The playground at Senka Park is located on the eastern side of the park and seems well loved. The current equipment has been in place since at least 2007 and shows signs of its age. The playground has three main areas: an area for younger children with a traditional play structure and a play ship, an area for older children, an a water spray feature (not pictured in this review). The equipment is standard and offers a variety of slides, climbing elements, monkey bars, and swings.
The rest of Senka Park is quite nice with winding walking paths and several athletic fields. There is a large shade pavilion near the playgrounds (though the play areas themselves are quite bright and sunny). Additional seating - benches and picnic tables - would be a welcome addition. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground but some improvements could transform this site into a true gem.
The playground at Seneca Park, named Schulman Playground, is an amazing and unique playspace in Chicago. The current play structures were installed in May of 2021 and they reflect a modern and contemporary feel - coincidental with the location near the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The fully enclosed play area features soft rubber surface that is molded and sculpted to be an actual play element in places and uses colors to divide the space into two halves. The northern half is designed for younger children but does not feature any single play structure but instead embeds elements directly into the surface. Slides, bridges, and a variety of steps are set low to the ground making them accessible to most and open-ended. There is also a set of the traditional toddler swings in this area.
The other half of the play area features unique and custom play structures designed for older children. The structures appear to reflect nearby structures - a fire station and the John Hancock building - and are somewhat enclosed spaces with a variety of climbing elements and a large tube slide. The enclosed nature sometimes makes tracking your children difficult - especially in a busy playground - but makes for a wonderful experience of discovery and surprise. There are also some other climbing and traversing elements connected these structures. Finally, there is a standalone hammock style saucer swing and a trampoline element on this side of the play area.
The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is soft rubber. There are a few large stones designed to be used as benches throughout the space. Although shaded by neighboring skyscrapers, the play area itself isn't shaded by trees and can be bright and sunny. This is a great playground and definitely a destination.
The playground in Scottsdale Park is tucked into the shady northwest corner of the park. This playground features a medium-sized play structure, a string of connected climbing/traversing elements, and the standard Chicago Park District swings. The play area is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed. The play area is heavily shaded by trees and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches under a shade pavilion as well a drinking fountain. The nearby fieldhouse should provide bathroom access (when open).
Schreiber Park is a small neighborhood park with a fieldhouse, water spray feature, and playground. The playground features a large and accessible structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. There are a few standalone elements and the standard Chicago Park selection of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The water spray feature is a triple shower sprayer.
The setting is nice with some grassy areas and large trees. The non-play amenities are also nice; the surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain near the play area. The fieldhouse should provide access to a bathroom (when open). All in all, this is a great playground.
This small park features a playground with two play structures and a large set of swings. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and the second, designed for older children, is much larger and features a few large slides and climbing elements. The swings are standard (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and there are a few standalone features to round out the playground equipment.
This small pocket park is tucked off the street and creates a somewhat cozy feeling. The play area is nearly completely enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and trees for seating and shade and there is a drinking fountain near the entrance. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood park.
Set between the a quiet residential alley and a paved trail (called the Sauganash Line Trail, the Valley Line Trail, or the Skokie Valley Trail at various points) Sauganash Park features a solid playground. There is a smaller play structure for younger children and another area featuring a large semi-circular climbing net and suspended ring climbing structure. There is the standard set of swings and a little 'music area' with some musical panels. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the alley. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables near the play area and large trees provide shade throughout the day. And the nearby field house provides access to bathrooms in this otherwise quiet location.
St. Louis Park features a solid playground and a small water spray feature. There is a single large play structure with a few slides that sprawls over the wood chip covered play area with connected traversable and overhead climbing elements. There is also a small water spray feature - a 'four sprayer' - located in the corner of the site as well as the standard Chicago Park swing set.
The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There are a few trees on the eastern edge of the site but the play area is bright and sunny for most of the day. There are a few benches (and the low perimeter wall around the play area provides additional informal seating) but additional benches or picnic tables would be a welcome addition.
Playground. Water spray feature. Train views. If your child loves one, two, or all of these things - the playground at Rutherford Sayre Park is for you. The playground is solid. The area for smaller children features a strong train theme that reflects it's location next to a train line. The larger structure isn't train-themed but is a solid structure that is accessible via a ramp. The water spray features are above average and include two "triple sprayers" and one "water arch."
The site is bright and sunny - though there are shady spots under nearby trees and some shade from a pergola near the entrance. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is soft rubber. There are benches and picnic tables for seating and might even be access to a bathroom when the nearby fieldhouse is open. And - as mentioned earlier - there are train views. This is a great park and playground; highly recommend.
The playground in Russell Square Park is a gem. There are two separate areas - one for younger children and one for older - and both have large structures with interesting elements. In fact both have an abundance of slides - there is a total of (at least) seven slides between both structures. The area for older children also has a number of monkey bars and challenging climbing elements. The large structure also includes a ramp from the soft rubber surface so it is somewhat accessible to those using wheelchairs or strollers.
The site is also nice - slightly set back from the street with some good shade trees overlooking the large grassy expanse of Russell Square Park. There are also benches for seating and access to bathrooms when the fieldhouse is open. All in all, this is a great playground.
Located on the east side of Rowan Park, this playground features a large play structure and a standard set of swings. The large play structure is designed for older children and features a lot of tall slides, climbing elements, and a few traversing elements. The play area is not fully enclosed but is fenced from the street. There are lots of benches but sadly little shade near this playground. There is a water feature in Rowan Park - thought it is located on the south edge of the park near 116th and Avenue M.
Located in the northwest corner of Rosenblum Park, this playground features a huge rope/net climbing element, a large and accessible play structure with a variety of components, a standard set of swings, and a water spray feature. The play area is not enclosed but it is fenced from the street. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches dotting the perimeter of the play area.
One of two playgrounds in Rosedale Park, the West Playground is a non-traditional playground that does not have slides or standard equipment; instead it contains a variety of climbing structures made of nets and cables and a large saucer swing.
One of two playgrounds in Rosedale Park, the East Playground contains swings, a four person see-saw, and a climbing structure with a ramp, a variety of climbing structures, and a corkscrew slide. This playground is shaded by mature trees and includes benches, picnic tables, and a small water spray element
The playground at Ronan Park is located just south of Argyle St. on the west bank of the North Branch of the Chicago River and features dedicated areas for younger and older children. The area for younger children features toddler swings, a small play structure, and a teeter-tooter and 'seat on a spring.' The area for older children features belt seat and molded plastic seat swings as well as a larger structure with angled monkey bars and steeper slides. Neither play area is enclosed at all but both are set away from nearby streets. Both are also covered in wood chips and there are benches nearby both areas. The nearby park also offers a nature trail near the river and picnic tables and sculptures further south toward Lawrence.
This playground - located on the west side of Rogers Park - is a great playground shaded by large trees. There are two areas; one is for younger children and the other is for older children. The larger structure features a number of interesting and unique overhead elements as well as a few slides and climbing elements. This site also has a few standalone elements and the Chicago Park standard swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. In my opinion, the best non-playable amenities are shade and benches and this playground has both. The site is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. All in all, it is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
On the northside of Jackie Robinson Park and shaded by large trees, there is a huge and wonderful playground. It is a single large structure that sprawls and soars; it sprawls to include a variety of ramps and climbing elements and soars to great heights with a three story central core. There are a few standalone elements and the standard set of Chicago Park swings but the huge structure is the main attraction.
The amenities are solid too. Both benches and picnic tables offer ample seating. The play surface is soft rubber and the play area is shaded by large, mature trees that opens directly to the rest of the park. A small comfort station nearby provides access to bathrooms (when open).
All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.
Robichaux Park contains a large playground and a water spray feature. The playground contains a variety of climbing elements, slides, and even a circle seat zipline and seems designed to challenge older children. There is also a standard set of Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.' The overall setting is beautiful with large trees nearby (though the playground itself is bright and sunny). However, I don't recall seeing any benches near the playground; added these would greatly improve the site. A nearby fieldhouse should provide access to bathrooms and a drinking fountain (when open). All in all, a good playground that could be a great one with a few benches and picnic tables.
The playground at Roberts Square Park is right in the middle of the park and features a large play structure, a variety of swings, and a sandbox. The play structure features a few slides and a variety of climbing elements (though no monkey bars) and there is a small, twisting metal structure with climbing wall holds. There are the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) as well as a tire swing. There are also a few standalone elements and a playhouse as well as a sand play area. Neither the playground nor the park are fenced from the street though the playground has short walls that provide some informal seating and a sense of boundaries. The main play surface is wood chips and large mature trees provide some shade in this otherwise bright and sunny park.
This small playground - one of two in River Park - sits on the west side of the park near the corner of Carmen and Albany and the confluence of the North Branch of the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel. This playground is quite small and features toddler swings and a tire swing, an overhead slider and S-shaped monkey bars, and a small play structure. The surface is rubberized and gets some afternoon shade from nearby trees.
This playground - one of two in River Park - is located off Francisco Ave on the east side of the North Shore Channel. This playground features a large swing set, a small structure for younger children, and a large structure for older children. The larger structure also includes a variety of overhead elements to challenge older climbers. The play area is somewhat shaded and partially enclosed and has a few benches. River Park itself is quite large with lots of grassy area, nature paths, and paved paths for biking and running. There is also a water feature located near this playground (just north of the nearby pool) that has a variety of spray elements. All together, this is a wonderful playground with lots of nearby options; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Riis Park - is an interesting playground with some unique play elements in a classic and timeless setting. There are two play structures - one for younger children and one for older - that both feature modern equipment that is somewhat unique to Chicago Park playgrounds.
The setting is classic playground that is, at the same time, somewhat rare in Chicago: this playground is set away from the nearest street (Wrightwood between Mobile and Merrimac, in case you need directions) and opens directly into the large grassy expanses of Riis Park. It is bright and sunny with a play surface of wood chips. There is a drinking fountain nearby and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms. A low perimeter wall provides some informal seating but - strangely - there aren't any benches near the playground.
All in all, this is a great little playground; highly recommend.
This small, neighborhood playground is in the northwest corner of Ridge Park and was renovated in 2013 with modern playground equipment including a variety of monkey bars, slides, and the standard mix of swings. This playground also has a small train play area and overlooks the Metra tracks so might be good for a child interested in trains. The surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the perimeter.
