The Horner Park playground is - in a word - amazing. There are two play large play structures, a small zipline, a variety of swings, and a few other standalone elements that make this a destination playground. The smaller structure for younger children contains a few slides, tubes, and climbing features as well as a few interactive panels. The larger structure for older children is quite large; it features multiple platforms connected by various bridges and net/rope climbing elements and several slides. There is a small zipline with a hanging circle seat. There are a lot of swing options: toddler, molded bucket seat with a harness, belt seat, and a large standalone saucer swing.
The play area itself is quite large and while it is fenced from the street it is not fully enclosed. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and picnic tables doting the perimeter for seating. The Horner Park fieldhouse is quite close and provides access to bathrooms. While this playground doesn't have everything (it lacks a water feature and could be improved with more shade) this playground is still amazing. This is definitely a destination playground.
Beyond the playground, Horner Park is one of the largest parks in the area and includes a large hill that is perfect for flying kites or sledding; a free parking lot of California Avenue; and a walking path around the entire park perfect for walking, biking, or riding scooters. There is also a small (and I believe unofficial) nature play area south of the parking lot off California.
Hornbeam Park consists of a decent playground and a small water spray element. The playground consists of KOMPAN equipment - a modern and somewhat unique playground equipment maker from Europe. There is a collection of climbing elements, two large sets of swings, a small and traditional structure, and a few standalone elements. The water feature is a basic four sprayer.
The non-play amenities are standard: a few benches and a drinking fountain. The play surface is wood chips and the site is bright and sunny.
The playground in Horan Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and features a unique play structure consisting mainly of rope netting. There is also a large spinning climbing elements, two variations of saucer swings, and another rope climbing element. There is also a small and simple four sprayer water feature. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The main surface is wood chips. There is some shade from the large trees to the south of the play area but it's quite open and sunny. The area would benefit from benches or picnic tables; there are currently neither.
Quiet, tucked-away, and shady, the playground at Bertha Honoré Palmer Park features a large play structure and a few other elements. The large play structure features two different slides (curving and corkscrew) and a lot of different climbing elements. There is also a standalone metal climber near the entrance and a hammock style saucer swing and a pair of toddler swings near the rear.
The play area is fully enclosed and is shaded by large trees and the nearby buildings. There is also a small structure with two picnic tables for some additional shade and seating. The play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a good playground tucked away on a quiet street.
Honeysuckle Park is a tiny neighborhood pocket park that features a very unique playground. There are just a handful of elements in the playground: toddler swings, belt seat swings, a saucer swing, a large conical climbing element, and an even larger climbing element that resembled a bridge under construction. So although the play elements aren't traditional (no slides at this playground!) the equipment was interesting and well-maintained. The setting and non-play elements are fine; there are a few benches as well as a drinking fountain. The surface is wood chips and there are a few trees providing nice shade. All in all, this is a unique little playground.
This Homan Square Community Center Park opened in 2001 and contains a small playground designed for young children. There are two small play structures both for young children with simple climbing elements and small slides. The small play area also includes a swing set. The playground is fully enclosed from the street - with a fence surrounding the park and another surrounding the playground - and is positioned next to the community center. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches for seating. Sadly, there is no shade for this playground.
Homan Park features a nice small playground on a quiet street with views of trains. The playground is somewhat sprawling with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There is also a set of swings and a zip line with a circle seat. The other aspects are classic Chicago playgrounds - wood chips and a few benches and a little shade from nearby trees. All in all, a solid neighborhood playground.
The playground at Holstein Park is located on the northern end of the park and features two unique play structures, a set of swings, and a small water spray feature. One of the play structures is a somewhat sprawling traditional play structure that features a few slides and climbing elements that is fully accessible via a ramp carved into the landscape. The second structure is quite different and hard to describe. Produced by the Kompan Company, this structure is a set of connected climbing elements; it looks somewhat chaotic and definitely isn't traditional but is an interesting and fascinating addition to this park. To balance out the novelty of that structure, there is a standard set of park district swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a standalone see-saw. The water spray feature is quite small.
Beyond the elements, this playground features a few benches, a drinking fountain, and two picnic tables within the play area. It is also close to the fieldhouse for bathroom access (when open). The play area is not fully enclosed but is fenced from the streets. The surface is soft rubber and the nearby park space is dotted with trees creating a quite and shady playground. This is a great playground; highly recommend.
The Hollywood Park playground is a nice playground located in the southeast corner of Hollywood Park. This playground features several varieties of swings and a large structure for older children. The play surface is wood chips and there is a small spray feature near the playground. There are a few benches and large trees that provide some shade and shelter.
Renovated in 2016, the playground at Holly Park features some interesting equipment, standard set of swings, a shade pavilion, and a water spray feature. There are two play structures in this park. The larger structure features poles with colorful, curving panels making for an interesting climbing structure. There is also a more traditional platforms and slides on this structure. The smaller structure includes similar climbing and traverse elements. There is also a set of swings with the standard varieties (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). There is a water spray area with a simple triple overhead sprayer. The play area is fully enclosed with a grassy perimeter and the main play surface is wood chips. There is a drinking fountain, a picnic table, benches, and a simple shade pavilion to make this a comfortable park to spend a hot day.
This park features a large playground structure, a variety of swings, and a small water spray feature. The play structure contains a variety of slides and climbing elements and the variety of swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire. The water spray feature is a small four sprayer. The playground is fenced from the street and the main play surface is wood chips with some trees and benches for shade and seating.
Hickory Park is a small neighborhood pocket park in the middle of a block with two play structures and a great view of the CTA train tracks. The two play structures are somewhat standard - a smaller one for younger children and an older one for older children - with a few slides and climbing elements on each. There is a small set of swings, a see-saw, and a few other standalone elements. The non-play elements are decent too: a soft rubber play surface and a fully enclosed play area. A few benches and a drinking fountain make the space somewhat comfortable but there is a noticeable lack of trees and shade which make the playground feel somewhat barren. Despite these imperfections, it's still a decent playground.
The playground at Hiawatha Park features modern play elements and tons of amenities. The playground itself features modern elements with lots of 'low to the ground' climbing and traversing elements including a wavy black belt bridge, semi-circular climbing net, and an interesting net funnel. There is a ramp leading to the only platform and the surface is soft rubber so this playground would be somewhat accessible to people using wheelchairs or people using strollers. Another accessible feature is a collection of interactive panels set at ground level accessible by everyone including very young children. There is also a variety of swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire.
Beyond the play equipment, there are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain and a large sunshade making this a very comfortable play area. There is also a water spray feature located nearby and the Hiawatha Park field house a short ways away for bathroom access. The play surface is soft rubber and the play area is fully enclosed from the street and opens to a large grassy field. This is a great playground; highly recommend.
Hermosa Park features a playground with two different areas, a solid set of swings, and a small water spray area. The small play area is designed for younger children and features a traditional play structure with a set of toddler swings in the same area. The larger area features equipment designed for older children but is not a standard structure with platforms but rather a set of connected climbing elements with a large net/rope tower at the center. There are also swings (adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing) in this area. The water spray feature is a simple 'four sprayer.'
The play areas are set away from the street toward the middle of the park and have a surface of wood chips. There are a few benches and tall trees provide some shade. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and drinking fountains (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.
The playground in Hermitage Park features a large and unique net/rope climbing element, a large and somewhat accessible play structure, a rail slide, and the standard set of swings. There is also a unique and modern water spray feature in this park. The play surface is soft rubber that is sculpted in places for a unique terrain. There are also a few benches, a drinking fountain, and some shade making this a comfortable park.
Hazelnut Park is a small neighborhood park with a sizeable and shady playground. Renovated between 2016 and 2017, this playground features a large play structure with two slides and several climbing elements. There is a "car on a spring" and set of swings with a somewhat uncommon "double swing" where an adult and child can face each other in addition to the standard toddler and belt seat swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. The park is shaded by several large trees and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain near the entrance.
The playground at Hayes Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and is divided into three area. One area includes a moderate sized play structure and swings for older children. The second area includes play elements and swings for younger children as well as a sandbox. And the third area - between the two play areas - is a water spray feature. The non-play amenities are somewhat lacking - no benches or drinking fountains - and the nearby trees provide only limited shade.
This small park features a playground with a single large play structure and a few standalone elements. The play structure features a few slides, a climbing net, monkey bars, and other elements. The standalone elements include a large climbing wall, a large spinning saucer, and the standard set of swings. The park itself is the green space around a Chicago Water Department pumping station and the site is covered with large, mature trees. The play surface is wood chips and the play area somewhat shaded and fully enclosed.
This small park is tucked away at the end of Albion Ave next the the Hartigan Park Beach. Fitting it's location, this playground has a slight nautical theme with ship bow ladders on the eastern edge of a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There are also swings in two areas of the wood chip covered play area. There are a few trees in the area and a bench for seating on the lakeside playground.
Harsh Park sits on a quiet stretch of Oakenwald Avenue and features modern Kompan playground structures, a standard set of swings, and a small water spray element. There are two playground structures - a smaller one for younger children and a larger one for older children - that feature distinctive geometric designs and bold colors. The swings are standard (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and the water spray feature is a simple single pole sprayer. The park itself is heavily shaded by large trees and there is a small pavilion on the north side of the park for additional shade. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches but additional seating or even a picnic table would be welcome additions to this small neighborhood park.
The playground in Harrison Park is a massive and sprawling playground that is one of the best in Chicago. Located in the southeast corner of the park, the play area features several large play structures and a huge variety of swings. The smaller play structure is actually quite large and seems designed for younger children. The large play structure for older children is - in a word - huge. It is a sprawling collection of climbing elements, slides, and overhead challenges. The swing options are also huge: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, tire, and saucer. And there are additional standalone elements scattered throughout the huge play area.
The play area is fenced from the street and opens into the rest of Harrison Park. The surface is largely wood chips though there are concrete sections with hopscotch and other games painted to the surface. There are a few benches (under the shade of a few trees!) and low perimeter walls provide additional seating. The play area does get some shade but is also sunny at times. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and there is a drinking fountain nearby as well.
This is not your typical neighborhood playground but instead a huge and sprawling playground paradise and a true destination; highly recommend.
Ryan Harris Park is named for an 11 year girl who was murdered in 1998 and features a large playground as part of that tribute. There are two large play structures. The larger structure is for older children and features a number of unique overhead elements and traversing elements. The smaller structure is designed for younger children and features two slides. There are also the standard set of swings and a seahorse sprayer water feature at this site. The surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches dotting the area.
George Harding Park features a small playground right next to the CTA Green Line. Renovated in 2013, this playground features equipment from Gametime and includes some traversing elements (suspended rings and hanging steps) and a small structure with a few slides and climbing elements. There are two swing sets with standard swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a small playhouse. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and receives a lot of sunlight throughout the day. The surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating near the park and watching the trains pass.
Harding Park features a small playground and set of swings. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and is bright and sunny. The play surface is wood chips.
