Abbott Park's playground is located in the northeast corner of the park and features a large play structure. This structure includes a few slides and some unique climbing elements. There is also a variety of swings (toddler and tire; belt seat and molded plastic with harness) and a see-saw and a car on a spring. The play area is not fully enclosed but the playground is set away from the street. The play surface is wood chips and low perimeter walls provide some seating. There are two water spray features just to the north of the playground.
The playground in Avalon Park is located just south of 83rd Street and was renovated in 2016. The playground features two large areas - one designed for older kids and the other for younger kids - with a variety of modern equipment. The area for older children features unique net/rope climbing structures whereas the area for younger children features a more traditional play structure. Both areas include age appropriate swings and there are a few additional standalone elements.
The playground itself is not enclosed but is removed from any street or parking lot. The play surface is wood chips but is set in a large grassy field and the entire area is very well shaded by large, mature trees. Although there is limited seating around the playground itself, there are benches and picnic tables in the immediate area. Furthermore, there is a dedicated water playground nearby as well. With modern equipment, plenty of shade and seating, and some great water features, this is a great playground.
Located on the eastern edge of Bessemer Park, this playground boasts two big play areas, plenty of shade, and a nice water feature. The smaller area is designed for younger children and features a solid play structure and a few standalone elements as well as a variety of swings. The larger area is actually huge and features a large play structure for older children with lots of rope/net features for climbing and traversing. There is also a small water spray feature just to the south of the playground.
The play areas are not enclosed but they are fenced from the street and set back a bit. The area is shaded by large trees and there are a few benches for seating. The play surface in both areas is wood chips. There is a fieldhouse building just to the north providing bathroom access. All in all, this is a great playground.
The playground at Bradley Park isn't glamorous or particularly unique, but is a standard and traditional neighborhood playground. There is one large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There is a standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) as well as a see-saw and spinning saucer. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and there are a few tables and the low perimeter wall for seating around the wood chip covered play area. Ground breaking? No. Satisfactory? Yes.
With a large play structure, standard set of swings, and a small water spray feature, the playground at Brown Park has a lot to offer. The play structure is quite large and features a variety of slides and climbing elements and is designed to challenge older climbers. There are a few standalone elements as well as the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat.) The water spray feature is a simple four sprayer. There is ample shade and decent seating options near this playground. The play surface is wood chips and the play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and opens directly into the park. All in all, this is a standard playground in a Chicago Park in the best sense of the term; it is great.
Burnside Park - the only Chicago Park that serves the neighborhood and community area of the same name - contains a decent playground and small water spray feature. The playground contains a variety of somewhat standard equipment that was last renovated in 2014. Similarly, the water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.' The general setting is pleasant and the non-play amenities are basic: a few benches and a drinking fountain. The main play surface is wood chips and although there are trees nearby, the play area itself is bright and sunny.
The playground at Calumet Park just northwest of the Calumet Beach and features a single large play structure with a variety of swings and standalone elements. The playground itself is a rather standard affair but the setting is quite unique for Chicago with both large trees overhead and views to Lake Michigan. There are benches around the perimeter of this playground and the main play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a pretty standard playground in a great location with some above average views.
This playground - one of two in Carver Park - is located near the northside of the park just south of 132nd Street. As of 2022, it features a set of toddler swing and a play structure with a couple of slides and ladders as well as an overhead glider and straight hanging ring monkey bar. The play surface is wood chips and although the play area isn't enclosed it is set back from the street.
This playground - one of two in Carver Park - is located toward the south side of the park, just south of 133rd Street. It features a single large play structure with a variety of slides as well as several climbing and overhead elements. There are also a few standalone features including a see-saw, arched climber, and cascade climber as well as the standard set of swings. The play surface is wood chips and there is a park district comfort station nearby for bathroom access.
The playground at Nat King Cole Park is a gem: an interesting set of play elements with a water spray feature with very nice amenities. There are four main play area. The first is a somewhat standard play structure with slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The second area is a collection of rope net climbing elements that is less traditional but perhaps more interesting. The third is an area were the soft rubber surface is mounded in places and there are some interesting 'rock climbing tents - somewhat hard to describe but a unique area within Chicago Park playgrounds. The fourth area is a water spray area with some water loops, musical chimes, and (what appear to be) colored concrete balls set in the play area. Again, hard to describe but really interesting and unique.
The amenities are also solid. There are benches and a picnic table near the play ground and the main play surface is soft rubber. Large trees provide some shade and the nearby park district building provides access to bathrooms (when open). The play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and the play area opens to the rest of the park.
All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
Side note: This playground in Nat King Cole Park is named the "Officer Thomas E. Wortham IV Playground" after the after Chicago Police officer who was president of the Cole Park Advisory Council and was murdered near the park.
The playground at Cooper Park is located in the northeast corner of the park and features a large structure for older children, a smaller structure for younger children, and the standard set of swings. The large play structure is somewhat accessible via a ramp and though somewhat sprawling never gets too high. The playground is shaded by large trees and there are a few benches for seating as well as a drinking fountain. The play surface is soft rubber and the play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and opens directly into the park.
Nearly all of tiny DeBow Park is a playground. This playground contains the Chicago Park standard swings - toddler, adaptive, and belt seat - as well as a somewhat strange play structure with a variety of play elements. The structure isn't bad or broken - just strange. The setting also seemed strange to me as an outsider to the neighborhood; there are beautiful and towering trees on this site but the location between an alley and a train embankment seemed awkward. Yet despite these flaws, this still seems like a decent little Chicago Park playground.
A moderate size play structure with a few slides, a variety of climbing elements, and an overhead element and a variety of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing) make up the playground at Dixon Park. The play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and there are a few benches for seating. All in all, this is a solid and respectable neighborhood playground.
The playground at Eckersall Park is located on the east side of the park and features a large play structure and several standalone elements. The play structure is somewhat large with a structure providing some shade above. There are a variety of elements including slides, net triangles for climbing, and a set of monkey bars. The standalone elements include a large metal traverse and a zip line with a circle seat. There is also the standard variety of Chicago Park District swings. The play area is fenced but not fully enclosed. There are a few trees and benches providing shade and seating and the play surface is wood chips.
The playground in Fernwood Park is near the middle of the park and features a moderate size play structure with a variety of slides and a 'rope net funnel.' There are also a variety of traversing elements connected to the structure and a variety of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing). There is also a simple 'four sprayer' water spray feature. The play area opens to the rest of the park and boasts a few benches for seating. The play surface is wood chips and the nearby fieldhouse should provide access to a drinking fountain and bathrooms (when open).
The small playground at Golden Gate Park is in a quiet residential neighborhood and contains two small structures and a water spray feature. The smaller structure is designed for younger children and features a few climbing elements and a slide. The larger structure contains a long curving slide and a twisted climbing ladder as well as a variation of monkey bars and a few traversing elements. Between them is a simple four sprayer water feature and a sand box. Both play areas are heavily shaded by trees and have a wood chip play surface. There are also a few benches near the play areas. Overall, this is a nice, quiet, and shady playground.
A relic of the past, the playground equipment at Kensington Park appears to be some of the oldest equipment still in use in the city of Chicago. Google Streetview from 2007 seems to show the same equipment which means the equipment is at least 15 years old.
Despite the age, the equipment appears in relatively good condition. There are a variety of slides, climbing features and standard swings. There is also a small water feature with a candy cane shower sprayer. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and tucked on the side of a large open field. The play surface is wood chips and while there aren't benches the low perimeter wall provides some seating. There is a park district building nearby but it seems to be closed and boarded shut.
Krause Park is a neighborhood playlot with a small playground and water feature. There is one small play structure with a few climbing elements and one corkscrew slide. There is also a small swing set with three swings: one toddler, one adaptive, and one standard belt seat swing. The water feature is a simple 'triple shower sprayer.' The playground is fenced from the street (and somewhat below grade) but is not fully enclosed. There aren't benches or a picnic table for the low perimeter wall provides some seating. There is a drinking fountain and some small trees provide some shade.
On the south end of Langley Park, there is a nice playground with two play structures, a few swings, and train play structure. The larger structure includes a few slides and is accessible via a ramp for those using a wheelchair or stroller. There are also a few overhead elements connected to that play structure. The smaller structure, designed for younger children, features a smaller slide and a few climbing elements. There is also a small swing set (toddler swings and belt seat swings) and the standalone play train.
The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches and a drinking fountain. There are a few trees that provide some shade, especially in the morning.
Luella Park features a decent playground right in the middle of the park. With a small structure and a much larger structure (accessible by a ramp), there is a variety of elements for a range of kids. There are a few benches, a drinking fountain, and a some shade trees for additional comfort. The play area opens directly into the park and the play surface is soft rubber.
Located on the west side of Mann Park, the playground features an impressive array of swings - mostly belt seat and toddler. There is also a large play structure with a black belt bridge, tall curving slide, and other climbing elements. On the other side, there are a handful of standalone elements: a balance beam, hammock swing, spinning seat, and a large metal traverse. All in all - a lot of good elements. Making the playground more comfortable is an abundance of seating, a drinking fountain, access to the park building, and a good amount of shade. The play surface is wood chips and is fully enclosed from the street.
Off the nearby streets, the playground in Merrill Park offers some of the standard Chicago Park playground options. There is a large play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. There is a standard set of Chicago Park swings. There is a simple water spray feature. Surrounding by grass, this playground is not enclosed nor does it have seating nearby. The play surface is wood chips and, despite many trees in the park, the play area itself is bright and sunny.
The playground at Morgan Field Park is a basic and traditional playground. I don't mean that as an insult but merely as descriptive. This playground has the essential elements - large play structure with slides, various climbing elements, monkey bars, standard Park District swings - without much else. Set in the middle of a small field and surrounded by grass, and with wood chips as the main play surface, this playground is a standard neighborhood playground.
