This playground - one of five in Douglass Park - is in the southwest corner of the park near 19th and Albany. According to the Park District website, this playground is named " Sunshine Daydream Playground, in honor of a Grateful Dead song." Fittingly, this playground features a musical theme with a "music station" comprised of several panels with interactive musical instruments, a spinning cello, a piano climbing arch, and a climbing wall with musical notes. There are also modern climbing elements and the standard set of swings. Next to these elements, there is a small, modern water spray feature with two "misting poles" and two cement play animals. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and large grassy areas and matures trees surrounding this playground.
This playground - one of five in Douglass Park - is located on the east side of the park near 14th and California and is perhaps the largest of the playgrounds. There are two distinct areas - one for smaller children and the other for older children - and both contain large, age-appropriate play structures, swings, climbing elements, and a few other standalone elements. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain.
This playground - one of five in Douglass Park - is in the west side of near 15th and Albany and features a large, modern play structure designed for older children. This structure features a few slides, climbing elements, and a large set of monkey bars in addition to the standard set of swings. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches scattered around the perimeter.
This playground - one of five in Douglass Park - is in the north side of the park near Roosevelt and Sacramento. It features a large, modern play structure designed for older children including some unique elements like a triple twisting metal climber and another large climbing structure. There are also several low to the ground traverse elements and a variety of swings: toddler, belt, molded plastic with a harness, and saucer swing. The play surface is wood chips and, although there are trees dotting the surrounding grassy area, the play area is quite sunny.
This playground - one of two in Dvorak Park - is located in the northeast corner of the park and is a great playground. The play area is packed with elements: a very tall structure with a long curving slide, connections to smaller platforms with a roller slide and other climbing elements, a large rope net climbing structure, overhead monkey bars and an overhead slider, and lots more. The entire site seems designed for older children and climbers but there are elements for younger children as well. There is also a large set of standard swing (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) to complete the offerings.
The play area is fenced from the streets but is not fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. This playground has a lot of seating as well as a lot of shade from large, mature trees surrounding the site. There is also bathroom access via the fieldhouse building (when open) and a large water spray feature (again, when open) next to the pool just south of this playground.
This site is packed with interesting equipment and is full of shady spots and plenty of seating; this makes it a great neighborhood playground and, in my mind, definitely a destination playground.
This small playground - one of two in Dvorak Park - is located on the south side of the park near 21st and May. I try to never talk bad about a Chicago Park playground...but the one on the northeast side of the Dvorak Park is far superior. Yet this single small structure still stands and invites small kids to slide, climb, and traverse the monkey bars. The surface is soft rubber and the play area is fenced from the street and has a few benches in the bright and sunny area. But with a true destination playground in the same park, this one does not compete.
This playground - one of two in Fosco Park - appears to be the main playground and features a large play structure and is next to a large water spray area. The playground itself includes a large and sprawling play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements - nothing too out of the ordinary but a really solid playground. The water spray area is fenced from the playground and features a few different spray elements.
The non-play amenities are solid. There is a drinking fountain and benches for seating and the fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). The play area is fenced from the street and includes a soft rubber surface. Although there are some trees, the play area itself is bring and sunny. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Fosco Park - is officially listed as a Chicago Park playground. However, my sense is that this facility is used primarily (or even exclusively) by the Fosco Park programs. and might not be open to the general public. At the very least, it was locked when I visited. This doesn't really matter too much, though, because the much larger playground just around the corner was more easily accessible and - honestly - better in most ways.
The playground at Franklin Park is divided into two distinct areas - one for younger children and the other for older children. The structure for younger children features a small play structure with a small summit climber, conical climbing wall and small slide. There are also four toddler swings. The larger structure features two variations of monkey bars, three slides, and a few climbing and traversing elements along with standard swings (belt seat and adaptive). Both areas are fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and both have a play surface of wood chips. A water spray feature is situated just north of the playground and next to the Franklin Park outdoor pool and the park district building provides bathroom access during open hours.
The playground at Galewood Park offers a decent play structure, the standard set of park swings, and a small water spray feature. The main play structure includes some interesting ladders and two slides. There is also a set of swings (toddler and belt seat) and a few small standalone 'animals on poles' for younger children. The water spray feature is a simple 'four sprayer' in a concrete circle.
There are plenty of benches, one drinking fountain, and the fieldhouse is quite close for bathroom access (when open). The main play surface is soft rubber and the play area gets some morning shade but is mostly bright and sunny.
This playground - one of two in Garfield Park - is located on the east side of the park near the intersection of Madison and Homan and contains two play structure. The smaller play structure is a single modular structure designed for young children; a few other standalone elements and toddler swings are situated nearby. The larger play structure is for older children and features a large twisted net climbing structure, monkey bars, and a few slides. There are fences around parts of the playground but it is not fully enclosed. The play surface is wood chips and a few large trees provide some shade throughout the day.
This playground - one of two in Garfield Park - is located near the northeast corner of the park and features two play structures. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and features two climbing elements and a slide. The larger play structure is accessible via a ramp and features a large triple slide and a few interactive panels. There are also a number of overhead elements (variations of monkey bars) and traversing elements near the larger play structure. A small swing set completes the play elements in this small playground. The play area is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. A few benches and tree provide some seating and shade and a drinking fountain and a couple of picnic tables round out the other amenities.
Garibaldi Park is a verdant city park with a small playground in the southeast corner. This playground, renovated in 2015, features equipment from the Burke company which, in my opinion, has an aesthetic akin to 1990s Nickelodeon. But all the basic playground elements are present: slides, swings, and climbing elements. The amenities are also basic; there are a few benches and a drinking fountain but not much else. The play surface is wood chips and the area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. All in all, this is a decent neighborhood playground in a nice setting.
Ginkgo Park is a tiny neighborhood park with a small, narrow playground. Two swings at the rear of the site, a few standalone elements, and a narrow play structure with a single slide compromise all the elements of this small park. Large trees provide great shade for this site though that seems like the only real comfort for park-goers: no benches, picnic tables, or drinking fountains.
The playground at Gladys Park features a large structure with a few slides, a small climbing wall, a 'cliff climber' element, and a twisting ladder as well as a few other elements: wave monkey bars, a traversing elements, and a few spinning elements. The play surface is wood chip and is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. This playground lacks important amenities like benches, picnic tables, or a drinking fountain.
Grand Park is a small neighborhood park with a playground. There are two play structures, a variety of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing), and a few standalone elements. The setting and non-play amenities are basic; there are a few benches and a drinking fountain and the play area is fenced from the streets but not fully enclosed. The main play surface is wood chips.
The Greenebaum Park playground is somewhat standard Chicago Park District playground with a variety of swings, a smaller play structure for younger children, and a larger structure for older children. And "standard" is not an insult - this playground was fully enclosed, has a soft rubber surface, and a few benches. There is also a water spray feature within the enclosed play area as well as views of the train tracks to the North of the park.
Harding Park features a small playground and set of swings. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and is bright and sunny. The play surface is wood chips.
The playground in Harrison Park is a massive and sprawling playground that is one of the best in Chicago. Located in the southeast corner of the park, the play area features several large play structures and a huge variety of swings. The smaller play structure is actually quite large and seems designed for younger children. The large play structure for older children is - in a word - huge. It is a sprawling collection of climbing elements, slides, and overhead challenges. The swing options are also huge: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, tire, and saucer. And there are additional standalone elements scattered throughout the huge play area.
The play area is fenced from the street and opens into the rest of Harrison Park. The surface is largely wood chips though there are concrete sections with hopscotch and other games painted to the surface. There are a few benches (under the shade of a few trees!) and low perimeter walls provide additional seating. The play area does get some shade but is also sunny at times. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and there is a drinking fountain nearby as well.
This is not your typical neighborhood playground but instead a huge and sprawling playground paradise and a true destination; highly recommend.
Hazelnut Park is a small neighborhood park with a sizeable and shady playground. Renovated between 2016 and 2017, this playground features a large play structure with two slides and several climbing elements. There is a "car on a spring" and set of swings with a somewhat uncommon "double swing" where an adult and child can face each other in addition to the standard toddler and belt seat swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. The park is shaded by several large trees and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain near the entrance.
Homan Park features a nice small playground on a quiet street with views of trains. The playground is somewhat sprawling with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There is also a set of swings and a zip line with a circle seat. The other aspects are classic Chicago playgrounds - wood chips and a few benches and a little shade from nearby trees. All in all, a solid neighborhood playground.
This Homan Square Community Center Park opened in 2001 and contains a small playground designed for young children. There are two small play structures both for young children with simple climbing elements and small slides. The small play area also includes a swing set. The playground is fully enclosed from the street - with a fence surrounding the park and another surrounding the playground - and is positioned next to the community center. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches for seating. Sadly, there is no shade for this playground.
Quiet, tucked-away, and shady, the playground at Bertha Honoré Palmer Park features a large play structure and a few other elements. The large play structure features two different slides (curving and corkscrew) and a lot of different climbing elements. There is also a standalone metal climber near the entrance and a hammock style saucer swing and a pair of toddler swings near the rear.
The play area is fully enclosed and is shaded by large trees and the nearby buildings. There is also a small structure with two picnic tables for some additional shade and seating. The play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a good playground tucked away on a quiet street.
The playground in Horan Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and features a unique play structure consisting mainly of rope netting. There is also a large spinning climbing elements, two variations of saucer swings, and another rope climbing element. There is also a small and simple four sprayer water feature. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The main surface is wood chips. There is some shade from the large trees to the south of the play area but it's quite open and sunny. The area would benefit from benches or picnic tables; there are currently neither.
