the 139,000-square foot facility has a seating capacity of 3,500 and features a running track, volleyball and basketball courts, fitness & club rooms, along with green space. This facility has supporting amenities such as a meet management control room, concessions, multipurpose rooms, and locker rooms. Additionally, the facility features a 4,000-square foot curtained warm-up area, eight sprint lanes, two long and triple jump runways and pits, pole-vault runway and pads, a high jump area, discus area, and scoreboard.
In addition to sporting events and programs, non-sport events are also expected to be held throughout the year. To accommodate this need, this facility has 70,000 square feet of usable event space that can also be programmed for recreational basketball, volleyball, and other non-sporting events. Basketball hoops and volleyball nets retrack from the ceiling to provide four full-court basketball courts and six full volleyball courts. The glass-enclosed multi-purpose room overlooks the track and sports areas enabling it to be used for parties and during events to watch the activities. For more information about the Gately Track, please visit www.gatelytrackandfield.com.