The playground at Ronan Park is located just south of Argyle St. on the west bank of the North Branch of the Chicago River and features dedicated areas for younger and older children. The area for younger children features toddler swings, a small play structure, and a teeter-tooter and 'seat on a spring.' The area for older children features belt seat and molded plastic seat swings as well as a larger structure with angled monkey bars and steeper slides. Neither play area is enclosed at all but both are set away from nearby streets. Both are also covered in wood chips and there are benches nearby both areas. The nearby park also offers a nature trail near the river and picnic tables and sculptures further south toward Lawrence.
This playground - located on the west side of Rogers Park - is a great playground shaded by large trees. There are two areas; one is for younger children and the other is for older children. The larger structure features a number of interesting and unique overhead elements as well as a few slides and climbing elements. This site also has a few standalone elements and the Chicago Park standard swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. In my opinion, the best non-playable amenities are shade and benches and this playground has both. The site is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. All in all, it is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
On the northside of Jackie Robinson Park and shaded by large trees, there is a huge and wonderful playground. It is a single large structure that sprawls and soars; it sprawls to include a variety of ramps and climbing elements and soars to great heights with a three story central core. There are a few standalone elements and the standard set of Chicago Park swings but the huge structure is the main attraction.
The amenities are solid too. Both benches and picnic tables offer ample seating. The play surface is soft rubber and the play area is shaded by large, mature trees that opens directly to the rest of the park. A small comfort station nearby provides access to bathrooms (when open).
All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.
Robichaux Park contains a large playground and a water spray feature. The playground contains a variety of climbing elements, slides, and even a circle seat zipline and seems designed to challenge older children. There is also a standard set of Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.' The overall setting is beautiful with large trees nearby (though the playground itself is bright and sunny). However, I don't recall seeing any benches near the playground; added these would greatly improve the site. A nearby fieldhouse should provide access to bathrooms and a drinking fountain (when open). All in all, a good playground that could be a great one with a few benches and picnic tables.
The playground at Roberts Square Park is right in the middle of the park and features a large play structure, a variety of swings, and a sandbox. The play structure features a few slides and a variety of climbing elements (though no monkey bars) and there is a small, twisting metal structure with climbing wall holds. There are the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) as well as a tire swing. There are also a few standalone elements and a playhouse as well as a sand play area. Neither the playground nor the park are fenced from the street though the playground has short walls that provide some informal seating and a sense of boundaries. The main play surface is wood chips and large mature trees provide some shade in this otherwise bright and sunny park.
This small playground - one of two in River Park - sits on the west side of the park near the corner of Carmen and Albany and the confluence of the North Branch of the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel. This playground is quite small and features toddler swings and a tire swing, an overhead slider and S-shaped monkey bars, and a small play structure. The surface is rubberized and gets some afternoon shade from nearby trees.
This playground - one of two in River Park - is located off Francisco Ave on the east side of the North Shore Channel. This playground features a large swing set, a small structure for younger children, and a large structure for older children. The larger structure also includes a variety of overhead elements to challenge older climbers. The play area is somewhat shaded and partially enclosed and has a few benches. River Park itself is quite large with lots of grassy area, nature paths, and paved paths for biking and running. There is also a water feature located near this playground (just north of the nearby pool) that has a variety of spray elements. All together, this is a wonderful playground with lots of nearby options; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Riis Park - is an interesting playground with some unique play elements in a classic and timeless setting. There are two play structures - one for younger children and one for older - that both feature modern equipment that is somewhat unique to Chicago Park playgrounds.
The setting is classic playground that is, at the same time, somewhat rare in Chicago: this playground is set away from the nearest street (Wrightwood between Mobile and Merrimac, in case you need directions) and opens directly into the large grassy expanses of Riis Park. It is bright and sunny with a play surface of wood chips. There is a drinking fountain nearby and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms. A low perimeter wall provides some informal seating but - strangely - there aren't any benches near the playground.
All in all, this is a great little playground; highly recommend.
This small, neighborhood playground is in the northwest corner of Ridge Park and was renovated in 2013 with modern playground equipment including a variety of monkey bars, slides, and the standard mix of swings. This playground also has a small train play area and overlooks the Metra tracks so might be good for a child interested in trains. The surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the perimeter.
Revere Park is a large park with a recently remodeled fieldhouse and a great playground. The playground is located on the east side of the park just south of the parking lot and is a fully enclosed soft surface playground. There are two structures, the standard set of swings, and plenty of seating with both benches and picnic tables.
This small, neighborhood park features a clean and modern playground on a quiet triangular lot in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood. There are a few varieties of swings and dedicated areas for younger and older children. There are also plenty of benches and picnic tables and shady corners in the rest of the park making for a comfortable playground experience.
The playground Rainey Park is located on the north side of the park and features a small play structure, a large selection of swings, and some standalone elements. The play structure is relatively small and features a few slides and traversing elements. For swings, this park has toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire swings. There is also a see-saw, spinning sphere, and large overhead spinning element. This playground is not enclosed but is set back from all traffic. The play area is somewhat shaded and the play surface is wood chips.
The playgrounds at Rainbow Beach are located toward the northwest corner of the park and are two fully enclosed play area next to each other. They both feature unique net/rope climbing structures and a variety of swings: toddler, belt seat, and hammock saucer swings. The play surface of both is wood chips and though there aren't benches in the immediate area the low perimeter walls offer some informal seating. Situated away from traffic and with great views of Lake Michigan, these somewhat small playgrounds are gems and are worth the trip.
Railroad Junction Park is a shady and small neighborhood park with a great playground. This playground includes a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) as well as a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. The play area is fenced from the street but is not full enclosed. The play surface is wood chips and a highlight of this park is the shade created by large, mature trees. There are also benches surrounding the play area making this a comfortable park.
The playground in tiny Privet Park takes up nearly the entire area of the park and yet packs in a large climbing structure for older children and a pair of toddler swings. There are two benches and a drinking fountain in the fully enclosed and somewhat shady play area and the play surface is wood chips.
Prairie Wolf Park is a nice neighborhood pocket park with a playground and water feature. The playground is somewhat non-traditional; the structure consists of a few slides connected by climbing and traversing elements and not bridges or platforms like other sites. The water feature is a small 'four sprayer' with jets from the ground. The surface is wood chips and playground gets some shade from the large trees on the site. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed There is a shade structure and drinking fountain near the entrance.
The playground at Pottawattamie Park is very large and features a water spray feature, an area for younger children, and a separate area for older children. The water spray feature is shaped like two flowers and provides an overhead flow of water. The area of young children features a few elements attached to a large play structure as well as a few toddler swings. The area for older children features a variety of connected elements that can be climbed or traversed as well as standard belt swings and a large tire swing. The play surfaces are mainly wood chips and there a few benches and large trees dotting the playground.
The playground at Portage Park has the play structures and amenities to make it a true destination. The fully enclosed area on the west side of Portage Park features two large play structures. One structure is designed for smaller children and features several slides, climbing features, and interactive panels. The other structure is even larger and is designed for older children by showcasing more challenging climbing features and larger slides. There are also several other standalone features including a semi-circular climbing net with suspended rings and a very large twisted net for climbing. There are also two large swing sets offering the standard park variety.
The play surface is soft rubber. In one area the surface itself has been molded and large sculptural canoes are set in the surface in what is perhaps a nod to the name 'portage park' and the routes that Native Americans used in the area prior to white settlement. The playground is well shaded by many mature trees and a simple pavilion on the northside of the playground. There are also plenty of benches and picnic tables for seating. All in all, this is a great playground and a worthy destination.
Poplar Park contains a small and unique playground as well as a water spray feature. The playground contains just a handful of elements: a single mast rope net climbing structure, a large platform with climbing nets and unique metal pods, and an interesting assortment of swings (adaptive, belt seat, and hammock style saucer). No slides or monkey bars at this site! The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer'. This unique park features a few standard amenities - a drinking fountain and benches - as well as great shade from the towering trees on the site. All in all, this is an interesting little 'pocket park.'
This small park features several modern playground elements sited in several areas. These areas include a small structure for young children with a few belt seat swings; a large, multifaceted climbing structure in another area; a hammock saucer swing, toddler swings, and a spinning seat in another, and a curved slide set into a hill with natural rock elements and a small water spray feature. There are several benches and the surrounding neighborhood is quiet making this a comfortable and interesting playground to visit.
Located near the northeast corner of Piotrowski Park, this playground features two play structures and a set of swings. The larger play structure is accessible via a ramp and includes a variety of slides, climbing structures, and play elements. The other structure is much smaller and is designed for younger children. Lastly, there is a sizeable set of swings with Chicago Park standards: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat.
The setting and amenities are above average as well. There is plenty of seating (benches and a picnic table) as well as a drinking fountain in the play area. Large trees provide partial shade around the play area which is a soft rubber surface. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens directly into the rest of the park. The fieldhouse directly to the west should provide access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground in a great setting. Highly recommend!
Pine Park is a small park with a good playground. Most of the standard elements are available here: slides, monkey bars, and swings without too many frills or extras. There are benches and a drinking fountain and the play area itself is somewhat shaded and fully enclosed. The play surface is wood chips.
Pietrowski Park contains a playground with two small structures, swings, and a few standalone elements. The main structure are typical for Chicago parks and include a variety of climbing elements and slides. The swings are also typical: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The playground get some afternoon shade from a large tree but is otherwise bright and sunny. The play surface is wood chips and while there aren't benches, the low perimeter wall provides some seating.
