Set back a bit from Sacramento Ave, the Lerner Park playground provides several large play structures in a relatively quiet location. There is a large climbing structure for older children, a play boat and smaller area for younger children, and a variety of swings. The main play surface is wood chips and there is a sand play area as well. There are a few benches and picnic tables in the somewhat shaded play area.
This small playground is on the western side of Leone Beach Park and just north of the much larger Loyola Park (which also features a playground). This playground features a large play structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children in addition to the standard variety of swings. There is also a unique single mast climbing net structure. The play surface is wood chips and the area is mostly enclosed. There are a few benches and large trees in the immediate area.
Leland Giants Park - named for the African-American baseball team that played in Chicago in the early 1900s - contains a playground with large and modern equipment. The single play structure features a variety of slides, climbing and traversing elements, and other features. The play area is somewhat enclosed and quite sunny; there are a few benches in the area for seating.
This playground - one of four in Legion Park - features a variety of swings and a single, large play structure with lots of elements. The swings - toddler, adaptive, molded bucket, a black 'hammock swing', and a standalone tire swing - are solid offerings within the city of Chicago. There is a single play structure (i.e. not dedicated areas for younger and older children) that is quite large and offers three different slides and several climbing options. Attached to the structure are a few traversable elements and a set of monkey bars. The play area is not enclosed at all but instead opens to the greenery of Legion Park. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the area. There are a few trees that give shade throughout the day though the playground itself tends to be bright and sunny.
This playground - one of four in Legion Park - contains somewhat unusual and unique elements. Rather than a traditional plastic play structure, this playground is a collection of interesting standalone elements: a combination rope/net bridge and tunnel with a slide, a set of hammock style saucer swings, a 'triple saucer swing' that quite unusual, and a single mast rope/net climbing structure. The play area is not enclosed and instead opens directly into Legion Park. There are a few benches in the area and though there are many large trees in the area, this playground is bright and sunny (especially in the morning).
This playground - one of four in Legion Park - is located on the east side of the park near Hollywood Avenue. It includes some old-school playground equipment - swings and a metal merry-go-round - as well as more modern equipment including some rope and metal traversing elements and a few slides. The play area is not enclosed at all but instead opens up unto a large grassy area with paths for walking and biking. The play surface is wood chips and although there are large trees in the area, this playground tends to be bright and sunny. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain nearby.
This playground - one of four in Legion Park - is the largest and features some interesting elements. There are two areas - one for younger children and one for older children - with age-appropriate equipment in each area. The area for younger children includes toddler swings, a small play structure, and a few standalone elements. The area for older children includes a much larger structure with several climbing elements and a large curved slide. There are also a few other traversing elements and some swings (belt seat and a large saucer swing) in this area.
Like the other playgrounds in Legion Park, the play area opens directly into the park and isn't enclosed or fenced at all. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain nearby. The play area is quite large and the surface is wood chips.
The playground at Lee Park provides the basics - slides, swings, climbing elements, benches - in a somewhat shady site. There is a small yet sprawling play structure for younger children and a few connected elements to challenge older children. There is a overhead slider, a see-saw, and the standard set of swings. The site is heavily shaded by large trees but still somewhat exposed to a busy stretch of 87th Street. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and low perimeter walls for seating and a drinking fountain.
Renovated in 2015, the playground at LeClaire-Hearst Park is divided into three separate areas: an area for younger children, an area for older children, and a small water spray area. The area for younger children features a small play structure with a slide and several climbing elements as well as toddler swings. The area for older children is more sparse and features some climbing elements and a slide as well as belt seat swings and a small zipline. The water spray feature is set in the middle and consists of a single water spraying pole. The play area is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed. Low perimeter walls provide some informal seating but the site would be improved by adding benches and picnic tables. The play area is bright and sunny (though there are many trees and shady spots nearby) and the play surface is wood chips. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open).
This small pocket park in the Roger's Park neighborhood seems well-loved by the community and contains a large play structure for older kids as well as a smaller structure for younger kids and a few toddler swings. Situated in the middle of the block between two buildings, several large trees offer some shade throughout the day and there are a few benches and picnic tables for seating. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips.
The playground at Lawler Park features a large net climbing structure, a moderate size play structure, swings, two water spray features, and lots of benches. The large standalone net climbing feature looks like a "web in a sphere" and has a few climbing panels and a large pole attached to the main structure. The other play structure is more traditional and features a lot of slides. There are the standard park district swings and a few standalone elements. The water spray features include a 'triple shower sprayer' and a 'loch ness mister' (my name for the small set of arches and tubes that mist water made to look like a water creature.)
The play area is fenced and set back from the street but is not fully enclosed. The main play surface is soft rubber and there are lots of benches surrounding the play structures. The nearby fieldhouse provides bathroom access (when the building is open) and there is a drinking fountain nearby. There are some trees near the playground but overall this is a bright and sunny playground. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
On the south end of Langley Park, there is a nice playground with two play structures, a few swings, and train play structure. The larger structure includes a few slides and is accessible via a ramp for those using a wheelchair or stroller. There are also a few overhead elements connected to that play structure. The smaller structure, designed for younger children, features a smaller slide and a few climbing elements. There is also a small swing set (toddler swings and belt seat swings) and the standalone play train.
The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches and a drinking fountain. There are a few trees that provide some shade, especially in the morning.
Langdon Park is a moderately sized neighborhood park with two play structures from the Kompan playground company. There is a large structure for older children and a slightly smaller structure for younger children as well as a set of swings. The setting for this park is nice; on a quiet residential street near the Metra tracks make for a quintessential Chicago Park setting. The non-play amenities are standard; there are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the fully enclosed play area with a play surface of wood chips. This is a good park with some unique equipment; highly recommend.
This playground - named the Max Pastin Playground - is in Lane Beach Park and features some solid playground equipment and great views of Lake Michigan. There are two play structures; the larger structure is for older children and is accessible via a ramp. There is also a standard set of Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat.
The non-play amenities are solid. The play surface is soft rubber though the sand from the beach acts as a second play surface. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain and the play area is fully enclosed. This playground gets full sun in the morning and some shade in the afternoon and opens directly onto a sandy beach. All in all, a great playground; highly recommend.
Lamb Park is a small park near the roar of I-57 that features a playground divided into two 'rooms.' One room is for younger children and features a small structure and - unsurprisingly - the other other room is for older children and features larger equipment. There are two varieties of swings - toddler and belt seat - and a few standalone elements as well. The play area is fenced from the street but no enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches for seating and lots of trees for shade throughout the day.
The playground at Lake Shore Park is a great playground in Streeterville. There is a small and simple play structure for younger children and a much larger structure for older children with a few slides, climbing elements, and more. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat).
The play area is fully enclosed and features great views of Lake Michigan (although the views are over the often jammed DuSable Lake Shore Drive...). The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating. There are some trees that provide some shade and this playground is next to the fieldhouse for bathroom access. All in all, this is a great playground with great views.
Set in the northeast corner of Lake Meadows Park is a solid playground designed for a variety of ages. There is a very small play structure for younger children and a then a large, sprawling structure for older children. The larger structure includes a few slides, climbing elements, traversing elements, and a variation on monkey bars. There are also two swing sets with the standard Chicago Park varieties: toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat swing. The other elements of this park aren't novel but are classic playground features. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens to the rest of the grassy park. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating. Trees provide some shade but the playground is bright and sunny. The site does offer great views of the trains passing on the train tracks to the east. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.
The playground at La Villita Park is a sprawling area with a number of different features. There is a large set of swings including toddler, adaptive, and belt seat swings. On the north end of the play area is a large mound of the rubberized surface with a series of rings and double straight sides. Next to that mound is a large, multifaceted climbing structure with rope netting and a variety of climbing elements. There is also a large collection of Kompan playground equipment that includes a lot of traversing and climbing elements. Lastly, there is a water spray feature with a variety of spray elements.
The playground itself is removed from traffic and fully enclosed from the rest of the park. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches scattered in the enclosed play area. Although there are a few trees in the area, the play area is bright and sunny. This is a great playground; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in La Follette Park - is located near the northwest corner of the park and is a somewhat standard Chicago Park playground. There are two structures - one for younger children and one for older children - and a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). Both play structures are modern and well-maintained and the larger one is accessible via a barrier-free ramp. The play surface is soft rubber and the playground is near a drinking fountain and the fieldhouse. The site could be improved by adding benches and/or picnic tables and by adding additional shade.
This playground - one of two in La Follette Park - was locked when I visited in October of 2022. The fenced area included a large water spray area and a small playground with a single small structure and set of swings. Looking at Google Street View, it appears the water spray feature was renovated sometime in 2021 or 2022 (which might be related to the locked gate) but some signage or notice would have been appreciated.
This park - officially named Vicki M. Kucinski and Rosebeth Murphy Park - features a decent playground and a small water spray feature. The playground sits on 33rd Street across from a fire station has one large play structure, a set of swings, and a 'four sprayer' water spray feature. Nothing terribly exciting here - just a standard Chicago playground. The non-play elements - a drinking fountain and benches, wood chipped play surface, and a few large trees - are also rather standard within the city. But that's not an insult - this is a fine park.
Krause Park is a neighborhood playlot with a small playground and water feature. There is one small play structure with a few climbing elements and one corkscrew slide. There is also a small swing set with three swings: one toddler, one adaptive, and one standard belt seat swing. The water feature is a simple 'triple shower sprayer.' The playground is fenced from the street (and somewhat below grade) but is not fully enclosed. There aren't benches or a picnic table for the low perimeter wall provides some seating. There is a drinking fountain and some small trees provide some shade.
This playground is located on the south side of Kosciuszko Park (which, according to Wikipedia, is pronounced like "Costco" with a "shush" in the middle - Kos-Shush-Ko). This playground features a small area for younger children, a large area for older children, a large swing set, and a nice water spray feature. The surface is soft rubber and the space is made more comfortable through benches, picnic tables, and large shade trees. Although this playground combines somewhat standard playground elements, the total experience somehow transcends the sum of the parts and makes this a worthwhile destination playground.
Korczak Park is a tiny neighborhood park with a standard Chicago Park playground. There is a single large, sprawling structure that is partially accessible via a ramp and including climbing nets, monkey bars, and slides. There is also a standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The essential amenities like a few benches and a drinking fountain are present and the play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a pretty standard Chicago Park playground.
