Although Kolmar Park sits on Kolmar Avenue, the park is no longer named after the street. In 2022, residents worked to name the park in honor of Gertrud Kolmar - a German-Jewish author who died in the Holocaust.
The park itself is tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood and features a ball field and a small playground. The playground itself is standard in many ways - there are two play structures and two sets of swings. The larger structure is actually two 'towers' connected by a rope net climbing feature with an overhead slider. The smaller structure contains a low to the ground set of monkey bars as well as a few slides.
The non-play features are also standard: the main play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the play area as well a few picnic tables tucked under some nearby trees. The play area is fully enclosed and is shaded by some large trees. All in all, this is a nice little neighborhood playground.
This playground features a small grassy area, benches, and picnic tables and is situated on a small, triangular lot on a busy stretch of Lincoln Avenue and near the Metra tracks. The playground is fully enclosed and well-maintained and features an area for younger children and an area for older children. The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is soft rubber. This is a great little neighborhood playlot.
The playground at King Park is a small but delightful little playground. There is a single compact play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There are a few standalone elements, an area with interactive panels for younger children, and the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat). There is a small 'four sprayer' water spray feature. The setting and non-play amenities are nice: the play surface is soft rubber and there are benches and a drinking fountain nearby. The play area is fenced from the street and bordered by nice shade trees. All in all, a very nice neighborhood playground.
Kilbourn Park features a large and open playground and a new nature play area. The play ground has two structures - one for younger children and one for older children - with many of the standard features you would expect: slides, monkey bars, swings, and more. Next to the playground is a nature play area which has natural and open-ended play elements like stumps and branches. These descriptions might sound lame - a "standard playground" and a nature play area with stumps and rocks - but both areas are really great.
Both areas have a surface of wood chips and are bright and sunny. The playground is not fully enclosed but fenced from the street and set back a good distance. There are a few benches but low perimeter walls provide some informal seating around the playground. There is a drinking fountain and the nearby fieldhouse provides bathroom access (when it is open). Also, there is a nearby train track so kids can watch the occasional train pass by. All things considered, this is a great park to visit.
The small Keystone Park playground is somewhat not-traditional - no standard swings! - but is an interesting playground nonetheless. The main climbing structure is made of rope netting and has platforms leading to a few slides. There are also two standalone elements: a large hammock style saucer swing and a conical climbing net that spins. There are a few benches and the fully enclosed play area is covered with wood chips.
Kenwood Community Park is a great park. There are fields for active recreation and - on the northern edge - a wonderful playground with two large play structures, a sandbox, and a water spray area. Both areas are fenced from the street and feature a soft rubber play surface shaded by large trees and plenty of benches. The sandbox is quite nice and there is a standard 'four sprayer' water sprayer. A small fieldhouse should provide access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.
A relic of the past, the playground equipment at Kensington Park appears to be some of the oldest equipment still in use in the city of Chicago. Google Streetview from 2007 seems to show the same equipment which means the equipment is at least 15 years old.
Despite the age, the equipment appears in relatively good condition. There are a variety of slides, climbing features and standard swings. There is also a small water feature with a candy cane shower sprayer. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and tucked on the side of a large open field. The play surface is wood chips and while there aren't benches the low perimeter wall provides some seating. There is a park district building nearby but it seems to be closed and boarded shut.
Kennicott Park is a moderate sized neighborhood park in the Kenwood Neighborhood with a great little playground. The playground features a somewhat sprawling play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and overhead features. There are two standalone elements and a set of swings with the Chicago Park standards: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and drinking fountains (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Kennedy Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and features some large play structures, the standard set of Chicago Park swings, and a small water spray feature. There is a small play structure for young children and a much larger and sprawling structure for older children. A few standalone elements and two sets of swings round out the play area. There is also a small water spray feature with a gentle misting pole. The play area is set away from the street and is fully enclosed. There are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain and the main play surface is soft rubber. All in all, this is a very solid neighborhood playground.
Solid playground tucked into a small pocket park in the middle of a residential block. There is a single sprawling play structure with a few slides and climbing options. Two sets of swings with the standard offerings (toddler, adaptive with a harness, belt seat) and a few standalone elements: a see-saw and a standalone rope net bridge. The play area is fully enclosed and somewhat shaded by trees and neighboring buildings. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating. All in all, a pretty standard neighborhood park and playground.
Ken-Well Park is a small triangular-shaped park with a playground and water spray feature at the northern tip. The playground contains a large play structure for older children and a smaller structure with a train theme for younger children. There is a standard set of swings and the water spray feature is a single pole water sprayer. The eastern edge of the park is a train embankment which, in my opinion, creates a nice sense of space (and might thrill train loving kids). There is a small fieldhouse and a drinking fountain but additional benches near the playground would improve the site. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground,
Kelvyn Park is a large neighborhood park with a great playground next to the fieldhouse. There is a single large structure with a few standalone elements and two sets of swings. The structure contains a number of slides, climbing elements, and a set of monkey bars.
The non-play amenities are classic and standard: wood chips and benches with some shade. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and a drinking fountain (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood park and playground. Highly recommend.
One of the smallest playgrounds in Chicago, this playground features just three elements: a small single mast climbing structure, a spinning conical climber, and a hammock saucer swing. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There is a lot of afternoon shade but no benches (though short perimeter walls provide some informal seating).
The playground at Edward Kelly Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and features a large play structure, a set of swings, and a few standalone elements. The equipment is standard playground equipment with slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The amenities and settings are standard too: the play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for setting. The park itself is nice with two large athletic fields. All in all, this is a standard neighborhood park and playground in the best sense of the term.
Located in the northwest corner of the park, the playground at Kells Park features a large play structure with several slides and climbing elements as well as the standard set of Park District swings. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches near the bright and sunny play area.
Keeler Park is a narrow neighborhood park with a small play structure, a unique standalone climbing element, a see-saw, and two swings (one toddler and one belt seat). The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There aren't any amenities at this site; that is there are not benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains, or any trees on this narrow lot.
Kedvale Park features a great playground with two large play structures, two sets of swings, and a water spray feature. Both structures are accessible by ramp and feature a variety of slides and climbing elements. The swings are standard for Chicago Parks and there is also a water spray feature for the summer month.
The play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches and large, mature trees doting the play space providing some seating and shade. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open).
All in all, this is a wonderful playground with large play structures in a solid environment. Highly recommend.
Juniper Park Playground is a small, neighborhood playground with unique elements and a natural design perfect for younger kids. Aside from a few slides and swings, there aren't many traditional playground elements; instead there is a large sandy area (with a faucet and trough for water play), rocks and logs for climbing, and a large rotating net for climbing. This is also a small water feature. Plenty of benches and a few picnic tables make this a really wonderful playground.
This small playground features two play structures and the standard set of swings. One play structure is designed for younger children and the second, much larger, play structure is for older children and features a few slides, a rope net bridge, and monkey bars. The playground is shaded by large, mature trees and offers a few benches for seating.
Jonquil Park is a moderate size park in the Lincoln Park neighborhood with a large grassy area and a very respectable playground. The fully enclosed play area features a large play structure for older children, a small structure for younger children, a unique 'obstacle course' featuring Kompan elements, and a few other standalone playground elements. There is also a nice overhead spray feature along with a few benches and picnic tables. You can see CTA trains in the distance while enjoying a great park and playground. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber; highly recommend.
The playground in Jones Park is great. There are three 'rooms': one contains a large play structure for older children, another contains a variety of swings, and the final area contains small equipment for younger children. The large play structure includes a lot of slides and climbing elements as well as a circular monkey bar. The swing area includes just the standards: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. And the area for younger children features a tiny standalone slide and a large, multi-car play train. The play area is fully enclosed from the street and opens into the rest of the park. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches for seating as well as several shady areas throughout the park. All in all, this is a great playground tucked into a quiet part of the Near South Side; highly recommend.
Jensen Park is a small park with a great playground. There is a smaller structure for younger children, a large structure for older children, and a small set of swings. The large structure is accessible by a ramp and sprawls without getting too high off the ground. All in all, this playground has some great elements. The non-play amenities, however, are pretty basic. There are benches and a soft rubber play surface but there isn't much shade or other amenities. Despite these imperfections, this is still a fine neighborhood park and a good place to play.
Jefferson Park is a large park with a variety of athletic fields, a pool, and a nice playground with a water spray feature. The playground features a large structure (accessible via a ramp) for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. There is the standard Chicago Park set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a single pole water sprayer.
The non-play amenities are nice; there are plenty of benches and a drinking fountain around the soft surface play area. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open) and there is a pool at this park as well. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
Thomas Jefferson Park - oddly, one of three 'Jefferson Parks' in Chicago! - is a quiet space tucked near downtown with a solid playground and water spray feature. The playground boasts two play structures - a small one for younger children and a larger one for older children) as well as a rope/net traverse feature and a few standalone elements. The water spray feature is a 'triple overhead sprayer' that is suitable for a variety of kids. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat).
The amenities near this playground are also solid. There is seating - benches and a few picnic tables - as well as bathrooms and a drinking fountain. The play area opens to the rest of the park and is fenced from the street and the play surface is soft rubber.
