Sunshine Playscape · Chicago Playgrounds

Description

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.

Playground Features

Surface: Wood Chips

Picnic Tables

Bench or Benches

Mostly Enclosed Play Area

Accessible

Drinking Fountains

Removed from Traffic

Destination Playground

Playground Equipment