Located in the southwest corner of Winnemac Park, this playground has lots of play structures and other amenities. There is a larger play structure for older children, a smaller play structure for younger children, and the standard set of swings. The play area is quite large and fully enclosed and uses a combination of soft rubber, concrete, and grass as the play surface. Mature trees on all sides provide spots of shade throughout the day and there are benches and picnic tables within the play area. In total, these features and amenities make this a wonderful and popular playground.
This playground at Wildwood Park is a wonderful and quiet playground tucked away in a residential neighborhood. There are two main areas to the playground - a smaller area for younger children and a larger area for older children - as well as a new 'Nature Play Area' next to the play area. The play area for smaller children includes a small play structure, a spinning saucer, and a set of panels for imaginative play. The area for older children includes a large play structure with slides, climbing features, and a large metal traverse element. Between these areas is a small set of swings.
The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and removed from traffic. The play surface is soft rubber and is shaded by large trees. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables for seating in the area.
Altogether, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
This playground features two unique rope traverse elements, a large play structure for older children, and smaller structure one for younger children in a separate area, and a few swings. The play area is bright and sunny and there are a few benches overlooking the play areas that are covered in wood chips.
The playground at Welles Park is amazing. It features two traditional play structures as well as large rope/net climbing structure, a spinning conical net element, two large sets of swings, and a water spray feature. The two traditional play structures are next to each other; one is smaller and designed for younger children and the other is much larger and features more challenging climbing and overhead elements and steeper slides. The larger one is also accessible via a ramp off the soft rubber surface that covers this area of the playground. The large rope/net climbing structure is hard to describe but is massive and offers a variety of potential play actions. The two sets of swings contains the standard varieties of park district swings. The water spray feature isn't too intense and offers and gentle spray.
The play area is fully enclosed and set off the nearby streets. The surface inside the area is a combination of soft rubber, woodchips, and cement though there is a grassy perimeter and the grassy expanses of the rest of Welles Park beyond. There are several benches and picnic tables within the playground space and the nearby park district building provides bathroom access when it is open. There are several large trees that provide some shade to different areas throughout the day. Given these amenities and it's location, this playground can be busy at times but is definitely a solid playground destination.
[Aside: the newish Nature Play Area near the southwest corner of the park is also worth checking out!]
This tiny playground is tucked between two large buildings and features equipment designed for younger children. The main play structure is accessible via a ramp a features a variety of slides and climbing elements. There is a swing set in the back of the playground with the standard offering of swings. There are a few benches and a picnic table in the fully enclosed play space (with a soft rubberized surface). This playground also features a very unique play caterpillar.
This playground - one of three in Warren Park - is located on the northeast corner of the park and is quite quiet and off the beaten path. There is a small area for younger children, and larger area for older children, and a few swings. This playground has a small nature theme with a unique "leaf ladder" and a dragonfly see-saw. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches as well as picnic tables in the nearby shelter.
This playground - one of three in Warren Park - is located on the northwest corner of the park near the intersection of Western and Pratt. This playground features a standard size main structure featuring a few slides, several connected elements that can be traversed, and a few standalone elements in addition to the standard variety of swings. The surface is wood chips and it is located next to a small shelter that provides some shade and a few chess tables.
This playground - one of three in Warren Park - is located in the southwest corner of the park. This playground features a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There are also toddler swings, an adaptive swing, belt seat swings, and a tire swing in the area. The play area is fenced from the street and from the rest of the park and is shaded by large trees. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and a low perimeter wall for some seating.
Vogle Park is a small, quiet, shady park with a great playground. There are two standalone elements - a climbing wall with voids and a spinning element - and a large play structure with a few slides and other climbing elements. Lastly, there is a set of the standard Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat. The non-play features are playground classics - wood chips, wooden benches, and lots of shade - and the play area is fully enclosed. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.
The Touhy Park playground is located in the northeast corner of the park near the intersection of Jarvis and Paulina. There is an old and well-loved playground over a surface of wood chips nearest that corner. Further south, there is a modern playground over a soft rubberized surface featuring a small play structure for younger children, a large set of connected elements for older children, and swings. There are benches and picnic tables in an area shaded by large trees and near the park building.
Summerdale Park is a tiny pocket park with a small playground. The play structure is relatively small with a couple of slides; there is a set of climbing/traversing elements connected to the main structure. The site is very barebones - just wood chips and some wooden benches - although it is quite shady. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed.
Renovated in 2015, this playground is the centerpiece of tiny Spikings Farm Park. This structure is made by Kompan and features a few slides and climbing features as well as the standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain near the entrance of this bright and sunny park.
This large playground is tucked away on a quiet side street and contains an area for younger children, an area for older children, and a gentle spray water feature. The area for smaller children includes toddler swings, a four person see-saw, a clubhouse, and a small play structure. The area for older children includes a much larger play structure with a long, curved tube slide. There is also a large climbing net, a spinning feature, and the standard set of swings. The water feature is on during the summer months and offers a gentle mist. The surface is soft rubber and there are few benches and grassy areas. This playground is definitely worth checking out if you are in the area.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
