Revere Park is a large park with a recently remodeled fieldhouse and a great playground. The playground is located on the east side of the park just south of the parking lot and is a fully enclosed soft surface playground. There are two structures, the standard set of swings, and plenty of seating with both benches and picnic tables.
This small, neighborhood park features a clean and modern playground on a quiet triangular lot in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood. There are a few varieties of swings and dedicated areas for younger and older children. There are also plenty of benches and picnic tables and shady corners in the rest of the park making for a comfortable playground experience.
The playground Rainey Park is located on the north side of the park and features a small play structure, a large selection of swings, and some standalone elements. The play structure is relatively small and features a few slides and traversing elements. For swings, this park has toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire swings. There is also a see-saw, spinning sphere, and large overhead spinning element. This playground is not enclosed but is set back from all traffic. The play area is somewhat shaded and the play surface is wood chips.
The playgrounds at Rainbow Beach are located toward the northwest corner of the park and are two fully enclosed play area next to each other. They both feature unique net/rope climbing structures and a variety of swings: toddler, belt seat, and hammock saucer swings. The play surface of both is wood chips and though there aren't benches in the immediate area the low perimeter walls offer some informal seating. Situated away from traffic and with great views of Lake Michigan, these somewhat small playgrounds are gems and are worth the trip.
Railroad Junction Park is a shady and small neighborhood park with a great playground. This playground includes a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) as well as a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. The play area is fenced from the street but is not full enclosed. The play surface is wood chips and a highlight of this park is the shade created by large, mature trees. There are also benches surrounding the play area making this a comfortable park.
The playground in tiny Privet Park takes up nearly the entire area of the park and yet packs in a large climbing structure for older children and a pair of toddler swings. There are two benches and a drinking fountain in the fully enclosed and somewhat shady play area and the play surface is wood chips.
Prairie Wolf Park is a nice neighborhood pocket park with a playground and water feature. The playground is somewhat non-traditional; the structure consists of a few slides connected by climbing and traversing elements and not bridges or platforms like other sites. The water feature is a small 'four sprayer' with jets from the ground. The surface is wood chips and playground gets some shade from the large trees on the site. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed There is a shade structure and drinking fountain near the entrance.
The playground at Pottawattamie Park is very large and features a water spray feature, an area for younger children, and a separate area for older children. The water spray feature is shaped like two flowers and provides an overhead flow of water. The area of young children features a few elements attached to a large play structure as well as a few toddler swings. The area for older children features a variety of connected elements that can be climbed or traversed as well as standard belt swings and a large tire swing. The play surfaces are mainly wood chips and there a few benches and large trees dotting the playground.
The playground at Portage Park has the play structures and amenities to make it a true destination. The fully enclosed area on the west side of Portage Park features two large play structures. One structure is designed for smaller children and features several slides, climbing features, and interactive panels. The other structure is even larger and is designed for older children by showcasing more challenging climbing features and larger slides. There are also several other standalone features including a semi-circular climbing net with suspended rings and a very large twisted net for climbing. There are also two large swing sets offering the standard park variety.
The play surface is soft rubber. In one area the surface itself has been molded and large sculptural canoes are set in the surface in what is perhaps a nod to the name 'portage park' and the routes that Native Americans used in the area prior to white settlement. The playground is well shaded by many mature trees and a simple pavilion on the northside of the playground. There are also plenty of benches and picnic tables for seating. All in all, this is a great playground and a worthy destination.
Poplar Park contains a small and unique playground as well as a water spray feature. The playground contains just a handful of elements: a single mast rope net climbing structure, a large platform with climbing nets and unique metal pods, and an interesting assortment of swings (adaptive, belt seat, and hammock style saucer). No slides or monkey bars at this site! The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer'. This unique park features a few standard amenities - a drinking fountain and benches - as well as great shade from the towering trees on the site. All in all, this is an interesting little 'pocket park.'
This small park features several modern playground elements sited in several areas. These areas include a small structure for young children with a few belt seat swings; a large, multifaceted climbing structure in another area; a hammock saucer swing, toddler swings, and a spinning seat in another, and a curved slide set into a hill with natural rock elements and a small water spray feature. There are several benches and the surrounding neighborhood is quiet making this a comfortable and interesting playground to visit.
Located near the northeast corner of Piotrowski Park, this playground features two play structures and a set of swings. The larger play structure is accessible via a ramp and includes a variety of slides, climbing structures, and play elements. The other structure is much smaller and is designed for younger children. Lastly, there is a sizeable set of swings with Chicago Park standards: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat.
The setting and amenities are above average as well. There is plenty of seating (benches and a picnic table) as well as a drinking fountain in the play area. Large trees provide partial shade around the play area which is a soft rubber surface. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens directly into the rest of the park. The fieldhouse directly to the west should provide access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground in a great setting. Highly recommend!
Pine Park is a small park with a good playground. Most of the standard elements are available here: slides, monkey bars, and swings without too many frills or extras. There are benches and a drinking fountain and the play area itself is somewhat shaded and fully enclosed. The play surface is wood chips.
Pietrowski Park contains a playground with two small structures, swings, and a few standalone elements. The main structure are typical for Chicago parks and include a variety of climbing elements and slides. The swings are also typical: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The playground get some afternoon shade from a large tree but is otherwise bright and sunny. The play surface is wood chips and while there aren't benches, the low perimeter wall provides some seating.
Set in a quiet corner of Peterson Park, this playground offers some interesting play elements for a range of children. There are two main play structures, a few standalone elements, and the standard set of Chicago Park swings. The larger play structure is designed for older children and features a few different slides and climbing elements (a few elements like the rail slide and the platform bridge and quite challenging and younger children may require supervision). The smaller structure is for younger children and provides climbing elements and interactive panels suitable for younger children. There are two unique rope/net climbing elements as well: one arched climber with ropes and another spinning cylinder. Lastly, there are the standard swings: toddler, adaptive with a harness, and flat seat swings.
The playground is set into the park and away from the nearest roads and opens directly into the rest of Peterson Park. The play area is quite shaded by large trees and the play surface is wood chips. There are benches and picnic tables nearby as well as a drinking fountain and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground and a few unique play elements and solid amenities to keep everyone comfortable; highly recommend.
Periwinkle Park is located near the junction of the Chicago Skyway and I-94; this fact of location is relevant to the playground at this site because 1) the road noise is quite loud in the playground and 2) it may explain the concrete aesthetic for this playground. Though wood chips are the primary play surface, there is a striking amount of concrete in this park including benches, stairs, and a raised platform. One slide is somewhat integrated into the concrete and the rest of the structures seems like modern structures set between the concrete elements. So the overall aesthetic is somewhat bizarre but not terrible.
Beyond the small structure, there is a small water spray feature in a corner of the park. The play area has a few benches and gets some morning shade from tall trees to the east of the park But the playground tends to be bright, sunny, and - thanks to the highway - quite loud.
Hadiya Pendelton Park is named after a Chicago teen killed by gun violence in 2013 and some of the parks design elements - a stack of books and a large musical motif printed on the main walking path - reflect this fact. The playground within the park isn't a traditional playground and instead consists of large, modern standalone elements. These elements include two large net climbing structures, a huge spinning platform with additional elements, a saucer swing, and a rope traverse. Immediately next to the playground is a small water spray feature with three modern spray elements. The entire park is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The playground surface is wood chips though there are large grassy areas throughout the park. There are benches and a drinking fountain in this bright and sunny park.
Pasteur Park playground packs a punch! Seriously though, this playground provides some modern equipment in a classic park setting. The 'modern equipment' includes a variety of climbing and traversing options with a small play structure. There is a good variety of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire) as well as a small water spray feature. The setting is pastoral and classic: the play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating and trees for shade. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and the rest of the park. Somewhat modern equipment with some classic amenities in a park-like setting make this a great playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Paschen Park is a great neighborhood playground. This playground offers a separate area for smaller children (including a sand area) and a large area for older children featuring a large play structure with several climbing and traversing elements. The main surface is wood chips and there are a few benches scattered around the play area. The playground is shaded by large trees and is adjacent to a large grassy area.
Parsons Park - named for Lucy Ella Gonzales Parsons who was a labor organizer and anarchist - features an interesting playground and water spray feature. The playground itself is somewhat sprawling; there is a set of swings near the entrance; a large, accessible play structure in the back corner of the site with a large triple slide; a single mast rope climbing elements; and a few more climbing elements and interactive panels on the eastern side of the park. The water spray features area include a 'loch ness mister' that may drain into a small stream. However, the water spray features were not on when I visited on a hot June day so I'm not sure about this...
The site is fully enclosed and gets a fair amount of shade from a large umbrella, trees, and neighboring building. The surface is a combination of sort rubber and concrete with lots of rocks as well. There are a few benches and three small 'game tables' with checkerboard tops. If the water from the spray feature does indeed flow into the river bed, this would be an interesting and unique park worth a visit to see. Without this interesting water spray feature, however, this park is a relatively standard neighborhood park.
Park West Park is a small pocket park with a great playground and tons of shade. There are two play structures in this fully enclosed play area - one for younger children and one for older - as well as the standard set of swings and a see-saw. The non-play amenities are solid; there is a drinking fountain, a picnic table, and benches. But the shade from the large, mature trees is a defining feature of this site. This is a wonderful park for younger kids on a bright and sunny day; highly recommend.
This playground sits in Park 578 just north of the United Center and features some interesting and unique playground equipment. Although the equipment is modern, the metal climbing structure with the colorful art on the top, the climbing structure shaped like a rocket ship, and a unique swing give this playground a unique and somewhat retro feel. There is also an area for younger children, a misting water spray feature, and a large climbing net structure. There are also several other standalone features scattered throughout the park. The play surface is wood chips and while the concrete borders provide a place to sit, additional benches and improved landscaping that could create some shade would make this space more comfortable.
The playground at Park 574 was designed by the firm site design in 2014 and features unique play elements set into a small hill. There is not a standard play structure but instead a series of connected standalone elements including a zipline* with circular seat, spinning elements, and a variety of net/rope climbing elements. A highlight of the park is perhaps the longest playground slide in any Chicago Park - a 22 foot slide set directly into the hill.
The surface is soft rubber that is mounded and sculpted in places enhancing the play area. There are amenities like picnic tables and a drinking fountain but one amenity sorely lack is shade: this park is in full sun all day. There is also a small water spray feature just south of the playground near the southeast corner of the park.
[Aside: on both of my visits (2021 and 2022) the Zipline was broken. Historical Google streetview images (2015-2021) never shows an operational Zipline.]
Officially known as "Park 551", this location is better known as "Fulton River Park" and features a nice, small playground on a terraced site. The playground features two play structures: a smaller one for younger children and a larger one for older children with a variety of slides and accessible by a ramp. There is also a small set of standard swings. The play area is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber surface. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the play area that is shaded by trees and neighboring buildings. This park is also near the Bloomer Chocolate Company (making it a great smelling park!) and near several active train lines (making it a great spot for kids that love trains!). All in all, a solid neighborhood park and playground.
