Chess in the Park?

I know that  chess is played near the Lake Michigan beachfront in Chicago, but I have never played there. I beleive it is North Avenue Beach.

 Actually asking the Council (local gov't) is a good idea.  From what I've seen park life is just as big in the UK as it is anywhere else.  I live 5 minute walk from Victoria Park and 15 minutes walk from London Fields and there were hundreds of people enjoying the outdoors today.  London Fields has a permanent stone table tennis table with a stone net that a group of kids were playing on today.  I also heard today that Vicoria Park is getting a 10,000,000 pound upgrade in preparation for the 2012 Olympics.  Surely they could kick a few quid to get some stone tables with 64 squares on them.  If you build it, they will come.

And to answer another question, yes you have to bring your own pieces (and brush the leafs off the table top:).

And thank you to the Canadian who posted the info about chess in Hollannd Park. 

Toronto has a Chess park. I forget what it's called though.

See www.hollandparkchess.com

I wish Nashville had a chess park. That would be cool.

I saw a picture in a book my wife got me (It was a travel book with data and photos from every country in the world) in Budapest I think. Some Eastern European city. These guys were in a spa/hot tub kind of thing, and it had a chess board on an island in the middle. Throw in somebody to bring you drinks, and that's living!

In the LA area there are only two parks I know of that have actual chess tables:

The International Chess Park on the beach just south of the Santa Monica Pier.

The Glendale chess park.

Other parks where chess is popular are Plummer Park in West Hollywood (lots of Russian players), and believe it or not, MacArthur Park.  (Note:  MacArthur Park is not a safe place to play, but I hear it's getting better.)

If you know of any other chess parks in LA, please list them !

Here's a photo of the Santa Monica chess park

Amy

Glendale chess park info

Article: MacArthur Park

Is the Holland Park chess inside a cafe? If so, do you have to buy something? And would anyone be around if I went there tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon?

Also, there is a giant chess set inside the 02 Arena, but the whole place is almost deserted unless there's a gig on.

The pictures show tables without food nor drink. Holland Park in London.

As to whether people still play there, you could report back after you go.

Although I only visited there once, I have to mention the Santana Row chess park in San Jose, about 50 miles south of San Francisco.  In talking to people during my visit, I was told that there was a lively chess scene at that venue, especially on the weekends.  Apparently the regulars included quite a few strong Russian players.

It is private property with good security and there is no charge to play.  The park is easily the most beautiful outdoor chess environment I have ever visited.  Tables are in the shade under an arbor and are surrounded by flowers and fountains.  The park also provides one of those large outdoor chess sets.

Amy

Here is a photo I took:

What the? I live in cambridge, come on! No one plays chess there!

I wish it was law to have chess parks everywhere!

It might because people could trip over them or a baby could swallow a pawn and then health and safety would come and 'shut them down'.  You know what the British Government are like... anyway without getting political I think we should have a mandatory 5 boards in every park with notices explaining the rules.  Would be a great afternoon out to go to the park and have a bbq and a few games of chess.

I go Holland Park regularly and see people playing chess. It's by the cafe, but not inside it, they play in the seating area nearby the cafe.

Whenever I go I always watch people play but I've never asked if I could play. I don't know whether anyone is allowed to play, whether you have to buy something etc.

ithaca, new york has several tables on the commons which seem to enjoy frequent use.

Blog entry with video of chess players in Washington Square Park.

 It would be hilarious to play Chess in the rain.  Not just rain but British wind and rain. 

I would love to play outside, there are tables at Purdue but I haven't made the time to play when it was warm :(

Hey, everyone, I play there, in Holland Park, and of course everyone is allowed to play, you just have to ask! :)) but during winters we gather around 7 pm (sometimes a bit later) in the Cafe Nero, the one right next to High Street Kensington tube station (next to Boots). Here is the link to our website:

http://hollandparkchess.com/

madrid, parque del retiro, beautiful setting