This small pocket park in the Roger's Park neighborhood seems well-loved by the community and contains a large play structure for older kids as well as a smaller structure for younger kids and a few toddler swings. Situated in the middle of the block between two buildings, several large trees offer some shade throughout the day and there are a few benches and picnic tables for seating. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips.
Langdon Park is a moderately sized neighborhood park with two play structures from the Kompan playground company. There is a large structure for older children and a slightly smaller structure for younger children as well as a set of swings. The setting for this park is nice; on a quiet residential street near the Metra tracks make for a quintessential Chicago Park setting. The non-play amenities are standard; there are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the fully enclosed play area with a play surface of wood chips. This is a good park with some unique equipment; highly recommend.
This playground - named the Max Pastin Playground - is in Lane Beach Park and features some solid playground equipment and great views of Lake Michigan. There are two play structures; the larger structure is for older children and is accessible via a ramp. There is also a standard set of Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat.
The non-play amenities are solid. The play surface is soft rubber though the sand from the beach acts as a second play surface. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain and the play area is fully enclosed. This playground gets full sun in the morning and some shade in the afternoon and opens directly onto a sandy beach. All in all, a great playground; highly recommend.
Korczak Park is a tiny neighborhood park with a standard Chicago Park playground. There is a single large, sprawling structure that is partially accessible via a ramp and including climbing nets, monkey bars, and slides. There is also a standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The essential amenities like a few benches and a drinking fountain are present and the play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a pretty standard Chicago Park playground.
Jensen Park is a small park with a great playground. There is a smaller structure for younger children, a large structure for older children, and a small set of swings. The large structure is accessible by a ramp and sprawls without getting too high off the ground. All in all, this playground has some great elements. The non-play amenities, however, are pretty basic. There are benches and a soft rubber play surface but there isn't much shade or other amenities. Despite these imperfections, this is still a fine neighborhood park and a good place to play.
Jefferson Park is a large park with a variety of athletic fields, a pool, and a nice playground with a water spray feature. The playground features a large structure (accessible via a ramp) for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. There is the standard Chicago Park set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a single pole water sprayer.
The non-play amenities are nice; there are plenty of benches and a drinking fountain around the soft surface play area. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open) and there is a pool at this park as well. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
A small neighborhood park that borders the Chicago River and the CTA Brown Line, this park contains a grassy hill and a large sand play area with a small bridge. The playground features a smaller area designed for younger children and another area with monkey bars and climbing elements designed for older children. There is plenty of morning shade and several benches and picnic tables at this park making this a comfortable spot to watch trains while you play.
The playground at Indian Road Park features the standard set of swings, two play structures, and a water feature. The swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) are the standards found in many parks. The smaller of the two structures seems designed for younger children and features a two tubes and two different slides. The larger play structure is designed for older children and features a few different slides and climbing elements. Children can also access the highest platform via a ramp built into the landscaping and a long ramp that runs through the entire making it accessible to a wider range of children and interesting to all. There is also a suspended metal ring climber and low, standalone plank bridge near the larger structure. The water spray feature is a 'triple shower sprayer' that is located some distance away from the playground while still in the general area.
The amenities of this site are quite nice. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. The play surface is soft rubber and the whole area gets good shade in the afternoon. There are a few benches, a large grassy area, and access to bathrooms via the fieldhouse (when open). All in all, this is a very solid neighborhood playground and a good destination on the northwest side.
The playground at Indian Boundary Park is unlike most other playgrounds in Chicago and is an amazing place space. The structure is one of the few wooden playgrounds in Chicago (the other being Dorothy's Playground in Oz Park) and presents a sprawling and labyrinthine structure for kids to explore. This site can be crowded and it might be difficult to keep track of your child, but this is still a great playground to explore. The water spray area isn't as interesting or picturesque but is still an welcome amenity to the park.
The non-play amenities of the park are also great. There are picnic tables near the playground that perfect for a snack or a picnic in the park. There is a lagoon with animals, a fieldhouse with bathrooms and drinking fountains, and a nature play area.
So in many ways, this is a wonderful park. It is, of course, also problematic. The park is called "Indian Boundary" because of the line created by an 1816 treaty between the United States and Native American tribes and both the playground and the park building feature Native American themes and images that are problematic.
So what to do with a great park and playground with some potentially difficult questions? I do not know, but one answer for our family has been to engage! We have enjoyed the park, lagoon, and playground and we talk to our children about this history and these issues.
This small playground features a large net climbing structure with a rope bridge leading to a curving slide, a hammock saucer swing, and a large spinning conical climber. The play area is somewhat enclosed and is the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches near the playground and provides unobstructed views of Lake Michigan.
The Hollywood Park playground is a nice playground located in the southeast corner of Hollywood Park. This playground features several varieties of swings and a large structure for older children. The play surface is wood chips and there is a small spray feature near the playground. There are a few benches and large trees that provide some shade and shelter.
Hickory Park is a small neighborhood pocket park in the middle of a block with two play structures and a great view of the CTA train tracks. The two play structures are somewhat standard - a smaller one for younger children and an older one for older children - with a few slides and climbing elements on each. There is a small set of swings, a see-saw, and a few other standalone elements. The non-play elements are decent too: a soft rubber play surface and a fully enclosed play area. A few benches and a drinking fountain make the space somewhat comfortable but there is a noticeable lack of trees and shade which make the playground feel somewhat barren. Despite these imperfections, it's still a decent playground.
This small park is tucked away at the end of Albion Ave next the the Hartigan Park Beach. Fitting it's location, this playground has a slight nautical theme with ship bow ladders on the eastern edge of a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There are also swings in two areas of the wood chip covered play area. There are a few trees in the area and a bench for seating on the lakeside playground.
To quote Shakespeare: "What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet." I turn to the Bard to say that - despite this name Gross Park is not gross. In fact, it is quite nice.
There is a single sprawling play structure that is accessible by ramp with elements for a range of children. There are also a few standalone elements - including a play dinosaur - and the same set of swings (toddler and belt seat only).
The non-play amenities are great. Some large trees give shade throughout the day. Ample seating in the form of benches and picnic tables. A drinking fountain and a small fieldhouse which should provide access to a bathroom (when open). And a soft rubber play surface in a fully enclosed park. Lots of things make this a comfortable place to spend a morning; highly recommend.
This fairly standard playground on the west side of Green Briar Park features a variety of swings and a large climbing structure with a circular monkey bars and a few slides. The play area surface is wood chips and gets afternoon shade from mature trees on the west side of the park. There is also a small spray area adjacent to the playground.
Quiet Green Park features a playground with a large structure, swings, and a sand play area. The play structure is large but not too challenging and features four different slides and a few climbing options. There is the standard Park District swings (toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat) as well as a few standalone elements. There are also two sandboxes with a scooper and small sand play table.
Situated on quiet residential streets, this playground is not enclosed or fenced from the street (though it is fenced from the nearby train tracks) and opens directly into a small grassy area with large mature trees. The play surface is wood chips (except in the sand boxes, obviously!). There are a few benches and a picnic tables for seating in this shady park. It is also next to a set of train tracks which makes it great for kids who like trains.
All in all, the playground at Green Park is a standard neighborhood playground in the best sense of the phrase located in a quiet neighborhood; highly recommend.
Grandparents' Park is a small park tucked away in the O'Hare Community Area that features a good-sized playground. The playground consists of a set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt) as well as a play structure with a variety of climbing elements and slides. Two of the standalone structures - a four person see-saw in the shape of a 'X' and a marble maze game - are unique elements in Chicago Park playgrounds. The other amenities are classic playground amenities: there are benches and the play surface is wood chips. There are a good number of shady areas in the park though the playground itself seems bright and sunny.
The tiny Gooseberry Park playground features a number of unique climbing and overhead elements. There are several play structures with ladders and slides connected by traversable elements (think monkey bars, balance beams, and more!) with a standard set of swings at the back of the park. The play area is fully enclosed, the surface is mainly wood chips, and there are a few benches for seating.
The playground at Gompers Park is located near Foster and Lowell and features some interesting play elements and a small and gentle water spray feature. There is a somewhat large play structure designed for younger children on one side of the play area and a collection of climbing/traversing elements on the other side for older children. There is a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) as well as a few standalone elements. The water spray feature features a large pole with a gentle shower spray and smaller misting loops somewhat reminiscent of the Loch Ness Monster.
The play surface is soft rubber; this surface is mounded in a place that makes the surface a play element. Additionally, there are a few concrete structures - a bench near the mound covered in soft rubber and a collection of concrete cylinders and metal poles that are unique features of this playground. The play area is fully enclosed (a must considering it's close proximity to Foster Ave) and there are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain in the shaded play area. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
This small, neighborhood playground features many standard elements including swings and a see-saw as well as some unique elements like a spider web climbing net and small playhouse. The fully enclosed play area has a surface of wood chips and a few benches and drinking fountain. This playground is near the "Mile of Murals" art project and offers views of the CTA Red and Purple line trains.
Gladstone Park is a small neighborhood park with standard and well-maintained playground equipment and plenty of benches. There are separate areas for younger children and older children as well as a water spray feature. The play area is fenced from the street and the play surface is soft rubber.
Forest Glen Park is a small park with a moderate sized play structure seemingly designed for preschool ages children. That is, it's larger than most toddler play areas but without challenging elements geared for older children. It's a well-maintained area with a soft rubber play surface with a ramp leading to the play structure. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the somewhat shaded park. This park also features views of the nearby Metra trains.
The playground at Eugene Field Park has two play structures, a set of swings, a water spray feature, and some above average amenities making it a great spot near the Chicago River. The large play structure features a ramp from the soft rubber surface making it accessible to people using a wheelchair. This structure isn't very tall but is somewhat sprawling with two variations of monkey bars attached as well as two slides. The other structure is quite small and is designed for younger children. The water spray feature includes two elements: two water loops that produce a gentle mist and 'triple shower sprayer' with a bit more intense spray. Both are set in a concrete area with a row of benches under a simple shade pavilion.
In addition to benches, there are a few picnic tables in the play area. The play area isn't quite fully enclosed but is set back from the street and fenced from the nearest streets. The play surface is soft rubber and large trees provide some shade - especially in the afternoon and evening. All in all, this is a great playground with some solid amenities; highly recommend.
Though not connected to this playground, the natural area just north of the North Branch (follow the pedestrian bridge near the fieldhouse) or the Nature Play Area a few blocks to the east are also worth checking out.
Last renovated in 2015, the playground at Emmerson Park includes two moderately sized play structures, a set of swings, and a simple 'four sprayer' water spray feature. The park itself is somewhat small but nice with large mature trees and some grassy spaces. There are benches and a small fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open).
