Renovated in 2013, this small playground is located in the northwest corner of Altgeld Park and features a large play structure designed for older children. This structure includes a few slides, climbing elements, rope bridge, and monkey bars. In a separate area, the playground also contains a small playhouse, a see-saw, and the standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. The site has some large trees that provide some shade and a small, covered pavilion for additional shade.
The playground in Amundsen Park is a good playground with four areas: a smaller structure for younger children, a set of swings, a larger structure for older children, and a water spray feature. The larger structure is low to the ground and accessible via a ramp with a few sprawling elements low to the ground. The non-play features are also good: the play surface is soft rubber and there are benches for seating. There is some shade from trees and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
Augusta Park features a playground with two play structures and the standard Chicago Park swings. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and is relatively small. The other structure is much larger and features a few slides, interactive panels, and overhead elements designed for older children. There are a couple of picnic tables and benches for seating. The play area is fully enclosed and boasts a soft rubber play surface. The playground itself is bright and sunny without much shade and there is a grassy area next to the playground.
This playground is located in narrow Austin Park near the corner of Lake and Mayfield and just north of the CTA Green Line tracks. The equipment in this park is standard for Chicago playgrounds but larger than most. It contains a large climbing structure designed for older children with a few slides and climbing features as well as a climbing net and small climbing wall.
On the same block, just further west, there are two large water features: one water spray area and one water playground. So while they aren't integrated into the playground they are quite close.
The play area is not enclosed but it is shaded by large trees to the south. There is a bench near the park and bathroom access via the fieldhouse building near the water features. The play surface is wood chips.
The playground at Austin Town Hall Park was locked when I visited in 2022 and may be used exclusively for park district programming. It is located off Central Avenue just north of the fieldhouse. It contains a single large play structure, a see-saw, and a hammock saucer swing. The play area is fully enclosed and has a play surface of wood chips.
A small neighborhood park on an oddly shaped site contains a good playground and basketball court. The playground contains one large play structure with a few slides and climbing elements and two sets of swings. The non-play features are traditional: a few wooden benches dot the enclosed play area. The main play surface is wood chips and there is some shade due to the large trees and neighboring buildings. All in all, a very decent neighborhood playground.
Barrett Park is below street grade but the playground gets high marks! The playground itself features a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a set of swings. The playground is fully fenced in and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a few trees provide shade. There is a Chicago Park fieldhouse but does not seem open. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.
The official Chicago Park website describes the playground like this: "The children's play area offers ADA accessibility that allows for inventive, non-linear play without traditional play equipment." Inventive, non-linear, and non-traditional are all great adjectives to describe this playground in the West Loop. The fully enclosed playground uses the rubber surface itself as a play element; there are steep inclines and valleys that invite play. Most of the elements are indeed non-traditional. While there are a few slides, there are no swings or monkey bars in this playground. Instead there is elaborate "jungle gym" structure made of belts of black rubber, a rope climbing structure, and a smaller structure for younger children. The play area is fully enclosed and there are several picnic tables that make this a comfortable playground in a new and beautifully landscaped park.
The playground at Beilfuss Park is a great playground in an interesting location. The playground itself is quite nice with a large play structure for older children, a standard offering of swings, and some unique "acorn seats". The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and mature trees shading the fully enclosed play space. The rest of the Beilfuss Park is quite empty so there is plenty of space to fly a kite or watch the trains go by on the nearby Metra tracks.
The playground at Boler Park consists of two separate area dedicated to children of different ages. The area for younger children features elements that are quite small and low to the ground - a log that serves as a balance beam, some steppers, and a tiny play structure with a small slide. The other area features a larger structure with a few slides and climbing elements. The play area is fenced from the street and the main play surface is wood chips. Additional seating (benches or picnic tables) would improve this space as would more shade. But this is still a nice and well-maintained playground with some solid elements.
Though not nearly as large as Central Park in NYC, Chicago's Central Park does boast a large play structure for older children and an above-average set of swings. The main play structure includes a number of overhead elements, climbing structures, and slides. There are toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing in this playground. The play area is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are benches and a drinking fountain but sadly very little shade in the park.
Christiana Park features a decent playground with some classic amenities. The playground primarily consists of a large and sprawling play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. Rounding out the equipment are a small set of swings and some standalone musical elements. The 'classic amenities' are the wood chip play surface and the wood benches. The site is partially shaded by large trees and partially enclosed from the street.
Claremont Park features a great playground and a lot of shade. There is a large set of swings (with the standard offerings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat), a small traditional play structure for younger children, a collection of rope/net climbing elements, and a standalone metal climbing structure. Though last refurbished in 2012, this playground seems modern and is quite clean. The non-play elements are great: a drinking fountain, benches, picnic tables, and a ton of shade from the large trees around the play area. The fully enclosed play area features a soft rubber surface. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
The John Clark Park playground features a large climbing structure with a variety of slides, climbing features, and overhead elements. There is also the standard set of park district swings and a see-saw. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a small fieldhouse near the playground. An embankment for a freight train line forms the eastern edge of the park and there might be a slow moving train.
This playground - one of two in Columbus Park - is unique within the city of Chicago. Described as a "boundless playground" by the Chicago Park District, this playground "is designed to provide access to play for all individuals.,, [and] all the equipment is specifically configured to allow for access and use by children and adults with a variety of special needs." Yet in many ways this unique focus isn't apparent by looking at the playground; it looks like a somewhat standard playground with some interesting elements.
There are two main play structures. One is a smaller structure with a few slides and climbing elements. The larger structure is set somewhat into a hill and is fully accessible by children using wheelchairs. It features additional slides, climbing elements, and a unique variety of overhead elements. Within the semi-enclosed play area there is also a small water feature, sand play area, and a small meandering nature path (not to be confused with the larger "natural area" within Columbus Park).
This play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. The main play surface is soft rubber (expect the sand area) and there are a few benches in the play area. The play area is quite sunny (and honestly could benefit from additional shade and/or picnic tables). The last notable amenity is the parking lot directly south of the playground with designed handicap parking spots and a barrier free entrance to the play area.
All in all, this is a large playground with a number of unique features that has been thoughtfully designed for a variety of users; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Columbus Park - is located on the north side of the park between Jackson and Adams by Menard Drive. It features a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements along with a standard set of swings. The play area is not enclosed but it is fenced from Adams. There are some trees (mainly to the south) that provide some shade and a few benches for seating. The play surface is wood chips.
Commercial Club Park has a great playground with a unique and distinctive features - the most obvious one being a large, sculptural reptile embedded in the soft rubber surface. There are two play structures - one for younger children and a larger structure for older children - a small set of swings, and a water spray feature. The larger structure is sprawling and accessible via a ramp and the water spray feature is a somewhat standard triple shower sprayer.
The non-play amenities are also great. The play area is fully enclosed with some shade and easy access to bathroom via the fieldhouse. There is ample seating with benches and picnic tables within the play area. And the play surface is soft rubber.
For me, this playground checks a lot of boxes and is a worthy destination; highly recommend.
This tiny neighborhood pocket park is situated on a narrow site and features a single play structure. There are a few slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars as well as a tire swing. The play lot is mostly enclosed and covered in wood chips. There aren't any benches in the play area but a few perimeter walls provide some seating.
Tiny Crawford Park is sited on the middle of the block and features a small playground and water feature. The playground consists of one structure with some retro features - including metal slides - and also includes some swings (toddler and molded bucket). In the middle of the park is the water feature - a basic four sprayer. The play area is mostly enclosed and bright and sunny. The play surface is wood chips and although there aren't any benches, the low perimeter walls provide some seating.
This playground at Davis Park (not to be confused with Davis Square Park in the Back of the Yards community area) is a standard Chicago playground with equipment for many children. There are the standard set of swings - toddler, adaptive, and belt seat - with an extra hammock style saucer swing as a bonus. There are two play structures - one for older kids and one for younger - and a few standalone features.
The play surface is wood chips and the play area is fully enclosed from the street and opens into a basketball court at the rear of the site. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain but there are no trees or shade structures making the playground bright and sunny. The wall on the west side of the park has some great murals, though
Dean Park is tucked away on a quiet stretch of Dean Street and features a nice and quiet playground and a water spray feature. The playground includes a standard play structure, the normal set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat), and a collection of climbing and traversing elements. The water spray feature is a small single pole water sprayer. The playground itself opens to a small grassy area and the entire park is enclosed and fenced from the street. The play surface is soft rubber and there area a few benches for seating as well a drinking fountain and some shady spots (especially in the morning). All in all, this is a standard Chicago playground in the best sense of the term.
The playground at DeGeorge Park features a large play structure with many unique climbing elements, swings (toddler, belt seat, and a tire swing), and a few other standalone elements. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches in the area as well as a few trees but the playground itself is bright and sunny.
Dogwood Park is in the middle of a residential block and features some unique playground equipment designed by Kompan. These striking structures are designed with bright colors and bold geometric shapes and both seem designed for younger children. An addition to these structures there are a few swings (toddler, molded plastic, belt, and a saucer swing with spider web seat) and a few other standalone elements. There is also a simple four sprayer water feature near this playground. The surface is wood chips and the play area is fenced but not fully enclosed. There is a single bench for seating near the entrance to this playground.
This playground - one of 5 in Douglass Park - is located in the southeast corner of the park near 18th and California. The play area is mostly enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are two sets of swings and a large play structure with a few slides and many options for climbing and traversing. There is also a small water feature in the play area - a standard concrete area with four sprayers.
