Meyering Park features two large play structures, a variety of swings, and a large water playground. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and features a few climbing elements and slides. The larger structure includes a plank bridge, a few slides, and various overhead elements along with a large set of swings . There is also a water playground located just to the east of the 'traditional' playground. The surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches for seating. Large trees provide some shade throughout the day and the fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms.
The playground of Metcalfe Park is on the north side of the park and features a variety of swings and two play structures. The swings - toddler, adaptive with a harness, belt seat, and a tire swing - are solid offerings and the structures both include a number of slides and unique climbing elements. There is also a small 'four sprayer' water spray feature at this park near the playground. The play area isn't fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. There are a few benches near the playground and the main surface is wood chips.
A small, neighborhood park with a very large climbing structure, a variety of swings, and a small play structure with a slide and other elements. Playground is fully enclosed off a quiet side street with ample benches and shade.
The playground in Merrimac Park is located in the northeast corner of the park and has a lot of modern features. The play surface is soft rubber that is mounded in spots making the surface itself a play feature. On top of that surface, there are several large climbing and traversing elements that are very modern including some large semi-circular climbing nets, rings and hanging steps, and a wavy black belt bridge. There is also a smaller play structure for younger children. There are a few standalone elements including a rail slide and a spinning seat as well as the more traditional varieties of swings (toddler, traditional, and molded bucket). There is also a water spray feature with a triple overhead spray element. There are a few benches and picnic tables as well as a large shade canopy making for a comfortable experience for all. Highly recommend this modern playground.
Off the nearby streets, the playground in Merrill Park offers some of the standard Chicago Park playground options. There is a large play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. There is a standard set of Chicago Park swings. There is a simple water spray feature. Surrounding by grass, this playground is not enclosed nor does it have seating nearby. The play surface is wood chips and, despite many trees in the park, the play area itself is bright and sunny.
Renovated in 2013, this small playground features a swing set and a set of modern climbing elements. The swing set includes the standard swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The rest of the playground isn't a traditional play structure but is instead a collection of climbing elements made of metal and rope and a single curved slide. The play area is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber surface that is mounded and sculpted so that the surface itself is a play element. There are a number of nice amenities in this park as well including benches, a drinking fountain, and picnic tables under a large shade umbrella.
McKinley Park is a large park with a variety of athletic fields, a natural area with a lagoon, and a small playground. The playground is located near the center of the park and features a single play structure and set of swings. The play surface is wood chips and it opens directly into the rest of the park. There is a drinking fountain nearby but not much seating. Elsewhere in the park, there is a fieldhouse (with access to bathrooms when open) as well as a water playground. This is a good playground inside a great park.
Tucked just off a quiet cul-de-sac, the playground at McKiernan Park features some interesting - although perhaps somewhat dated - playground equipment. There are two structures - one smaller and one larger - that offer some of the standard play elements: slides and a few climbing elements. There is a small swing set, a few standalone elements, and a simple water spray feature. There are benches and a small table near the play area as well as a some large trees providing some shade. The play area is fenced from the street and opens directly into the park and the play surface is artificial turf. The small park district building nearby should provide access to bathrooms (when open).
McKeon Park is a moderate sized neighborhood playground with a large playground that was renovated in 2014. There are a variety of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing!) and a large play structure with a few slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The play area is quite large and covered in a wood chips with a grassy area to the north. The setting is great - a quiet residential area - but the amenities are lacking. There are a few benches around the perimeter of the park but adding a few picnic tables or a drinking fountain would improve this site. Despite these imperfections, this is a still a great playground.
McInerney Park features a nice playground shaded by large, mature trees. There are two separate areas - one with a smaller structure for younger children and the other with a larger structure for older children - and a small set of swings. Both structures are relatively large and offer a variety of options for park-goers. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens directly into the rest of McInerney Park. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches and trees for seating and shade. There is nothing particularly noteworthy or novel about this playground; it's just a solid neighborhood playground in the best sense of the term. Highly recommend.
The playground at McGuane Park is a really solid neighborhood playground. There is a single large play structure with lots of metal climbing elements and a variety of slides (including a large triple slide). There are a few standalone elements - balance beam and spinning seat - and two sets of swings (toddler swings and belt seat swings). There is also a nice water spray feature with two twisting water sprayers and some rock features. There is also an interesting rock climbing element just to the north of the playground (this is officially part of Palmisano Park
but it is directly across the street to the north).
Located near the McGuane Park fieldhouse, there is access to bathrooms (when the building is open) and a drinking fountain. The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches doting the perimeter of the play area and some large trees provide shade at different points throughout the day. Overall, this is a great neighborhood park with some great amenities; a solid destination playground.
Mayfair Park is a small park with athletic fields, a basketball court, and a great playground and water spray feature. The playground is located near the southwest corner of the park and features two large structures, a set of swings, and a water spray feature. The larger play structure is accessible via a ramp and sprawls out with a variety of slides and climbing elements. The smaller structure seems designed for younger children and yet is also quite large. The water spray feature seems like an upgraded 'four sprayer' - there indeed four sprayer arranged in a circle but the surface is soft rubber and there is a 'halo sprayer' as well. An exceptional fact about this playground is that it was installed in 2007 (!) and yet the equipment and general feel is quite modern.
The non-play amenities and setting are both first class. The play area is soft rubber and there are benches and picnic tables within the play area with a nearby fieldhouse providing access to bathrooms (when open). The site gets decent shade from the tall, mature trees and the play area is fenced from the street (although not fully enclosed). This is a first rate playground; highly recommend.
This playground is on the western edge of Mather Park and features an area for younger children, a large climbing structure for older children, and a water feature. There are a number of benches within the play area that is shaded by several large trees making this a comfortable spot for everybody.
Matanky Park is a small neighborhood park that features a decent playground with a variety of playground equipment. There is a large play structure for older children, a few connected elements, and a single toddler swing and a single belt seat swing. The play area is wood chips though there is a corner sandbox. There are benches built into the perimeter of the enclosed and heavily shaded play space.
Mason Park is a small neighborhood park with a playground and water spray feature. The playground, renovated in 2014, features a single large play structure with several curving slides and a unique 'platform bridge' among other elements. There are also a few standalone elements and a variety of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing). The water feature is slightly south of the playground and features a set of geysers from the ground. While not fully enclosed, the park is fenced from the street and although most of the park is shaded by trees the playground itself is bright and sunny. There are a few benches and the playground's low perimeter wall provides some seating. There is a drinking fountain near the north edge of the playground and the play surface is wood chips.
Martin Park contains a solid neighborhood playground. There is the standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat) and a play structure with a few slides and climbing elements. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There is a bench and low perimeter walls provide additional informal seating. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground for younger children.
Marshfield Park contains a small playground and a water spray feature. The playground contains two structures (one small and one large), a few standalone elements, and the standard set of Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive (with harness), and belt seat. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.' The playground is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. This playground lacks shade and seating options; adding one or both would greatly improve the site.
This playground - one of two in Marquette Park - is located near the northwest corner of the park and features two play structures and a water spray feature. The smaller structure, designed for younger children, is quite small with just a slide and a climbing element. Relatively speaking, the structure for older children is much larger and includes a larger variety of elements. A set of swings with the Chicago Park standards - toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat - round out the equipment. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.'
The non-play elements are decent as well. There is a drinking fountain and a few benches scattered near the playground. The play surface is soft rubber and the playground opens to the rest of the park while still being fenced from the street to the north. All although the playground itself lacks shade most of the day, there are lots of large trees nearby for the classic park setting and a shady spot to rest. All in all, a solid playground.
This playground - one of two in Marquette Park - is a standard and classic Chicago Park playground. Standard equipment in a large open space. Wood chips and wood benches. Not enclosed, no soft surface, nothing fancy. Just a platonic playground.
Maplewood Park is a wonderful neighborhood park with a new fieldhouse, a large ball field, and a wonderful soft-surface playground. The playground has two main play structures - an accessible and large structure for older children and a smaller one for younger children - and a small set of swings.
The non-play amenities are solid; there is a drinking fountain (with a water bottle filler!) and a few benches surrounding the play area. The new fieldhouse (opened in 2019) is a beautiful facility and provides access to bathrooms (when open). To me, this park is everything a neighborhood park should be; highly recommend.
Maple Park is a small neighborhood pocket park with a large playground. There is a single play structure with the standard elements (slides, climbing elements, and a set of monkey bars) and a swing set near the back of the site with the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat). The non-play amenities are also standard: a few benches and a drinking fountain bordering a fully enclosed play area with a wood chip surface. I've used the word "standard" three times (well, I guess four times now...) but that's not an insult! This is a great neighborhood playground.
Located on the west side of Mann Park, the playground features an impressive array of swings - mostly belt seat and toddler. There is also a large play structure with a black belt bridge, tall curving slide, and other climbing elements. On the other side, there are a handful of standalone elements: a balance beam, hammock swing, spinning seat, and a large metal traverse. All in all - a lot of good elements. Making the playground more comfortable is an abundance of seating, a drinking fountain, access to the park building, and a good amount of shade. The play surface is wood chips and is fully enclosed from the street.
Mandrake Park was dedicated in 2001 and the playground equipment seems to be original to that era (at the very least, it appears on Google Street View in 2008). There are two play structures - a tiny structure for younger children and a much larger structure for older children. The larger structure contains a triple slide - among others - and some relatively unique climbing elements: an offset corkscrew climber and a ring/bubble climber. There are two sets of swings, one toddler and one standard black belt seat, The play area itself is quite large and has a soft rubber surface. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and there are a number of benches and even a few picnic tables (with umbrellas!) in the area but the playground itself is bright and sunny. There is also a small fieldhouse nearby with bathrooms and a drinking fountain.
Small Malus Park features two moderately sized play structures and a few other standalone elements. Both play structures features a few slides and climbing elements - the larger one also features some looping loop monkey bars and a net climbing element. There are some standard swings (toddler, traditional, and tire) as well as a teeter-tooter and a 'car on a spring.' The play surface is enclosed and trees and benches provide some shade and seating.
