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.
This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park - is located near the Roscoe Street underpass and is a unique playground. There is a small set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) overlooking a fleet of small boats that are part sculpture and part playground equipment. The boats float on a soft rubber surface that is sculpted to resemble waves. There are a few benches and a comfort station with bathrooms is directly north of the playground. All in all, this is a unique little playground best suited for younger children.
The location of this playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - has some real pros and cons. Plus: quiet, tucked away, and shady, easy (paid) parking. Cons: awkwardly set between a driving range, mini golf course, and some tennis courts with a few dumpsters right against the fence. So the ambiance is mixed.
The playground itself is solid. A large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a unusual assortment of swings: toddler, adaptive with a harness, and a saucer swing without and traditional belt seat swings.
The site itself is mixed but has some classic Chicago Park features - wood chip surface, wooden benches - and I bet the nearby Chicago Park building would provide access to a drinking fountain and bathroom (when open). All things considered, I still think this is a solid playground.
Morrie Mages Playground - one of 10 playground located in Lincoln Park! - is just to the east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive (and the accurately named 'Recreation Drive' that provides vehicular access to some lakefront amenities) and Irving Park. This playground is sandwiched between the lakefront walking and biking trail and provides a large, enclosed play space with a variety of elements.
There are elements for younger children including a small single mast climbing structure and a modern looking Kompan created play structure along with some swings and other standalone elements. The elements for older children include another Kompan play structure and a set of rope/net traverse elements.
The non-play features are also great with a 'classic playground' vibe; wood chips surface surrounded by grass, wooden benches for seating, and some shade created by large trees. Improving the comfort of this site is a collection of picnic tables; decreasing the comfort is the close proximity to the noise of DLSD. I also don't recall a drinking fountain and the nearest bathrooms (likely at the golf course) would be a long walk away.
Despite these imperfections, this is a great playground and a worthwhile destination; highly recommend.
This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - is named the Arthur Telscer Playground and features a play structure, sandbox, and water spray feature. The play structure is relatively small and is designed for younger children. The is also a collection of overhead and climbing elements nearby that should prove challenging to older children. There is also a set of swings with the Chicago Park standards - toddler, adapative, and belt seat - along with a few standalone elements including two animal sculptures. The water spray feature is a simple 'four sprayer' and there is a sandbox (usually with a few leftover sand toys). This playground is heavily shaded and fully enclosed with a few benches for seating. All in all, this is a solid playground; highly recommend.
Sunshine Playscape - one of ten playgrounds in Lincoln Park! - is a $1.5 million dollar playground designed by Ayres Associates in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and the Lincoln Park Conservancy. According to the Lincoln Park Conservancy website: "The Sunshine Playscape offers a unique play experience that blends the best of traditional playground equipment with nature-play elements [and] is designed to inspire curiosity and connection with the natural world." This description is generally true - there are a few standard playground elements like slides and swings built into a natural environment. There aren't any large, plastic play structures but instead the slides are set into the sloping terrain, large tree trunks are used as climbing structures, and other natural elements invite exploration and creativity. However, for such an expensive and well-designed park, I had questions about the height of the monkey bars (they are quite high!) and concerns about the lack of shade in the park.
The play area is fully enclosed and is set back from the nearest streets opening onto a large grassy field instead. There are benches and picnic tables within the play area and the play surface is a combination of soft rubber, wood chips, and concrete. Though there are trees surrounding the playscape, the actual play area is quite bright and sunny (perhaps living up to it's name). All in all, this is an interesting and unique playspace that is worth a visit.
This playground - called "Cummings Playground" according to Park District signage - is located just to the west of Lincoln Park zoo on the west side of Lincoln Park and features a number of sculptures of animals fitting it's location. The playground has two distinct areas. One area features equipment for younger children and a large sand play area with a sand table and a few toddler swings. The main area features a number of elements for older children including a large play structure, a climbing net, a unique traversing element, and additional swings. The playground is fully enclosed and the play areas contains areas of grass, sand, and wood chips. There are a few benches and trees but this playground is relatively bright, sunny - and busy! - most of the day.
This playground is located on the south side of Kosciuszko Park (which, according to Wikipedia, is pronounced like "Costco" with a "shush" in the middle - Kos-Shush-Ko). This playground features a small area for younger children, a large area for older children, a large swing set, and a nice water spray feature. The surface is soft rubber and the space is made more comfortable through benches, picnic tables, and large shade trees. Although this playground combines somewhat standard playground elements, the total experience somehow transcends the sum of the parts and makes this a worthwhile destination playground.
This playground features a small grassy area, benches, and picnic tables and is situated on a small, triangular lot on a busy stretch of Lincoln Avenue and near the Metra tracks. The playground is fully enclosed and well-maintained and features an area for younger children and an area for older children. The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is soft rubber. This is a great little neighborhood playlot.
Solid playground tucked into a small pocket park in the middle of a residential block. There is a single sprawling play structure with a few slides and climbing options. Two sets of swings with the standard offerings (toddler, adaptive with a harness, belt seat) and a few standalone elements: a see-saw and a standalone rope net bridge. The play area is fully enclosed and somewhat shaded by trees and neighboring buildings. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating. All in all, a pretty standard neighborhood park and playground.
One of the smallest playgrounds in Chicago, this playground features just three elements: a small single mast climbing structure, a spinning conical climber, and a hammock saucer swing. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There is a lot of afternoon shade but no benches (though short perimeter walls provide some informal seating).
Juniper Park Playground is a small, neighborhood playground with unique elements and a natural design perfect for younger kids. Aside from a few slides and swings, there aren't many traditional playground elements; instead there is a large sandy area (with a faucet and trough for water play), rocks and logs for climbing, and a large rotating net for climbing. This is also a small water feature. Plenty of benches and a few picnic tables make this a really wonderful playground.
Jonquil Park is a moderate size park in the Lincoln Park neighborhood with a large grassy area and a very respectable playground. The fully enclosed play area features a large play structure for older children, a small structure for younger children, a unique 'obstacle course' featuring Kompan elements, and a few other standalone playground elements. There is also a nice overhead spray feature along with a few benches and picnic tables. You can see CTA trains in the distance while enjoying a great park and playground. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber; highly recommend.
The playground at Holstein Park is located on the northern end of the park and features two unique play structures, a set of swings, and a small water spray feature. One of the play structures is a somewhat sprawling traditional play structure that features a few slides and climbing elements that is fully accessible via a ramp carved into the landscape. The second structure is quite different and hard to describe. Produced by the Kompan Company, this structure is a set of connected climbing elements; it looks somewhat chaotic and definitely isn't traditional but is an interesting and fascinating addition to this park. To balance out the novelty of that structure, there is a standard set of park district swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a standalone see-saw. The water spray feature is quite small.
Beyond the elements, this playground features a few benches, a drinking fountain, and two picnic tables within the play area. It is also close to the fieldhouse for bathroom access (when open). The play area is not fully enclosed but is fenced from the streets. The surface is soft rubber and the nearby park space is dotted with trees creating a quite and shady playground. This is a great playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Hamlin Park is a popular playground for obvious reasons: the massive play area is filled with a towering play structure and a variety of elements. The two-story play tower is the most noticeable, but there is also a smaller structure for younger children, a rope net climbing feature, and a few standalone elements at this site. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat.
The play area is fenced from the street and features a few benches around the wood chip covered play surface. The nearby fieldhouse should provide access to a drinking fountain and bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground and a worthwhile destination.
Haas Park is a wonderful park with a new fieldhouse, large soccer field, playground, and water spray feature. The playground has two large structures. One structure is designed for younger children and the larger structure is designed for older children and is accessible via a ramp. There is a wide variety of slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars as well as swing sets with the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The water spray feature is in the same area as the playground and is a 'triple shower sprayer.'
The play area is fully enclosed and is next to a new fieldhouse building that provides access to bathrooms (when open). There are also benches and a drinking fountain in the fully enclosed play area. The main play surface is soft rubber and large trees provide some shade throughout the day. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
Grape Park was created in the 1970s on land leftover from the nearby Kennedy Expressway and features a small playground last rebuilt in 2015. The small, triangular site features a moderately sized play structure with a variety of climbing elements and slides as well as a set of toddler swings. This playground has a classic vibe - wood chip surface with a few benches - with an abundance of shade from the trees doting the site. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed.
This playground - designed by the firm Site Design - combines modern and traditional elements with a forest theme. Traditional elements like swings and slides are present though some traditional elements have a modern, natural twist: two logs positioned like a balance beam, wooden beams supporting climbing structures instead of the traditional metal beams, etc. Even the playground surfaces mix the modern and natural; the play area surface is a combination of wood chips and soft poured-in-place rubber that is sculpted into hills and mounds and the concrete paths are decorated in bold colors and geometric shapes. The play area is fully enclosed and there are few benches and picnic tables for seating and a few trees dot this otherwise sunny play area.
Lucy Flower Park is a small neighborhood park with a sand box, water spray feature, and a playground. The playground has a set of non-traditional elements for older children and a small, more traditional structure for younger children. The sand box has a lattice roof for some shade and the water spray feature is designed to look like a flower.
The non-play elements are wonderful; this site is fully enclosed and has a soft surface play area. There are benches, a drinking fountain, and picnic tables. Trees lining the nearby streets provide some shade. All in all, this is a great playground.
Filbert Park is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with playground equipment designed for young children. Nearly everything is low to the ground making it great for toddlers and preschoolers. The largest play structure is near the entrance with a few slides; moving back into the site there are drum panels, interactive panels, and a small set of swings (one toddler and one belt seat).
The non-play amenities are also designed for younger park-goers; the play area is fully enclosed and has a soft rubber surface. There are benches and picnic tables (with shade umbrellas!) as well as a drinking fountain. The site is quite open and is feet from the CTA Brown Line track. All in all, this is a popular and unique playground designed for young children.
Fellger Park is a small neighborhood park with a great playground and water spray feature. This gem of a playground has two main play structures - a larger structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children - as well as many standalone elements: a see-saw, vehicles-on-a-spring, a clubhouse, and a play train. Rounding out the play elements are two sets of swings and a single pole water spray feature. The non-play amenities are stellar: the play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is soft rubber. Large trees provide ample shade and there are benches and picnic tables for seating. This is a great playground - especially for younger children - and definitely a worthy destination.
Evergreen Park is a small neighborhood 'pocket park' that has a small playground that is also a time capsule to another era of playground design. Despite the age (the current structures date to at least 2007 and likely earlier), this playground is well maintained and very functional. There are slides, swings, and climbing elements. The amenities are basic - wood chip surface, a few benches for seating, some shade provided by buildings and trees - but together make for a good, classic playground experience.
Most recently renovated in 2015, Elston Park contains a small playground with modern Kompan equipment. It features two moderate sized structures with bold colors and geometric shapes. These structures contain slides and climbing elements and a variety of traversing elements (though no monkey bars). There are two sets of swings and a small single mast net climbing structure. The play area is fully enclosed and the the play surface is wood chips. There are some benches and trees for seating and shade.
Renovated in 2022, the playground at Erhler Park is a gem. There are two large play structures with modern equipment as well as a small area with interactive panels for very young park goers. The two large play structures have a variety of slides - including a tube slide and a 'big slide!' - climbing elements, and monkey bars while maintaining a traditional playground look/feel. There are also two sets of swings with the standard Chicago Park offerings: toddler, adaptive with a harness, and belt seat.
The setting is beautiful: there is a large row of trees on the southern edge of the park and the fully enclosed park opens onto grassy areas on both sides. There are benches and a drinking fountain and the play surface is newly restored soft rubber. It's a great playground; highly recommend.
