The playground at Lowe Park was renovated in 2014 and features a train theme fitting its location near a freight train track. The playground consists of a single large structure with several levels and a few slides that would be suitable for a range of children. There are a few standalone elements and the standard set of Chicago Park swings. There is also a small water spray feature nearby with a single 'cactus sprayer' element. The play area is enclosed from the street and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and the Lowe Park fieldhouse is nearby for bathroom access (if open). There are a few trees in the general area but the playground itself is bright and sunny.
The small and sunny playground in Luna Park features a large play structure with curving slides, some unique climbing equipment, several overhead and traversing structures, and standard swings (toddler and belt seat). The play surface is wood chips and there is a bench and a drinking fountain in the park.
This playground - one of two in Marquette Park - is a standard and classic Chicago Park playground. Standard equipment in a large open space. Wood chips and wood benches. Not enclosed, no soft surface, nothing fancy. Just a platonic playground.
This playground - one of two in Marquette Park - is located near the northwest corner of the park and features two play structures and a water spray feature. The smaller structure, designed for younger children, is quite small with just a slide and a climbing element. Relatively speaking, the structure for older children is much larger and includes a larger variety of elements. A set of swings with the Chicago Park standards - toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat - round out the equipment. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.'
The non-play elements are decent as well. There is a drinking fountain and a few benches scattered near the playground. The play surface is soft rubber and the playground opens to the rest of the park while still being fenced from the street to the north. All although the playground itself lacks shade most of the day, there are lots of large trees nearby for the classic park setting and a shady spot to rest. All in all, a solid playground.
McInerney Park features a nice playground shaded by large, mature trees. There are two separate areas - one with a smaller structure for younger children and the other with a larger structure for older children - and a small set of swings. Both structures are relatively large and offer a variety of options for park-goers. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens directly into the rest of McInerney Park. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches and trees for seating and shade. There is nothing particularly noteworthy or novel about this playground; it's just a solid neighborhood playground in the best sense of the term. Highly recommend.
McKinley Park is a large park with a variety of athletic fields, a natural area with a lagoon, and a small playground. The playground is located near the center of the park and features a single play structure and set of swings. The play surface is wood chips and it opens directly into the rest of the park. There is a drinking fountain nearby but not much seating. Elsewhere in the park, there is a fieldhouse (with access to bathrooms when open) as well as a water playground. This is a good playground inside a great park.
Tucked away in a quiet residential area, Micek Park offers a solid playground and water spray feature. The playground has two structures - one is quite small and designed for younger children and the other is significantly larger with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There is also a set of swings - toddler, adaptive, and belt seat - that are standard in Chicago Parks. The water spray features are a "triple shower sprayer" and a "single pole sprayer" both good for delivering a good soaking on a hot day.
The amenities are somewhat modern and include a soft rubber play surface and a set of three picnic tables. The playground is fenced from the street but opens directly to the rest of the park and is not fully enclosed. And although there are large trees near the playground, the playground itself is bright and sunny. All in all, this is a very nice playground; highly recommend.
Minuteman Park, situated on a somewhat awkward lot next to Midway airport, features a great little playground. The playground includes a collection of elements for older children, a small play structure for younger children, and a set of swings with the typical Chicago Park offering: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. There is also a standalone 'triple top and bottom spinner' which is pretty neat. The playground is located in the southeast corner of the park and is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The play surface is soft rubber and there are both benches and picnic tables for seating.
Montgomery Park consists of two play structures and a set of swings. The structures are standard Chicago Park structures: a variety of slides and climbing elements. The swings are also standard: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The wood chip play surface is bare in places and the equipment could use a cleaning. There is some shade from large trees and a few benches but the non-play amenities could be improved. All in all, this is a pretty standard neighborhood playground.
The playground in Moran Park features the standard set of swings, some traversing/climbing elements, and a large play structure for older children. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few trees and benches in the area for shade and seating.
Mulberry Park is tucked away off a quiet side street and features two large play structures and a small water spray feature. The play equipment seems somewhat dated - it was last renovated in 2015 - but it is still very usable. The play structures are both somewhat sprawling structures with a variety of slides and climbing elements. The water spray feature is a triple shower sprayer. The non-play elements are adequate; there are a few benches around the play area and the main play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a decent neighborhood park.
This playground in Murray Park features a number of standalone elements and a large play structure designed for younger children. The standalone elements include a curving climbing wall and monkey bars, a balance beam, and spinning seat. The play structure includes another set of monkey bars as well as some slides. There are also two sets of swings with traditional belt seat, molded plastic seat, and toddler options. Immediately north of the playground is a water feature with a seahorse spraying element. The playground is not fully enclosed but is fenced from the street. The surface is wood chips and trees and benches provide some shade and seating. The nearby fieldhouse also provides bathrooms. This is a standard neighborhood park in the best sense of the phrase.
In the southwest corner of Normandy Park, there is a solid neighborhood playground. There are two play structures with a variety of elements as well as a set of swings. Other important details: the play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed, the surface is soft rubber, and the playground gets some shade throughout the day. There are benches and a drinking fountain and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a good neighborhood park.
Oakley Park features a classic and yet timeless playground. The equipment is new and well-maintained with a sprawling play structure, two sets of swings, and zip line. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the perimeter of the park. The play area is fully enclosed and shaded by large trees. It's a classic playground.
"In 1998, the Chicago Park District created a major regional playground in Ogden Park. One of the city's most exciting places for children, the Ogden Park playground includes assembly and stage areas, play equipment, an interactive water feature, and a canopied carousel." This - according to the Chicago Park District's website - helps explain the massive enclosed area on the east side of Ogden Park.
The fully enclosed play area is accessible via the inner park drive (Black Dr.) and not the main street to the east (S. Racine Ave.) and features a massive playground, several different water spray features, and gazebo with a carousel, with plenty of benches and picnic tables. The play structures are mainly rope/net climbing features that were installed in the spring of 2016. The water spray features are not unique to this park; but having several different spray features in close proximity is novel. Lastly, in addition to several picnic tables, there are a number of circular concrete benches evocative of Jens Jensen's 'council rings' found in other Chicago Parks. This play area is truly unique in the city and is indeed a destination playground.
*Note: when I visited 2022-04 the play area was locked; I plan on returning to get better images and will update this description then.*
This playground - one of two in Ogden Park - is located on the north side of the park near 64th and Throop. It features a large play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and a monkey bars. There are also a few standalone spinning elements and some swings (toddler and traditional). The playground is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and trees around the park providing seating and shade - though the playground is mostly sunny.
The Packingtown Park playground packs a punch. This tiny neighborhood pocket park has a moderate sized play structure with a variety of equipment, a set of swings with the Chicago Park essentials (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a small "four sprayer" water spray feature. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and features the 'classic' playground amenities of benches, a drinking fountain, and a wood chip play surface. All in all, a solid neighborhood playground.
Pasteur Park playground packs a punch! Seriously though, this playground provides some modern equipment in a classic park setting. The 'modern equipment' includes a variety of climbing and traversing options with a small play structure. There is a good variety of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire) as well as a small water spray feature. The setting is pastoral and classic: the play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating and trees for shade. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and the rest of the park. Somewhat modern equipment with some classic amenities in a park-like setting make this a great playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Senka Park is located on the eastern side of the park and seems well loved. The current equipment has been in place since at least 2007 and shows signs of its age. The playground has three main areas: an area for younger children with a traditional play structure and a play ship, an area for older children, an a water spray feature (not pictured in this review). The equipment is standard and offers a variety of slides, climbing elements, monkey bars, and swings.
The rest of Senka Park is quite nice with winding walking paths and several athletic fields. There is a large shade pavilion near the playgrounds (though the play areas themselves are quite bright and sunny). Additional seating - benches and picnic tables - would be a welcome addition. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground but some improvements could transform this site into a true gem.
This playground - one of three in Sherman Park - is located in the northwest corner of the park. It features two play structures and some swings. There are also plenty of benches and a few trees in the area and, according to maps, there is a water spray feature as well.
* Note: when I visited (2022-04) the water feature was under construction and the playground needed some repairs. I plan to revisit.*
This playground - one of three in Sherman Park - includes the standard set of swings and a large play structure. The play structure includes a variety of elements including large curving slides and a few variations on monkey bars. The play area is fenced from the streets but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There aren't any benches but the low perimeter walls allow for some seating and nearby trees provide for some shade.
This small playground - one of three in Sherman Park - is located on the east side of the park near Racine Ave. It features a single play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements and is one of the few playgrounds without any swings. The play area is not fully enclosed but is fenced from both streets. The play surface is wood chips and large trees provide some shade throughout the day.
The playground in Sherwood Park is located on northeast corner of the park and features and area for older children, an area for younger children, and a water spray area. The larger area for older children features an accessible play structure with a few slides and climbing elements as well as some swings. The smaller area features, appropriately, a smaller play structure with a few toddler swings. And the water spray feature is a set of large, multicolored tubes in a separate area. The play area is fenced but not fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. However, during my visit in 2022 and according to years of previous streetview images from Google, this rubber surface is in poor condition and needs to be replaced. In total, the playground equipment and structures are interesting but the playground surface needs attention.
The playground at Stars & Stripes Park is a wonderful playground tucked in a quiet park. It features a large rope climbing structure, a play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements, the standard set of swings, and a small water feature. The playground is on the western side of the park and is quiet and features views of the nearby train line. There are benches and a little shade but the play area is bright and sunny. The play surface is soft rubber and the water feature and the play structure are both somewhat accessible to people using wheelchairs. The playground opens to the rest of the park but is fully enclosed from the street. All in all, this is a standard Chicago Park playground in the best sense of the phrase and is worth checking out.
