Chicago guide
Find a badminton partner in Chicago
Looking for someone to rally with, or a regular game of singles or doubles? Leisure Friends helps adults in Chicago find people who want to play badminton at a similar level, at times you are both free, strictly as friends.
Members in Chicago who publish a badminton activity profile are open to meeting an activity partner in a public place. This page does not list them; joining or signing in does.
Where to play
- Park District gyms. Some Chicago Park District gyms have courts marked for badminton. The Ping Tom Park gymnasium, 1700 S. Wentworth Ave., is marked for badminton, volleyball and basketball.
- Open sessions for adults. The Park District runs open badminton sessions that you register for in advance. For fall 2026, Broadway Armory Park, 5917 N. Broadway, lists one on Saturday mornings for ages 18 and over, and one on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings for ages 45 and over.
Sessions, fees and gym hours change by season. Check the Park District’s page for the park you choose.
How to find a badminton partner here
- Say what you play and how well. Create and publish an activity profile for Badminton and choose your level, from beginner to competitive. Add a profile photo too: Explore only shows people who have one.
- Add the times you are usually free. Other members see only the hours the two of you have in common, unless you choose to show your whole week.
- Post an Activity, or ask to join one. With a profile photo you can post one: set People in total to 2 for singles or 4 for doubles, choose a public place such as a park gym, and say what you have in mind. Or ask to join an Activity somebody else has posted.
- Agree the time and place in the app before you meet.
Meeting safely
Meet in a public place, at a time you have both agreed. Tell a friend where you are going. Every member accepts the Platonic Pledge before they can contact anyone, and you can block or report anybody at any time.
Questions people ask
- Does it cost anything to join?
- No. Leisure Friends does not currently charge for the service. Any cost of playing, such as a court reservation or a program fee, is paid by each person directly to the venue.
- Do I need to be good?
- No. You choose your level, from beginner to competitive, and can look for people at a similar one.
- Can I find people for doubles?
- Yes. Set People in total to 4 when you post an Activity, or say that you are looking for doubles.
- Is this a dating app?
- No. Leisure Friends is for platonic activities only, and every member accepts the Platonic Pledge before they can contact anyone.
Gym and program details from the Chicago Park District, checked : Chicago Park District: Ping Tom Gymnasium; Chicago Park District: Broadway Armory Park.
Find people in Chicago who are up for badminton
Members see each other once they have joined. Nothing about anyone is shown on this page.