Magnolia Park is a small neighborhood park with a large playground and small water feature. There is a single, large play structure with a variety of climbing elements (rope/net elements, a horizontal wavy ladder, among others) and a few slides. There is also a standalone see-saw and the standard Park District swings divided between two swing sets. The water feature is a simple 'four sprayer' with four jets of water from angled spouts on the ground. The play area, with a surface of wood chips, is fenced from the street and neighboring lots but it not fully enclosed. A low perimeter walls provides some seating but benches or a picnic table would be a welcome addition to this site. There are some large trees that provide shade throughout the day but the playground is bright and sunny most of the day.
Lyle Park, situated on a stretch of Wallace Ave that feels more like an alley and next to an elevated freight train line, features some great graffiti art and climbing elements. The main play structure was installed in 2016 and features a number of unique metal climbing and traversing elements and - curiously - just one metal slide. There are swings (toddler, traditional, and tire) in the narrow play area too. The play surface is wood chips and is shaded by large trees.
Lunt Park is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with a large playground and a decent selection of swings. The play structure features a few slides and climbing elements and the swing options include toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire swings. The fully enclosed play area has a few benches and a drinking fountain and the main play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a great little neighborhood playground.
The small and sunny playground in Luna Park features a large play structure with curving slides, some unique climbing equipment, several overhead and traversing structures, and standard swings (toddler and belt seat). The play surface is wood chips and there is a bench and a drinking fountain in the park.
Luella Park features a decent playground right in the middle of the park. With a small structure and a much larger structure (accessible by a ramp), there is a variety of elements for a range of kids. There are a few benches, a drinking fountain, and a some shade trees for additional comfort. The play area opens directly into the park and the play surface is soft rubber.
The Loyola Park playground is a large playground directly next to the Loyola Park Beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. It features a large play structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. Unique elements of this playground include a large, metal fish suitable for climbing, an array of musical instruments, and a parent/child swing. The play surface is wood chips though the sandy beach is steps away. There are a few benches nearby and a few trees for shade though the location is quite sunny most of the day. This is a unique playground with great views of Lake Michigan.
The playground at Lowe Park was renovated in 2014 and features a train theme fitting its location near a freight train track. The playground consists of a single large structure with several levels and a few slides that would be suitable for a range of children. There are a few standalone elements and the standard set of Chicago Park swings. There is also a small water spray feature nearby with a single 'cactus sprayer' element. The play area is enclosed from the street and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and the Lowe Park fieldhouse is nearby for bathroom access (if open). There are a few trees in the general area but the playground itself is bright and sunny.
The playground in London Park features a small play structure with lots of climbing and traversing elements as well as a few unique interactive panels. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips.
This small and sunny park contains a respectable playground. Beyond the standard set of swings, there is a large play structure for older children with several slides and a few climbing/traversing elements. There is also a standard "four sprayer" water spray feature nearby. The park gets full sun all day but there are a few benches for seating. The play area is partially enclosed and the surface is wood chips.
Linden Park is a small park with a basketball court, playground, and water spray feature. The playground, last renovated in 2014, includes a large and sprawling set of equipment with bright neon colors. There is also a large set of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing) and the water spray feature is a basic 'four sprayer.' The non-play amenities are standard: a few benches around a play area with a wood chip surface.
Lindblom Park has a large and sprawling playground. In addition to a large set of the traditional swings, this playground features a smaller set of elements for traversing and climbing and a large set of elements that comprise a more traditional playgrounds with slides and platforms. There are a handful of benches in the play area set a ways off Damen. The play surface is wood chips and there is some shade from nearby trees.
This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park - is located near the Roscoe Street underpass and is a unique playground. There is a small set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) overlooking a fleet of small boats that are part sculpture and part playground equipment. The boats float on a soft rubber surface that is sculpted to resemble waves. There are a few benches and a comfort station with bathrooms is directly north of the playground. All in all, this is a unique little playground best suited for younger children.
The location of this playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - has some real pros and cons. Plus: quiet, tucked away, and shady, easy (paid) parking. Cons: awkwardly set between a driving range, mini golf course, and some tennis courts with a few dumpsters right against the fence. So the ambiance is mixed.
The playground itself is solid. A large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a unusual assortment of swings: toddler, adaptive with a harness, and a saucer swing without and traditional belt seat swings.
The site itself is mixed but has some classic Chicago Park features - wood chip surface, wooden benches - and I bet the nearby Chicago Park building would provide access to a drinking fountain and bathroom (when open). All things considered, I still think this is a solid playground.
Lincoln Park's northern most playground - called St. Andrews Playground according to the Chicago Park District website - was renovated in 2015 and features distinctive equipment. There are several large play structures: one for older children featuring an array of slides and climbing apparatuses that is connected to several traversable elements, there is also a smaller structure for younger children, and a large swing set with the standard variety of swings. There is also a water feature in this playground that is situated next to some benches and a picnic table. The play area is fully enclosed and receives some shade from nearby trees. The main play surface is wood chips though there is also a large and grassy perimeter. This is a solid playground option with lots of amenities if you don't mind the commotion of nearby DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
Bill Hersh Playground is a huge, sprawling, and accessible playground with lots of amenities. This playground - located in Lincoln Park and near the Margate Park fieldhouse - features a huge play area with two large play structures, two sets of swings, and a few standalone elements. Both play structures are accessible via ramps and have lot of connected platforms and bridges.
Inside the fully enclosed play area are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain. The surface is soft rubber. There is access to the bathroom via the Margate Park fieldhouse (when open) and access to the Lake via a pedestrian underpass under DLSD. There are two downsides to this park: it's quite close to DuSable Lake Shore Drive so there is a lot of road noise and there isn't much shade so it's bright and sunny on sunny days.
Even with these downsides, this playground is a great place to gather and play. Highly recommend.
This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - sits near the end of Lawrence Avenue by N Simonds Drive and the Lakefront walking and biking trails. It features a variety of net climbing elements including a large new climber with a slide, an offset vertical climbing net, and a large circular platform with metal pods climbing nets. There are also a few swings - toddler, belt seat, and a hammock style saucer swing. The playground opens directly to the rest of the park and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches but no other amenities directly near the park. There are also a few trees but the playground itself is bright and sunny.
This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park - is located just east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and north of Montrose. It features a sprawling set of playground equipment with a variety of slides and climbing elements (including some rope/net climbing structures). There is also a solid selection of swings - toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and saucer - and a few standalone elements.
The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. Although the playground itself is bright and sunny, some nearby trees provide shade and a small park comfort station provides additional shade as well as access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a solid lakefront playground.
Morrie Mages Playground - one of 10 playground located in Lincoln Park! - is just to the east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive (and the accurately named 'Recreation Drive' that provides vehicular access to some lakefront amenities) and Irving Park. This playground is sandwiched between the lakefront walking and biking trail and provides a large, enclosed play space with a variety of elements.
There are elements for younger children including a small single mast climbing structure and a modern looking Kompan created play structure along with some swings and other standalone elements. The elements for older children include another Kompan play structure and a set of rope/net traverse elements.
The non-play features are also great with a 'classic playground' vibe; wood chips surface surrounded by grass, wooden benches for seating, and some shade created by large trees. Improving the comfort of this site is a collection of picnic tables; decreasing the comfort is the close proximity to the noise of DLSD. I also don't recall a drinking fountain and the nearest bathrooms (likely at the golf course) would be a long walk away.
Despite these imperfections, this is a great playground and a worthwhile destination; highly recommend.
This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - is named the Arthur Telscer Playground and features a play structure, sandbox, and water spray feature. The play structure is relatively small and is designed for younger children. The is also a collection of overhead and climbing elements nearby that should prove challenging to older children. There is also a set of swings with the Chicago Park standards - toddler, adapative, and belt seat - along with a few standalone elements including two animal sculptures. The water spray feature is a simple 'four sprayer' and there is a sandbox (usually with a few leftover sand toys). This playground is heavily shaded and fully enclosed with a few benches for seating. All in all, this is a solid playground; highly recommend.
Sunshine Playscape - one of ten playgrounds in Lincoln Park! - is a $1.5 million dollar playground designed by Ayres Associates in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and the Lincoln Park Conservancy. According to the Lincoln Park Conservancy website: "The Sunshine Playscape offers a unique play experience that blends the best of traditional playground equipment with nature-play elements [and] is designed to inspire curiosity and connection with the natural world." This description is generally true - there are a few standard playground elements like slides and swings built into a natural environment. There aren't any large, plastic play structures but instead the slides are set into the sloping terrain, large tree trunks are used as climbing structures, and other natural elements invite exploration and creativity. However, for such an expensive and well-designed park, I had questions about the height of the monkey bars (they are quite high!) and concerns about the lack of shade in the park.
The play area is fully enclosed and is set back from the nearest streets opening onto a large grassy field instead. There are benches and picnic tables within the play area and the play surface is a combination of soft rubber, wood chips, and concrete. Though there are trees surrounding the playscape, the actual play area is quite bright and sunny (perhaps living up to it's name). All in all, this is an interesting and unique playspace that is worth a visit.
This playground - called "Cummings Playground" according to Park District signage - is located just to the west of Lincoln Park zoo on the west side of Lincoln Park and features a number of sculptures of animals fitting it's location. The playground has two distinct areas. One area features equipment for younger children and a large sand play area with a sand table and a few toddler swings. The main area features a number of elements for older children including a large play structure, a climbing net, a unique traversing element, and additional swings. The playground is fully enclosed and the play areas contains areas of grass, sand, and wood chips. There are a few benches and trees but this playground is relatively bright, sunny - and busy! - most of the day.
Limas Park features a sprawling playground, two sets of swings, and a water spray feature. The play structure includes a few slides and climbing elements. The swings are the standard Chicago Park variety: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The water spray feature is another standard "four sprayer." The amenities are classic playground: just a few benches around a bright and sunny play area covered in wood chips.
This small playground is technically part of Lily Gardens Park though it is also located just to the west of the much larger Hamilton Park. This playground features a unique large net tunnel climbing feature, a small play structure for younger children, a teeter-totter, and the standard set of swings. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and trees for seating and shade.
Levin Park is a moderately sized park in the Austin neighborhood that still bears the design of Jens Jensen with two circular meadows in the middle of the park. One meadow includes a ball field and the other includes a playground. The playground is relatively standard and sprawls out without much height. There is a decent set of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing). The setting and non-play amenities are classic: a few benches around the playground shaded by large, mature trees. The play area is not enclosed but opens directly into the park and the play surface is wood chips.
