These playgrounds have a play area that is mostly enclosed. Some are "fully fenced" but that is a unique designation for playgrounds that are completely enclosed.
A shady and small park, Zatterberg Park features two play structures, a small set of swings, and a few standalone elements. Both play structures are somewhat minimal and have a "tree house" aesthetic: no steering wheels or interactive panels but rather natural and arboreal structures with a play surface of wood chips. The narrow site is fully enclosed and features a few benches and a drinking fountain. Fitting the theme, the site is full of beautiful trees that provide wonderful shade. Highly recommend - especially on sunny days or for children who seek to play among the trees.
Wrightwood Park is a wonderful neighborhood park with some interesting - albeit dated - playground equipment. According to Google Street View, this equipment has been in place since at least 2007 (the earliest image available) so it's quite old by playground standards. The layout - one smaller structure for younger children, another for older kids, and two sets of swings - fits with other playground designs the equipment seems both well-loved and well-maintained.
The non-play amenities are solid. The play area is soft rubber and is fenced from the street. There are benches in the area and a set of picnic tables near the northeast corner of the park. There is a small fieldhouse that should provide access to the bathroom (when open).
All in all, this is a solid site with some interesting equipment.
The playground at Woodhull Park is located in the northeast corner of the park and features two play structures and a small water feature. The smaller structure is designed for younger children and includes a few slides and climbing elements. The larger structure also includes slides as well as a variety of climbing elements with monkey bars and other traversing elements attached. Most platforms of this structure are also accessible via a ramp and the main surface is soft rubber making this play structure somewhat accessible. The water spray feature nearby is small and features a single bent pole water sprayer. The area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There are a few benches and trees for seating and shade.
This small playground features modern elements and a unique, serpentine fence with painted balusters that can spin. Named for Elizabeth Wood, the first Executive Director of the Chicago Housing Authority, this playground is situated near the site of the Lathrop Homes, one of the first public housing projects in Chicago. The play area is entirely enclosed and there are some modern concrete benches to match the modern aesthetic of the equipment.
The playground in Wolfe Park contains a small play structure, a set of swings, and a small water feature. The single play structure is quite large and includes a few slides and some unique climbing features. There are also a few climbing, traversing, and overhead elements next to the main structure as well as a standalone see-saw in the area. There is a small set of two adaptive swings in the same area and - curiously - a set of belt seat swings and toddler swings on the other side of the fieldhouse in the northwest corner of the park. The water spray feature is a simple "overhead triple sprayer" that was renovated in 2015 with the rest of the playground. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches nearby but the low perimeter wall provides some informal seating. Large trees provide some afternoon shade the the fieldhouse should provide bathroom access when open.
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.
Located in the southwest corner of Winnemac Park, this playground has lots of play structures and other amenities. There is a larger play structure for older children, a smaller play structure for younger children, and the standard set of swings. The play area is quite large and fully enclosed and uses a combination of soft rubber, concrete, and grass as the play surface. Mature trees on all sides provide spots of shade throughout the day and there are benches and picnic tables within the play area. In total, these features and amenities make this a wonderful and popular playground.
Wilson Park contains a solid playground and water spray feature. There are two play structures - one for younger children and one for older children - and a small water spray feature. There are a few benches and a park district fieldhouse that provides bathroom access (when open). The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. The play equipment and the amenities make this a solid neighborhood playground.
Wilson Park is a large neighborhood park with a variety of athletic fields, a fieldhouse, a playground, and a water playground. The playground is located near the eastern edge of the park just north of the fieldhouse and is a gem. There is a small collection of equipment that looks like a firetruck. The bulk of the playground is a large, sprawling structure that spans an interesting 'valley' in the soft rubber surface. The larger structure is also accessible via a ramp and features modern elements. There is also a separate "water playground" near the more traditional dry playground.
The non-play amenities are solid. There are interesting 'cement blocks' for seating and a drinking fountain near the playground. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground.
This playground - south of the intersection of 27th and Federal Street - is likely a 'shared site' between Williams Park and Drake Elementary (the local signage was not clear). Regardless, this is a shady site with some wonderful playground equipment. The play area is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber play surface.
This park - named Williams-Davis Park in honor of Hattie Kay Williams and Izora Davis - contains a wonderful playground at the western edge of the pedestrian footbridge over DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The main play structure is quite large and features a number of slides and climbing elements and interactive panels. It is also accessible via a ramp for those using wheelchairs or in strollers. There are also a number of interesting standalone features: a single mast net climbing structure, a somewhat abstract climbing structure, a spinning bowl, and a large see-saw. There is also a standard set of park district swings. In the same play area is a water spray feature with two water loops and some jets from the ground.
The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are a number of benches in the play area and a few picnic tables just outside the enclosed area. While there is a drinking fountain, there is not much shade for this playground and it remains bright and sunny most of the day. All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.
This playground at Wildwood Park is a wonderful and quiet playground tucked away in a residential neighborhood. There are two main areas to the playground - a smaller area for younger children and a larger area for older children - as well as a new 'Nature Play Area' next to the play area. The play area for smaller children includes a small play structure, a spinning saucer, and a set of panels for imaginative play. The area for older children includes a large play structure with slides, climbing features, and a large metal traverse element. Between these areas is a small set of swings.
The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and removed from traffic. The play surface is soft rubber and is shaded by large trees. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables for seating in the area.
Altogether, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
