Strohacker Park is a moderate sized neighborhood park with a nice playground on the northern edge. The playground is divided into two main sections - one for younger children and one for older - with a water spray feature between them. Both sections feature modern and standard equipment including slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The water spray area features recently updated elements including the 'loch ness mister' and misting poles.
The non-play elements are standard but nice - there are some wooden benches around both play areas (though there could be more seating) and the play surface is wood chips. Both sections get good shade and a park building should provide access to bathrooms and a drinking fountain (when open). All in all, this is a good neighborhood playground.
Taylor-Lauridsen Park contains an athletic field, a new fieldhouse (completed in 2010) and a nice playground. The playground includes areas for younger children, a larger structure for older children, the standard set of Chicago Park swings, and a 'loch ness mister' water spray feature. The play area is fully enclosed near the northwest corner of the park and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches and a drinking fountain in the play area and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.
Valley Forge Park features a new fieldhouse and a variety of athletic fields as well as a very modern and nice playground. The playground is located just west of the fieldhouse and features modern and somewhat non-traditional equipment. There is a tiny structure for younger children and the rest of the equipment is for climbing and exploring by older children. The play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and opens into the rest of the park. There are a few benches for seating and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and drinking fountains (when open). The play surface is soft rubber. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.
Vittum Park is a large neighborhood park with many different athletic fields, a playground, and a water spray feature. The playground was renovated in 2015 and features two play structures - a smaller one for younger children and a larger one for older children - as well as a set of standard Chicago Park swings. The water spray feature is a 'loch ness mister' and an overhead spray element. All the equipment is very nice and well-maintained.
The setting and non-play elements are very solid. There are large, mature trees surrounding the site and a few benches and picnic tables for seating. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). The play area is fenced from the street but not enclosed and opens directly into the rest of the spacious park. All in all, this is a great park and playground; highly recommend.
Wagner Park - oddly separated into two separate sections by a parking lot - contains a small playground and water spray feature on the western side near 51st and Morgan. This playground includes a small play structure for younger children and a larger collection of elements for older children. There are a few types of swings - toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and saucer - and a small "four sprayer" water spray feature. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and trees but the playground is bright and sunny most of the time.
Ruiz Park - formerly Walnut Park - features a playground that was renovated in 2015 that includes a single play structure and small set of swings. The play structure includes a few slides, a variety of climbing elements, and a variation on monkey bars. The swings includes toddler, adaptive, and belt seat varieties. There is a standalone metal ring climber and a somewhat unique dragonfly see-saw.
The play area is covered with wood chips and the play area is fenced from the streets but is not fully enclosed. There are a few trees in the park as well as a few benches but the playground itself is bright and sunny.
Located in the middle of Wentworth Park, on the east side, is a great playground and water spray feature. The playground includes two structures - a moderate sized structure for younger children and a large, sprawling structure for older children. The larger structure features a variety of climbing elements and slides and is partially accessible via a ramp. There is a set of swings with the standard options (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) as well as a 'triple shower' water spray feature. The playground is fenced from the street and the rest of the park but is not fully enclosed. There are benches and a drinking fountain near the play area with the nearby fieldhouse providing access to bathrooms (when open). The play surface is soft rubber and although there are trees near the playground, the playground itself is bright and sunny. All in all this is a great playground; highly recommend.
West Lawn Park features a large playground divided into two areas with similar equipment. Both areas feature a Kompan play structure, a single mast net climbing structure, and a set of swings. The only difference is that the area to the north is designed for older children and features larger equipment whereas the area to the south features smaller equipment for younger children. The amenities are somewhat typical for Chicago Park - a drinking fountain, wooden benches, and a play surface of wood chips - but the general locale is quite nice with large trees providing some shady areas near the playground. The play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and there is access to bathrooms via the nearby park fieldhouse (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
Wolcott Park is a tiny neighborhood pocket park that contains a large playground structure and a set of swings. The structure includes a few slides and climbing elements as well as a circular monkey bars and a large metal traverse. The play ground is fenced but not fully enclosed and there is a drinking fountain and a few benches near the main entrance. The play surface is wood chips and the park get full sun most of the day.
The playground at the Brighton Park Community Campus is a one-of-a-kind playground and one of the best in Chicago. This site opened in 2023 and features new playground equipment, a water spray feature, and a nature play area.
The playground features several large structures that are hard to describe. These structures feature some familiar elements like slides and monkey bars but combine them in unusual ways.
The water spray feature is immediately next to the playground and features a variety of jets from the ground and water loops.
The nature play area is also in the same area and features a few different 'rooms' with different themes.
This site is the new administrative center for the Chicago Park district and the buildings on the east side of the site are the administrative center and the park's fieldhouse. The fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when it is open) and the courtyard between the two buildings is a wonderful space with picnic tables.
The playground has a soft rubber surface and is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There is a drinking fountain there as well as some benches. The site is currently bright and sunny and open. All in all, this is an amazing playground and a true destination playground; highly highly recommend.
