The Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, IL. The Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Montrose Beach is one of the most popular spots in Chicago, not just the Uptown neighborhood. Their gigantic, waterfront beach dog park on Lake Michigan makes for the perfect spot to spend the day with your dog in the sand. Chicago is a very dog-centric city, but there's also tons of space outside of the gated dog park for those who don't favor furry friends.