Neighborhood News: From coal yard to entertainment center, Wrigleyville’s Gallagher Way mirrors neighborhood transformation
Recently, I was privileged to witness the world -renowned Savannah Bananas 🍌 at Wrigley Field. Before the game, my friends and I attended a raucous pre-game party, complete with a Banana parade, live music, and lots of sideline entertainment outside Wrigley at Gallagher Way, 3635 N Clark Street.Surrounding us were literally tens of thousands of families…children, parents, teens and adults, sharing a joyous moment together.
That’s how a community should be, I thought. Excited but respectful. Having fun. Experiencing life together.
It’s not just for Baseball any more…
Gallagher Way today is a 2-acre, open-air entertainment plaza adjacent to Wrigley Field in Chicago. Originally a coal yard and surface parking lots, the space opened as “The Park at Wrigley” in 2017 before being renamed in April 2018 through a multi-year naming rights partnership with global insurance firm Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Most importantly, Gallagher Way has turned the neighborhood around Wrigley Field into a year-round community gathering spot for all manner of entertainment and events besides baseball Today, it’s home to concerts, night markets, early morning yoga classes, outdoor movies, wine tastings, and in the winter, holiday movies, Winterland at Gallagher Way, ice skating and the Christkindlmarket Wrigleyville (not yet announced, but expected. )
Wrigleyville History
Roughly bounded by Grace Street or Irving Park Road to the north, Sheffield Avenue to the east, Addison Street to the south, and Racine Avenue or Clark Street to the west, Wrigleyville began as Swedish and German farmland in the 1800’s. Later on, according to the Southport Corridor, the land where Wrigley Field itself stands was never itself a coal yard, but it was actually surrounded by coal yards, as well as freight rail lines and lumber yards, at the turn of the century and well into its history. And even earlier, the site of the ballpark itself was home to a Lutheran seminary, which is where Seminary Avenue got its name.
The Chicago Lutheran Theological Seminary opened in 1891. Despite the fact that there was already one coal yard right across the street, the Lutheran minister who built the seminary thought it would be a peaceful place for his students’ quiet contemplation. But soon, coal and lumber yards took over much of the area, attracted by the Chicago and Evanston railroad (later the Milwaukee Road). The young seminarians complained of the coal yard’s “smoke, dust, grime, soot, dirt, foul gases; railroading by night and day; whistles, ding-donging of bells late and early and in between times.
The seminary abandoned the site and moved to Maywood in 1910.
That same year, Federal League founder and Chicago Federals (later named the Chicago Whales) ball-club owner Charles Weeghman decided to build his team’s new ballpark at Clark and Addison.
For much of the 20th century as Wrigley Field grew around it, the west side of Clark Street functioned primarily as industrial lots, tracks, and later surface parking, along with a burgeoning bar scene from Belmont Avenue to Irving Park Road.
When the Ricketts family bought the team from the Chicago Tribune Company, they included ‘The Park at Wrigley’ as part of its 1060 (renovation) Project, and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. bought the naming rights. By 2018, Gallagher Way turned the blocks around Wrigley Field into a year-round destination.
The space incorporates historic team statues (like Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Ryne Sandberg) and expanded in July 2026 with the addition of “Champions Gate,” an archway monument honoring the Cubs’ World Series championship teams.
Today: Free Children’s Programming on Tuesday mornings
Dance along with the Wiggleworms and the Old Town School of Folk Music on Tuesdays at 10 am. for kid-friendly live music, movement, Sloan Pop-Jets and more! Following the music, bring a blanket and hang out on the greenspace to watch a kid-friendly movie on the Gallagher Way videoboard. Movies start at 11 a.m.
Upcoming shows include: Lenny Marsh & Mars Carlton and the movie ‘Wreck it Ralph’ on August 18; Little Miss Ann & Lenny Marsh and the movie ‘Surf’s Up’ onAugust 25; and Will Flancher & Gloria Leung and the movie ‘Luca’ on September 1.
Going to the Dogs on Friday, August 28!
On Friday, August 28, bring your pup and friends for a post Cubs game paw-ty at Gallagher Way! Stop by from 6pm to 10pm and enjoy pet portraits, adoptable puppies from Chicago Canine Rescue, giveaways and photo opportunities.
Note: Dogs attending the event with their owners are required to have updated vaccinations and to be on a leash. Owners are responsible for their dogs and legally responsible for any injuries caused by their dogs. Owner’s must immediately clean up after their dogs.
For more information about all of Gallagher Way’s year-round events, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
