The Elizabeth Benton Playground in Lakeshore East Park is a gem of a playground. Set in the middle of the highly landscaped park, this playground features modern equipment, a small water feature, and lots of amenities. There are two main play structures. The larger structure includes a few slides and climbing elements as well as a few rope climbing features. The smaller structure, designed for younger children, features some low monkey bars, smaller slides, and smaller climbing elements. There is also a small interactive element and igloo-esque structure with holes for creative play. There is a standard set of swings (toddler and belt seat) and a standalone xylophone and drums. There is a simple water spray features (jets from the soft rubber surface) in the middle of the playground.
The playground is set away from the surrounding street and is fully enclosed. There is ample shade from both buildings and trees and plenty of benches around the perimeter of the play area.
Though not as a large or impressive as Maggie Daley Park, Elizabeth Benton Park is a great playground that is much smaller and quieter. I highly recommend it; this is definitely a destination playground.
The playground in Park 540 is located near 24th and S Dearborn that, despite it's location near downtown, is actually somewhat quiet. The playground features two large play structures with a variety of slides and climbing elements. Interestingly, there are no swings in this playground - a relative rarity for Chicago Parks!
The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber (one of the structures also includes a ramp so it is somewhat accessible). The playground is bright and sunny without much shade and there are a few benches for seating.
Park 535 is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with a playground designed for very young children. The equipment is extremely minimal - a set of toddler swings and a playhouse - though the play surface is soft rubber that is mounded and sculpted to create small hills and a little bridge. This also appears to be a "neighborhood toy" site with lots of equipment left in the park for communal use. The play area is fully enclosed with lots of shade and seating.
The site seems to replace a half block of W Wisconsin Street at Halsted (i.e. the park isn't on a standard lot but is instead a converted public plaza on the right of way). I think this location, the upscale neighborhood surrounding the park, and the small size combine to make this a very quaint and lovely park - highly recommend for younger (early walker to preschool) children.
Park 534 features a nice playground and water spray feature in the middle of the park. There is small swing set with two toddler swings and two belt seat swings and then two play structures. The smaller one is for younger children and features a couple of slides and climbing elements. The larger structure is quite large and sprawling with a few slides, climbing elements, and a variation of monkey bars. The larger structure is also quite accessible via ramps on both sides. The water spray feature includes two water spraying arches and a halo shower sprayer.
The playground is bright and sunny and is fenced from the street and opens into a large grassy space. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches dotting the play area. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.
Park 519 is a tiny pocket park situated between an apartment building and a CTA pink line. On this tiny site there is a narrow play structure and a pair of swings. There are benches and a drinking fountain and very, very good views of trains.
Park number 500 is a uniquely shaped park with a decent playground. There is a single large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a large swing set with an above average offering of swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire swing. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are some nice, mature trees on the west side providing some shade and a bench for seating.
Park 422 - tucked between a CTA bus garage and an entrance ramp to the Eisenhower Expressway - provides the neighborhood with a small playground and water spray feature. There is a single play structure with a few slides and climbing elements as well as swings and a see-saw. To the west, there is a large circular spray area with water spraying sea animals. The play area is mostly (but not fully) enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches in this bright and sunny park.
Park 399 is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with a small playground and water spray feature. The playground equipment is somewhat dated - the current equipment has been in place since at least 2007 - but the play area seems well-maintained and well-loved. There are a few swings - toddler and belt seat - near the rear of the site and a single pole water spray feature near the entrance. The non-play amenities are decent - there is a drinking fountain and a few benches in the fully enclosed play area with a soft rubber surface. All in all, this is a fine neighborhood playground.
Contrary to the name, you cannot actually view other parks when in Parkview Park. Interesting name aside, there is a great playground on the north end of the Parkview Park that includes two large play structures and a variety of swings. The smaller play structure is lower to the ground and features a number of interactive panels and small climbing elements. The larger structure consists of several platforms connected by various climbing and overhead elements. Completing the playground is a spinning, four seat merry-go-round and swings: toddler, tire, belt seat, and adaptive. The play area is fully enclosed and there are a few benches and a picnic table near the play area. There are also some large trees to provide moments of shade throughout the day.
Palmer Square Park is amazing and there is a small play area in the middle of the park that is part playground and part art installation. The playground is designed for younger children (under 5 years old) and is based on the book "The Velveteen Rabbit." The play area is somewhat linear and consists of four area connected by a walking path as well as a stepping stone path. One area is a raised stage with an audience of carved animals, the next is a little area with sculptural benches that look like tree stumps, the next is a flat area with a few pieces of equipment including a slide set into a small hill, and finally there is a small mound with two rabbit sculptures on top.
The setting within Palmer Square Park is great - the park is covered with trees and is part of the boulevard system so it's somehow calm and quiet while also being lively. There are a few benches and lots of trees making this a perfect spot to bring a blanket to share a book or a picnic in the shade.
This isn't not a traditional playground and will likely not entertain older children but this is a great spot for younger children; highly recommend.
Located in the northwest corner of the park, the Palmer Park playgrounds include two play areas and a water spray feature. One area is for younger children and features a smaller play structure with a small slide and low to the ground monkey bars. The other area is for older children and features a larger structure as well as some unique and interesting climbing elements. There are also sets of standard Park District swings (toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat) as well as a water spray feature (there is also a pool with water slide but that's not part of the playground).
The play area is not enclosed and opens into the rest of the park. There are a few benches and tress for seating and shade though the area itself can be bright and sunny. The play surface is wood chips and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.
The Packingtown Park playground packs a punch. This tiny neighborhood pocket park has a moderate sized play structure with a variety of equipment, a set of swings with the Chicago Park essentials (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a small "four sprayer" water spray feature. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and features the 'classic' playground amenities of benches, a drinking fountain, and a wood chip play surface. All in all, a solid neighborhood playground.
The playground at Oz Park is a unique and wonderful space. Oz Park is named in honor of Lyman Frank Baum, the author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and features statues of characters from the universe. According to the Chicago Park district website, the name of this playground - "Dorothy's Playlot" - references both the main character from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" but also Dorothy Melamerson, a retired school teacher who donated money to park improvements.
The massive play structure is one of a few wooden play structures within the Chicago Park District and while it features slides and swings, the massive, meandering, multi-level wooden structure is clearly the main feature of this space. It contains stairs and bridges and outlooks that children can explore independently (some of the spaces are quite small for some adult bodies).
The play area is completely enclosed and heavily shaded by large trees. There are some benches and a small picnic table within the play area and additional picnic tables and a drinking fountain just outside one of the entrances. The play surface seems to be a soft rubber covered by artificial turf.
This playground is truly a destination playground; highly recommend.
Owens Park - named for Olympian Jesse Owens - features a great playground that reflects some of the achievements of the person this park is named to honor. There is wonderful mosaic art throughout the play area with the Olympic color and themes and much of the equipment itself reflect these colors. There is a panel that challenges park-goers to compete in events like Jesse Owen, suspended metal climbing rings that reflect the Olympic Rings, a small podium, and cut-out panel with gold, silver, and bronze metals.
Yet this isn't a gimmick, the playground is a great little playground with two play structures and a standard set of swings. There is also a water feature during the summer months. The non-play amenities are nice as well: benches and a modern fieldhouse with drinking fountains and bathrooms.
All in all, this is a wonderful park that is thoroughly themed to celebrate the life of Jesse Owens; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Oriole Park - is located in the northwest corner of the park and is designed to look like a ship. There are ship bow ladders and a large mast in the somewhat large and sprawling play structure. There is a standard set of Chicago Park swings and a few standalone elements.
The setting is traditional with grass and large mature trees surrounding the playground with a wood chip surface. There are a few benches in the immediate area; the fieldhouse and the other playground are located near the other side of the park. All in all, this is a great playground in a large park; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Oriole Park - is near the southeast corner of the park and features a large play structure and a small water spray area. The playground consists of a set of swings; a large sprawling play structure with a few slides, climbing elements, and a monkey bars; and a few standalone climbing elements. The water spray area is just to the north of the playground and features a single pole mister. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. Although there are lots of big trees and shady spots in Oriole Park, this playground is bright and sunny. There is plenty of seating around the playground and the nearby fieldhouse (and Chicago Public Library!) should provide access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
This playground features a large, wood-chipped area and 16 (!) swings. This playground also features several standalone elements for older children (two different kinds of monkey bars, a few different slides, and a climbing net) and an area for younger children. This area is bright and sunny and has a water feature flanked by two shaded areas with benches.
The playground at Ohio & Harding Park is a decent playground with a sprawling play structure, a few standalone elements, and the standard set of swings. The play structure never gets very high but instead spreads out and offers a variety of slides and climbing elements. The swings at the rear of the site are standard for Chicago Parks: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat.
The play area is somewhat shaded by large trees and is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed). The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating and a drinking fountain nearby.
The Ohio Park playground features a large play structure, a few standalone elements, a small set of swings, and a water spray feature. The play structure is quite large and features a few different slides and climbing elements. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. A low perimeter wall provides some seating but the site would be improved with benches or picnic tables. The site is also in full sun all day without trees or structure for shade.
This playground - one of two in Ogden Park - is located on the north side of the park near 64th and Throop. It features a large play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and a monkey bars. There are also a few standalone spinning elements and some swings (toddler and traditional). The playground is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and trees around the park providing seating and shade - though the playground is mostly sunny.
"In 1998, the Chicago Park District created a major regional playground in Ogden Park. One of the city's most exciting places for children, the Ogden Park playground includes assembly and stage areas, play equipment, an interactive water feature, and a canopied carousel." This - according to the Chicago Park District's website - helps explain the massive enclosed area on the east side of Ogden Park.
The fully enclosed play area is accessible via the inner park drive (Black Dr.) and not the main street to the east (S. Racine Ave.) and features a massive playground, several different water spray features, and gazebo with a carousel, with plenty of benches and picnic tables. The play structures are mainly rope/net climbing features that were installed in the spring of 2016. The water spray features are not unique to this park; but having several different spray features in close proximity is novel. Lastly, in addition to several picnic tables, there are a number of circular concrete benches evocative of Jens Jensen's 'council rings' found in other Chicago Parks. This play area is truly unique in the city and is indeed a destination playground.
*Note: when I visited 2022-04 the play area was locked; I plan on returning to get better images and will update this description then.*
Oakley Park features a classic and yet timeless playground. The equipment is new and well-maintained with a sprawling play structure, two sets of swings, and zip line. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the perimeter of the park. The play area is fully enclosed and shaded by large trees. It's a classic playground.
The playground at Oakdale Park is a gem and shows how combining equipment, amenities, and nature makes for a great playground experience. The playground equipment is solid but not vastly different from other playgrounds; there is a moderate play structure with slides and climbing elements, a smaller 'play dinosaur' designed for younger children, and a set of swings (toddler and belt seat). There is a small water spray feature a little ways away as well.
The non-playable amenities are also solid: there are ample benches and the play surface is soft rubber. Perhaps the best feature is that the playground is surrounded - and shaded!- by large, mature trees. I might be bias in favor of trees and shade, but this site is a reminder that getting the basics right - equipment, amenities, and surroundings - can create a wonderful playground; highly recommend.
There is a great playground and water spray feature located in the northeast corner of O'Hallaren Park. The playground features two play structures - the larger one accessible via a ramp - that are both shaded by large, mature trees. The play surface is soft rubber and the play area is fenced from the street (though not fully enclosed). There are benches for seating and a nearby Park District building should provide access to bathrooms (when open). The water spray feature is located in a sunny opening a short walk from the playground. All in all, this is a great park; highly recommend.
