Wiggly Field is the official Chicago Park District dog-friendly area inside Noethling (Grace) Park, at 2645 N. Sheffield Ave. on the east side of Sheffield at Schubert Avenue. It is the Lincoln Park neighborhood’s official off-leash dog area; there is no official dog area in the lakefront park between North Avenue and Diversey Parkway.
What it’s known for
Wrightwood Neighbors, the local neighborhood association, says Wiggly Field opened in 1998 as a designated section of Noethling Park and describes it as the first dog park of its kind in Chicago and Cook County. The association backed the project from the start and still supports it.
The 0.54-acre park around it was established by the Park District in 1970, acquired in 1974 with federal HUD funds and given a soft-surface playground in 1992. It is named for Grace Noethling, founder of the Wrightwood Neighbors Conservation Association.
Good to know
- Hours: Park open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., per the official site, October 2026.
- Permit: Chicago’s dog-friendly areas require a DFA permit and a tag for each dog, sold through participating veterinarians; the city’s FAQ lists $5, valid for the calendar year. Dogs need a current city license or rabies vaccination plus a recent health exam.
- Contact: The park is supervised from nearby Wrightwood Park, (312) 742-7816.
- Tip: Carry the permit at the park; Cook County Animal and Rabies Control enforces the rules.
For leash rules and more dog spots, see the Lincoln Park dog guide and the parks and lakefront guide.
Sources: chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/noethling-grace-park, wrightwoodneighbors.org/neighborhood/parks/wiggly-field, chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cacc/supp_info/dog_friendly_areadfafrequentlyaskedquestions.html, chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks-facilities/lincoln-abraham-park
