This playground - one of three in Warren Park - is located in the southwest corner of the park. This playground features a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There are also toddler swings, an adaptive swing, belt seat swings, and a tire swing in the area. The play area is fenced from the street and from the rest of the park and is shaded by large trees. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and a low perimeter wall for some seating.
The playground at Montgomery Ward Park is a gem. There are two traditional play structures. The smaller structure is quite small for younger children and the larger structure is designed for older children but is still rather low to the ground and safe for younger climbers. There are also two large, standalone rope net climbing elements on either side of the park. Lastly, there is a large set of standard swings, a rail slide built into terrain of the park, and a few standalone elements. Oh - there is also a water spray feature: a triple overhead sprayer.
The amenities of this playground are solid too. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is soft rubber. There are picnic tables (under shade umbrellas!) and many small, concrete cubes that can be used for seating (though, strangely, no benches that I can recall). The playground is bright and sunny without much shade though there are lots of trees in the grassy areas surround the playground. All in all, this is great playground; highly recommend.
Tucked beside the Metra Track off a quiet side street, this small playground is the only feature in Chi Che Wang Park. Surrounded by a large grassy space without trees or athletic fields, this playground features a soft rubberized surface and smaller elements best suited for younger children. There are some unique climbing animals (an elephant and gorilla) and the standard offerings of swings. The large, open grassy area and the relative quiet - broken only by a passing Metra Train - are the defining features of this playground.
The playground at Walsh Park is a great playground that has two wonderful and unique structures. There is a huge play structure consisting of two towers that are connected by a fully enclosed rope net bridge. The climbing elements are all inside the towers and each tower has a large curving tube slide so while there is no chance of a high fall from the tall structures, it still takes courage to climb and cross them (for child and for parent!). The second structure is harder to describe but resembles a dome with rope netting on the exterior with a variety of climbing elements inside. This is slightly smaller but still a challenging elements for kids who like to climb. Finally, there are some swings (toddler, adaptive, and hammock-style saucer swings), a small curving climbing wall, and a unique pipe drum musical element.
There is also a water spray feature in this playground! Small jets of water spout from the ground for a duration of time after a button is pressed. This water feature is quite integrated into the play area (i.e. hard to keep kids away) so probably good to plan accordingly.
This playground is located at the eastern end of the 606 trail and despite it's central location actually seems quite removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. That being said, it's also a very popular playground that is used by school and camps groups so it can get crowded. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. There are large, flat rocks set around the area as benches as well as two picnic tables for seating. The play area itself is bright and open though there are trees dotting the area for some shade and the play surface is wood chips.
All in all, this is a great playground - especially for somewhat older children - and definitely a worthwhile destination.
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.
Wallace Park contains a non-traditional playground and very traditional water spray feature. The playground is not a typical play structure and slides - and there aren't even traditional swings at this park! Instead, there is a collection of rope and net climbing elements, two saucer swings, and a collection of rope/net traverse elements. The water spray feature - on the other hand - is a very traditional 'four sprayer'. The play area is fenced from the street and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches for seating and trees for shade. All in all, this is an interesting playground.
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.
Vogle Park is a small, quiet, shady park with a great playground. There are two standalone elements - a climbing wall with voids and a spinning element - and a large play structure with a few slides and other climbing elements. Lastly, there is a set of the standard Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat. The non-play features are playground classics - wood chips, wooden benches, and lots of shade - and the play area is fully enclosed. 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.
Violet Park is a small neighborhood park with a large playground structure, two sets of swings, and a water spray feature. The playground structure is quite large and contains a few slides, climbing elements, overhead elements, and traversing elements. The swings sets are standard for Chicago parks and the water feature is a standard 'four sprayer.' Large trees on the west side of the play area provide some shade and there are also a few benches for comfort. The play surface is wood chips and the play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed.
Veterans' Memorial Park has a small playground on the southern edge of the park as well as a water spray feature and set of swings. The main play structure is somewhat dated - the current equipment has been in place since at least 2011 - but is overall still functional with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and interactive panels. This playground is also somewhat accessible to wheelchair users with a ramp to the main structure and a soft rubber surface. The small set of swings is standard (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and the water spray feature is also a standard 'triple sprayer.' There are benches around the perimeter of the play area as well as a small park building with access to bathrooms and drinking fountains (when open). Although the equipment is dated, this is still a decent 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.
The playground at Unity Park is a huge asset to the Logan Square neighborhood. It features huge elements: a huge play structure for younger kids, a huge climbing net structure, a huge play structure for older children, and a huge water spray feature. The area for younger children is quite large and features a light nautical theme with a ship bow and mast. Older children could play on the large climbing net structure and the dedicated area with a variety of elements. And the nearby spray feature is massive and features four large overhead sprayers. There are also the standard variety of swings in this fully enclosed playground. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and picnic tables scattered around this small park.
Those interested in history and/or wish to hear a catchy song should check out the audio documentary "Meet Me at Unity Playlot" by Long Haul Productions (available on SoundCloud here: https://soundcloud.com/longhaulpro/unity) because it tells the history of this park as well as features a song written about the park.
The playground at Union Park is a huge playground with a water spray feature and a range of other elements. There are several rope net climbing elements including a 'wooden plank bridge' and a huge multifaceted climbing structure. Interestingly, this site uses equipment made from at least two different playground manufacturers - though perhaps this is only interesting to someone who writes detailed reviews of playgrounds! There is a small, traditional structure with a few slides and climbing elements from the company "landscape structures." There is also a more post-modern looking play structure for older children from the "Kompan" company based in Europe. There is a small set of standard swings as well as a few standalone elements. The water spray feature are some water loops that provide a gentle mist of water.
The play area is not fully enclosed but opens into the rest of Union Park and is fenced from the nearby streets. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain. The fieldhouse and the pool are nearby and should provide access to bathrooms (when open). There are a number of trees in the area that should provide some shade - especially in the afternoon. All in all, this is a great playground and definitely a destination to visit.
The playground at Tuley Park is a solid neighborhood playground with two play structures, the standard Chicago Park swings, and a water spray feature. The larger structure, designed for older children, features long ramps and a few slides and climbing elements. The smaller structure is quite small and definitely meant for younger children. The water spray feature is a solid 'triple shower sprayer' next to the playground.
The playground is located just south of the fieldhouse (which should provide access to bathrooms when open) and is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There are benches and a drinking fountain in the area and the play surface is soft rubber. There are a few trees nearby but the playground itself is bright and sunny.
Shade and slides. These two words describe the playground in Trumbull Park. There are other features as well - monkey bars, rope/net climbing elements, swings - but the number and variety of slides as well as the quality of shade provided by the large mature trees are the defining factors of this playground. There is also a water spray feature directly north of the playground (and a pool in the same park!). The playground is on the east side of the park next to the fieldhouse (which provides access to bathrooms when open). The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating around the playground.
The Touhy Park playground is located in the northeast corner of the park near the intersection of Jarvis and Paulina. There is an old and well-loved playground over a surface of wood chips nearest that corner. Further south, there is a modern playground over a soft rubberized surface featuring a small play structure for younger children, a large set of connected elements for older children, and swings. There are benches and picnic tables in an area shaded by large trees and near the park building.
The playground at Touhy-Herbert Park is an interesting playground because it combines elements from two playground equipment companies: Dynamo and Kompan. The bright orange elements are from Dynamo are include a net climbing structure, a large conical spinner, a large net climber with triangular faces, and a set of swings. The other structure is from Kompan and is a more traditional play structure with bright colors and geometric shapes. This structure includes some rare elements including a variation on the overhead glider and an interesting 'balance beam bridge.' The park is itself is quite large and while the playground gets some shade it is mostly bright and sunny. The play area has a wood chip surface and it is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There are a few benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain for added comfort. There is also a small water spray feature located just south of the playground. All in all, this is an interesting playground!
Ping Tom Park is one of the best parks in Chicago and the playground, while somewhat standard, does not disappoint. It contains two play structures and a number of small, standalone elements, as well as swings and seating. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and is quite small and accessible. The larger structure is somewhat sprawling and including a variety of elements: monkey bars, climbing elements, slides, and more. No element is truly remarkable or unique but the entire play structure is above average. There are a few unique standalone elements and a standard set of swings.
The play area is entirely enclosed and the playground set near the middle of the park and is removed from cars and traffic. However, this park is near three (3!) active train lines including the CTA Orange Line, Metra and Amtrak trains (which cross the South Branch of the Chicago River on a bridge) and an active freight train line. So despite the distance from cars and traffic, this is playground has great views of trains and river traffic. The play area contains a number of benches and picnic tables and is shaded by several large trees making it a comfortable to sit and gather. The surface of the playground is soft rubber.
Outside the playground, this park has other amenities worth exploring as a family: a large pagoda near the river, two large murals on the 18th Street overpass, and a natural area on the north side of the park. All in all, this is a great playground in a great park; highly recommend.
The playground at Tilton Park is small but features a nice play structure, two large sets of swings, and a small water feature. The play structure is small but includes a few slides and climbing elements. There are also two sets of swings (standard toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a standalone curving climbing element and a version of monkey bars. The water spray feature is a misting pole. This park is open and sunny and provides great views of the Lake Street L. The play area is mostly enclosed and features benches, a drinking fountain, and even a small picnic table.
The playground at Till-Mobley Park features a large play structure with several slides, climbing elements, and overhead elements. There is also a spinning sphere and the standard set of Park District swings (toddler, adaptive, and black belt). The play area, covered in wood chips, is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the streets. There are a few benches in the area for seating and a drinking fountain near the basketball court.
Located on the western edge of Thuis Park, this playground features a few connected large play structures, a few standalone elements, and the standard set of swings. The play structures include a variety of slides and climbing elements with a 'ring tangle' traverse and a curving set of monkey bars. The standalone elements include a large metal climbing element and a 'two by two' see-saw. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens into the grassy expanse of Thuis Park. There is a bench and a drinking fountain and the play surface is wood chips.
Throop Park offers a great playground with a variety of equipment. There is a single large play structure that is both tall and sprawling with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and overhead elements to challenge older children. There is an interesting mix of swings - toddler, belt seat, and a tire swing - and a few standalone elements in the large play area. In the corner of the park is a simple water spray feature shaped like a mushroom. The playground is connected to the entire park which is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The play area is wood chips and while the play area itself lacks shade most of the day, there is a shade pavilion next to the playground. There are also a few benches and a drinking fountain.
The Grove Playground is a small neighborhood pocket park with a decent playground and a few swing options. The main play structure is good size with a few slides and climbing options; attached the the structure is a collection of traverse and overhead elements to challenge older children. This park offers toddler, belt seat, and a tire swing. The park is shaded by beautiful trees and has a drinking fountains but - strangely - I don't recall any benches. The play area is fenced from the street and the play surface is wood chips.
