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.
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.
I would say the playground in Ninebark Park is a unique playground with somewhat strange and non-traditional elements. However, in visiting this location, I spoke with a neighbor who hated the equipment at this park and I'm going to honor that interaction with this review. This neighbor complained there weren't any slides at the park - and she is right! There isn't a traditional structure at this park but rather a collection of climbing elements. The only standard elements were the swings and the simple 'four sprayer' water feature.
The non-play amenities are basic: a few benches and a play surface of wood chips for a bright and sunny site.
Moore Park features a nice playground and small water spray feature. The playground is fully enclosed and includes a small structure for younger children, a collection of climbing elements for older children, and a set of swings (toddler and belt seat). The water spray feature is two water spray arches located just outside the playground area. The non-play features are very nice: benches and picnic tables for seating, a drinking fountain, access to the park district building (when open), with a soft rubber play surface. There isn't much shade in the play area - but this is still a solid playground. Highly recommend.
The playground at Miller Park is dino-mite! It's 'dino-mite' largely because there is a large set of "dinosaur steps" as part of the main play structure here (along with other slides and climbing elements). There is a tire swing but, interestingly, no other swings on this small site. There are a few other standalone elements but the large play structure is the main feature of this quiet and somewhat shady park. The play area is wood chips and although it is fenced from the street it is not fully enclosed. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain.
Millard Park features a basketball court and a playground last renovated in 2013. The playground includes a large play structure from Kompan and a set of swings making it a somewhat modern version of a very traditional playground: one slide, a few climbing elements, and basic swings. 'Traditional' could also describe the amenities: wood chips and a wood bench and not much else. The building to the south provides some shade but there isn't much shade on this site otherwise.
Miami Park, situated on the corner of 28th and Trumbull, features a great little neighborhood playground. The single play structure is accessible by a ramp and features a variety of slides and climbing features. There is a small set of swings at the back of the site, a four person see-saw, and a little 'horse on a spring' - this site packs a lot of equipment into a small site. The playground is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber play surface. There are benches and trees for seating and shade as well as a drinking fountain for water. This is a classic neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
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.
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.
Magnolia Park is a small neighborhood park with a large playground and small water feature. There is a single, large play structure with a variety of climbing elements (rope/net elements, a horizontal wavy ladder, among others) and a few slides. There is also a standalone see-saw and the standard Park District swings divided between two swing sets. The water feature is a simple 'four sprayer' with four jets of water from angled spouts on the ground. The play area, with a surface of wood chips, is fenced from the street and neighboring lots but it not fully enclosed. A low perimeter walls provides some seating but benches or a picnic table would be a welcome addition to this site. There are some large trees that provide shade throughout the day but the playground is bright and sunny most of the day.
The playground in London Park features a small play structure with lots of climbing and traversing elements as well as a few unique interactive panels. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips.
Linden Park is a small park with a basketball court, playground, and water spray feature. The playground, last renovated in 2014, includes a large and sprawling set of equipment with bright neon colors. There is also a large set of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing) and the water spray feature is a basic 'four sprayer.' The non-play amenities are standard: a few benches around a play area with a wood chip surface.
Limas Park features a sprawling playground, two sets of swings, and a water spray feature. The play structure includes a few slides and climbing elements. The swings are the standard Chicago Park variety: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The water spray feature is another standard "four sprayer." The amenities are classic playground: just a few benches around a bright and sunny play area covered in wood chips.
Levin Park is a moderately sized park in the Austin neighborhood that still bears the design of Jens Jensen with two circular meadows in the middle of the park. One meadow includes a ball field and the other includes a playground. The playground is relatively standard and sprawls out without much height. There is a decent set of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing). The setting and non-play amenities are classic: a few benches around the playground shaded by large, mature trees. The play area is not enclosed but opens directly into the park and the play surface is wood chips.
The playground at La Villita Park is a sprawling area with a number of different features. There is a large set of swings including toddler, adaptive, and belt seat swings. On the north end of the play area is a large mound of the rubberized surface with a series of rings and double straight sides. Next to that mound is a large, multifaceted climbing structure with rope netting and a variety of climbing elements. There is also a large collection of Kompan playground equipment that includes a lot of traversing and climbing elements. Lastly, there is a water spray feature with a variety of spray elements.
The playground itself is removed from traffic and fully enclosed from the rest of the park. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches scattered in the enclosed play area. Although there are a few trees in the area, the play area is bright and sunny. This is a great playground; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in La Follette Park - is located near the northwest corner of the park and is a somewhat standard Chicago Park playground. There are two structures - one for younger children and one for older children - and a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). Both play structures are modern and well-maintained and the larger one is accessible via a barrier-free ramp. The play surface is soft rubber and the playground is near a drinking fountain and the fieldhouse. The site could be improved by adding benches and/or picnic tables and by adding additional shade.
This playground - one of two in La Follette Park - was locked when I visited in October of 2022. The fenced area included a large water spray area and a small playground with a single small structure and set of swings. Looking at Google Street View, it appears the water spray feature was renovated sometime in 2021 or 2022 (which might be related to the locked gate) but some signage or notice would have been appreciated.
The small Keystone Park playground is somewhat not-traditional - no standard swings! - but is an interesting playground nonetheless. The main climbing structure is made of rope netting and has platforms leading to a few slides. There are also two standalone elements: a large hammock style saucer swing and a conical climbing net that spins. There are a few benches and the fully enclosed play area is covered with wood chips.
Located in the northwest corner of the park, the playground at Kells Park features a large play structure with several slides and climbing elements as well as the standard set of Park District swings. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches near the bright and sunny play area.
Keeler Park is a narrow neighborhood park with a small play structure, a unique standalone climbing element, a see-saw, and two swings (one toddler and one belt seat). The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There aren't any amenities at this site; that is there are not benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains, or any trees on this narrow lot.
Kedvale Park features a great playground with two large play structures, two sets of swings, and a water spray feature. Both structures are accessible by ramp and feature a variety of slides and climbing elements. The swings are standard for Chicago Parks and there is also a water spray feature for the summer month.
The play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches and large, mature trees doting the play space providing some seating and shade. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open).
All in all, this is a wonderful playground with large play structures in a solid environment. Highly recommend.
Thomas Jefferson Park - oddly, one of three 'Jefferson Parks' in Chicago! - is a quiet space tucked near downtown with a solid playground and water spray feature. The playground boasts two play structures - a small one for younger children and a larger one for older children) as well as a rope/net traverse feature and a few standalone elements. The water spray feature is a 'triple overhead sprayer' that is suitable for a variety of kids. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat).
The amenities near this playground are also solid. There is seating - benches and a few picnic tables - as well as bathrooms and a drinking fountain. The play area opens to the rest of the park and is fenced from the street and the play surface is soft rubber.