Renovated in 2015, the playground at Bell Park features modern equipment and a small water spray feature. There is a small structure for younger children and a larger structure for older children. There are also a few standalone elements including a zip line with a circle seat, a four person see-saw, and the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The water spray feature includes a large overhead element and two small water sprayers.
The non-play elements are great: benches, a picnic table, drinking fountains, access to bathrooms via the park district building (when open), and some shade. The play surface is wood chips and the playground is set back from the street (but not fully enclosed). All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Blackhawk Park includes two play structures and two sets of swings. Divided by age group, the area for younger children includes a standard small play structure, a set of low monkey bars, and toddler swings. The other area includes a larger structure with larger slides and more advanced climbing elements including circular monkey bars and other swings. Both area are covered in wood chips and there are a few benches and picnic tables scattered in the general area for seating. The fieldhouse is located near the playground for bathroom access (when the building is open). A standard Chicago playground in the best sense of the term.
The playground at Chopin Park is a great little playground. There are three areas at this site: one area with toddler swings and some small standalone elements, another area with belt seat swings and a large play structure, and finally a water spray area. The large play structure features a number of slides and climbing elements. The water spray feature seems somewhat dated - a single water sprayer surrounded by concrete - but the shade pavilions and benches offer some nice amenities. The main play surface is wood chips and there is a drinking fountain as well as access to the fieldhouse building. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground and a worthwhile destination; highly recommend.
Dickinson Park is a small triangular park in a quiet residential neighborhood with a playground and water spray feature. The playground is a single large structure suitable for a range of ages (and accessible via a ramp!) with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There are the standard Chicago Park swings and a nice 'triple shower sprayer' water spray features. The play area is fenced from the street and features a lot of benches and a drinking fountain around the soft rubber play surface. This is a great neighborhood park.
Dunham Park is a large neighborhood park with several athletic fields, a fieldhouse, an accessible playground, and small water spray feature. The playground features a large accessible play structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. There is the standard Chicago Park set of swings and a small water spray feature. The location in a quiet residential neighborhood with large trees makes for a great setting. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches and a drinking fountain and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood park.
The playground at Hiawatha Park features modern play elements and tons of amenities. The playground itself features modern elements with lots of 'low to the ground' climbing and traversing elements including a wavy black belt bridge, semi-circular climbing net, and an interesting net funnel. There is a ramp leading to the only platform and the surface is soft rubber so this playground would be somewhat accessible to people using wheelchairs or people using strollers. Another accessible feature is a collection of interactive panels set at ground level accessible by everyone including very young children. There is also a variety of swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire.
Beyond the play equipment, there are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain and a large sunshade making this a very comfortable play area. There is also a water spray feature located nearby and the Hiawatha Park field house a short ways away for bathroom access. The play surface is soft rubber and the play area is fully enclosed from the street and opens to a large grassy field. This is a great playground; highly recommend.
The Horner Park playground is - in a word - amazing. There are two play large play structures, a small zipline, a variety of swings, and a few other standalone elements that make this a destination playground. The smaller structure for younger children contains a few slides, tubes, and climbing features as well as a few interactive panels. The larger structure for older children is quite large; it features multiple platforms connected by various bridges and net/rope climbing elements and several slides. There is a small zipline with a hanging circle seat. There are a lot of swing options: toddler, molded bucket seat with a harness, belt seat, and a large standalone saucer swing.
The play area itself is quite large and while it is fenced from the street it is not fully enclosed. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and picnic tables doting the perimeter for seating. The Horner Park fieldhouse is quite close and provides access to bathrooms. While this playground doesn't have everything (it lacks a water feature and could be improved with more shade) this playground is still amazing. This is definitely a destination playground.
Beyond the playground, Horner Park is one of the largest parks in the area and includes a large hill that is perfect for flying kites or sledding; a free parking lot of California Avenue; and a walking path around the entire park perfect for walking, biking, or riding scooters. There is also a small (and I believe unofficial) nature play area south of the parking lot off California.
The playground at Independence Park has it all. There is a play structure for younger children that is accessible via ramp as well as a small playhouse and spinning saucer. There are two zip lines - one with a molded plastic seat with harness and the other with a circular seat. For older kids, there is a huge single mast climbing net that is connected to two other large play structures that each have other elements and large slides. And there are swings: toddler, belt seat, molded seat with harness, and hammock style saucer swings. The play area is not enclosed and the soft rubber play surface gets full sun throughout the day,. However, there are benches and drinking fountains near the play area as well as a picnic table for some comfort. There is also a water spray feature in the park - though it is a basic four sprayer feature located north of the pool off Irving Park so it's not directly adjacent to the play ground. All in all, this is a great playground and a worthy destination playground.
Kelvyn Park is a large neighborhood park with a great playground next to the fieldhouse. There is a single large structure with a few standalone elements and two sets of swings. The structure contains a number of slides, climbing elements, and a set of monkey bars.
The non-play amenities are classic and standard: wood chips and benches with some shade. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and a drinking fountain (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood park and playground. Highly recommend.
Mayfair Park is a small park with athletic fields, a basketball court, and a great playground and water spray feature. The playground is located near the southwest corner of the park and features two large structures, a set of swings, and a water spray feature. The larger play structure is accessible via a ramp and sprawls out with a variety of slides and climbing elements. The smaller structure seems designed for younger children and yet is also quite large. The water spray feature seems like an upgraded 'four sprayer' - there indeed four sprayer arranged in a circle but the surface is soft rubber and there is a 'halo sprayer' as well. An exceptional fact about this playground is that it was installed in 2007 (!) and yet the equipment and general feel is quite modern.
The non-play amenities and setting are both first class. The play area is soft rubber and there are benches and picnic tables within the play area with a nearby fieldhouse providing access to bathrooms (when open). The site gets decent shade from the tall, mature trees and the play area is fenced from the street (although not fully enclosed). This is a first rate playground; highly recommend.
The playground in Merrimac Park is located in the northeast corner of the park and has a lot of modern features. The play surface is soft rubber that is mounded in spots making the surface itself a play feature. On top of that surface, there are several large climbing and traversing elements that are very modern including some large semi-circular climbing nets, rings and hanging steps, and a wavy black belt bridge. There is also a smaller play structure for younger children. There are a few standalone elements including a rail slide and a spinning seat as well as the more traditional varieties of swings (toddler, traditional, and molded bucket). There is also a water spray feature with a triple overhead spray element. There are a few benches and picnic tables as well as a large shade canopy making for a comfortable experience for all. Highly recommend this modern playground.
Parsons Park - named for Lucy Ella Gonzales Parsons who was a labor organizer and anarchist - features an interesting playground and water spray feature. The playground itself is somewhat sprawling; there is a set of swings near the entrance; a large, accessible play structure in the back corner of the site with a large triple slide; a single mast rope climbing elements; and a few more climbing elements and interactive panels on the eastern side of the park. The water spray features area include a 'loch ness mister' that may drain into a small stream. However, the water spray features were not on when I visited on a hot June day so I'm not sure about this...
The site is fully enclosed and gets a fair amount of shade from a large umbrella, trees, and neighboring building. The surface is a combination of sort rubber and concrete with lots of rocks as well. There are a few benches and three small 'game tables' with checkerboard tops. If the water from the spray feature does indeed flow into the river bed, this would be an interesting and unique park worth a visit to see. Without this interesting water spray feature, however, this park is a relatively standard neighborhood park.
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.
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.
The playground at Shabbona Park is a large and sprawling set of elements diverse enough to appeal to a wide range of kids. There is a large play structure - accessible via a ramp - with two levels of play elements. There is a smaller structure for younger children, a large 'musical bar', and a large set of swings. There is also a water spray feature just south of the playground.
The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open) and there is a drinking fountain, picnic tables, and benches near the play area. The play surface is soft rubber and while the play area is not enclosed, it is set back from any street and the nearby parking lot. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
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.
