The playground in Amundsen Park is a good playground with four areas: a smaller structure for younger children, a set of swings, a larger structure for older children, and a water spray feature. The larger structure is low to the ground and accessible via a ramp with a few sprawling elements low to the ground. The non-play features are also good: the play surface is soft rubber and there are benches for seating. There is some shade from trees and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
Barrett Park is below street grade but the playground gets high marks! The playground itself features a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a set of swings. The playground is fully fenced in and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a few trees provide shade. There is a Chicago Park fieldhouse but does not seem open. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.
The official Chicago Park website describes the playground like this: "The children's play area offers ADA accessibility that allows for inventive, non-linear play without traditional play equipment." Inventive, non-linear, and non-traditional are all great adjectives to describe this playground in the West Loop. The fully enclosed playground uses the rubber surface itself as a play element; there are steep inclines and valleys that invite play. Most of the elements are indeed non-traditional. While there are a few slides, there are no swings or monkey bars in this playground. Instead there is elaborate "jungle gym" structure made of belts of black rubber, a rope climbing structure, and a smaller structure for younger children. The play area is fully enclosed and there are several picnic tables that make this a comfortable playground in a new and beautifully landscaped park.
Claremont Park features a great playground and a lot of shade. There is a large set of swings (with the standard offerings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat), a small traditional play structure for younger children, a collection of rope/net climbing elements, and a standalone metal climbing structure. Though last refurbished in 2012, this playground seems modern and is quite clean. The non-play elements are great: a drinking fountain, benches, picnic tables, and a ton of shade from the large trees around the play area. The fully enclosed play area features a soft rubber surface. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Columbus Park - is unique within the city of Chicago. Described as a "boundless playground" by the Chicago Park District, this playground "is designed to provide access to play for all individuals.,, [and] all the equipment is specifically configured to allow for access and use by children and adults with a variety of special needs." Yet in many ways this unique focus isn't apparent by looking at the playground; it looks like a somewhat standard playground with some interesting elements.
There are two main play structures. One is a smaller structure with a few slides and climbing elements. The larger structure is set somewhat into a hill and is fully accessible by children using wheelchairs. It features additional slides, climbing elements, and a unique variety of overhead elements. Within the semi-enclosed play area there is also a small water feature, sand play area, and a small meandering nature path (not to be confused with the larger "natural area" within Columbus Park).
This play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. The main play surface is soft rubber (expect the sand area) and there are a few benches in the play area. The play area is quite sunny (and honestly could benefit from additional shade and/or picnic tables). The last notable amenity is the parking lot directly south of the playground with designed handicap parking spots and a barrier free entrance to the play area.
All in all, this is a large playground with a number of unique features that has been thoughtfully designed for a variety of users; highly recommend.
Commercial Club Park has a great playground with a unique and distinctive features - the most obvious one being a large, sculptural reptile embedded in the soft rubber surface. There are two play structures - one for younger children and a larger structure for older children - a small set of swings, and a water spray feature. The larger structure is sprawling and accessible via a ramp and the water spray feature is a somewhat standard triple shower sprayer.
The non-play amenities are also great. The play area is fully enclosed with some shade and easy access to bathroom via the fieldhouse. There is ample seating with benches and picnic tables within the play area. And the play surface is soft rubber.
For me, this playground checks a lot of boxes and is a worthy destination; highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Fosco Park - appears to be the main playground and features a large play structure and is next to a large water spray area. The playground itself includes a large and sprawling play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements - nothing too out of the ordinary but a really solid playground. The water spray area is fenced from the playground and features a few different spray elements.
The non-play amenities are solid. There is a drinking fountain and benches for seating and the fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). The play area is fenced from the street and includes a soft rubber surface. Although there are some trees, the play area itself is bring and sunny. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Franklin Park is divided into two distinct areas - one for younger children and the other for older children. The structure for younger children features a small play structure with a small summit climber, conical climbing wall and small slide. There are also four toddler swings. The larger structure features two variations of monkey bars, three slides, and a few climbing and traversing elements along with standard swings (belt seat and adaptive). Both areas are fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and both have a play surface of wood chips. A water spray feature is situated just north of the playground and next to the Franklin Park outdoor pool and the park district building provides bathroom access during open hours.
The playground in Harrison Park is a massive and sprawling playground that is one of the best in Chicago. Located in the southeast corner of the park, the play area features several large play structures and a huge variety of swings. The smaller play structure is actually quite large and seems designed for younger children. The large play structure for older children is - in a word - huge. It is a sprawling collection of climbing elements, slides, and overhead challenges. The swing options are also huge: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, tire, and saucer. And there are additional standalone elements scattered throughout the huge play area.
The play area is fenced from the street and opens into the rest of Harrison Park. The surface is largely wood chips though there are concrete sections with hopscotch and other games painted to the surface. There are a few benches (under the shade of a few trees!) and low perimeter walls provide additional seating. The play area does get some shade but is also sunny at times. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and there is a drinking fountain nearby as well.
This is not your typical neighborhood playground but instead a huge and sprawling playground paradise and a true destination; highly recommend.
This playground - one of 5 in Humboldt Park! - is located off California on the eastern edge of the park and is a gem. There is a small, traditional play structure for younger children and then a massive collection of unconventional climbing elements for older children. There is also the standard swing set: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The play area is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber surface. There are benches and two picnic tables as well as a drinking fountain. This is a great playground; highly recommend.
This playground - one of 5 in Humboldt Park - is located in the northeast corner of the park just north of the Humboldt Park lagoon. This playground is also somewhat not traditional - there aren't standard toddler or belt seat swings or even a slide in the entire sprawling playground! Instead, there are a few non-traditional swings (one tire swing and a few saucer swings), a rope net climbing structure, a collection of rope net traverse elements, and an area with spinning elements. The centerpiece of this playground is a large water spray feature.
With the somewhat non-traditional elements are some solid amenities. There are a few benches and trees for seating and shade. The play area is fenced from the surrounding park and set away from cars and traffic creating a surprisingly quiet play experience in the busy city. And the play surface is the classic wood chips.
It's a solid playground; highly recommend.
This playground - one of 5 in Humboldt Park - is located on the west side of the park near Division and Kedzie. This playground is a great play area surrounded by trees and features a swing set, a small play structure for younger children, and a large, sprawling play structure for older children with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars.
The amenities are also quite nice. The play area is fenced from the street (though not fully enclosed) and nicely surrounded by mature trees. Inside the play area are a few benches and even a picnic table for seating. The play surface is soft rubber and the larger play structure is somewhat accessible by a ramp.
All in all, this is a solid playground with amenities to make it a comfortable place for the whole family; highly recommend.
This Jefferson Park is named for Nancy Jefferson (nurse, educator, and civic leader) and not Thomas Jefferson (president, author of the Declaration of Independence, slaver owner) as Chicago's other Jefferson Parks are named. This playground at this park was last renovated in 2013 and features brightly colored and modern play structures as well as an interesting 'spinning button.' An above average selection of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing) round out the playground elements. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and features a few benches for seating. The play area is covered in wood chips and shaded by large, mature trees. This is a solid neighborhood playground.
Thomas Jefferson Park - oddly, one of three 'Jefferson Parks' in Chicago! - is a quiet space tucked near downtown with a solid playground and water spray feature. The playground boasts two play structures - a small one for younger children and a larger one for older children) as well as a rope/net traverse feature and a few standalone elements. The water spray feature is a 'triple overhead sprayer' that is suitable for a variety of kids. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat).
The amenities near this playground are also solid. There is seating - benches and a few picnic tables - as well as bathrooms and a drinking fountain. The play area opens to the rest of the park and is fenced from the street and the play surface is soft rubber.
Kedvale Park features a great playground with two large play structures, two sets of swings, and a water spray feature. Both structures are accessible by ramp and feature a variety of slides and climbing elements. The swings are standard for Chicago Parks and there is also a water spray feature for the summer month.
The play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches and large, mature trees doting the play space providing some seating and shade. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open).
All in all, this is a wonderful playground with large play structures in a solid environment. Highly recommend.
The playground at La Villita Park is a sprawling area with a number of different features. There is a large set of swings including toddler, adaptive, and belt seat swings. On the north end of the play area is a large mound of the rubberized surface with a series of rings and double straight sides. Next to that mound is a large, multifaceted climbing structure with rope netting and a variety of climbing elements. There is also a large collection of Kompan playground equipment that includes a lot of traversing and climbing elements. Lastly, there is a water spray feature with a variety of spray elements.
The playground itself is removed from traffic and fully enclosed from the rest of the park. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches scattered in the enclosed play area. Although there are a few trees in the area, the play area is bright and sunny. This is a great playground; highly recommend.
Maplewood Park is a wonderful neighborhood park with a new fieldhouse, a large ball field, and a wonderful soft-surface playground. The playground has two main play structures - an accessible and large structure for older children and a smaller one for younger children - and a small set of swings.
The non-play amenities are solid; there is a drinking fountain (with a water bottle filler!) and a few benches surrounding the play area. The new fieldhouse (opened in 2019) is a beautiful facility and provides access to bathrooms (when open). To me, this park is everything a neighborhood park should be; highly recommend.
Miami Park, situated on the corner of 28th and Trumbull, features a great little neighborhood playground. The single play structure is accessible by a ramp and features a variety of slides and climbing features. There is a small set of swings at the back of the site, a four person see-saw, and a little 'horse on a spring' - this site packs a lot of equipment into a small site. The playground is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber play surface. There are benches and trees for seating and shade as well as a drinking fountain for water. This is a classic neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Miller Park is dino-mite! It's 'dino-mite' largely because there is a large set of "dinosaur steps" as part of the main play structure here (along with other slides and climbing elements). There is a tire swing but, interestingly, no other swings on this small site. There are a few other standalone elements but the large play structure is the main feature of this quiet and somewhat shady park. The play area is wood chips and although it is fenced from the street it is not fully enclosed. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain.
Moore Park features a nice playground and small water spray feature. The playground is fully enclosed and includes a small structure for younger children, a collection of climbing elements for older children, and a set of swings (toddler and belt seat). The water spray feature is two water spray arches located just outside the playground area. The non-play features are very nice: benches and picnic tables for seating, a drinking fountain, access to the park district building (when open), with a soft rubber play surface. There isn't much shade in the play area - but this is still a solid playground. Highly recommend.
Park 534 features a nice playground and water spray feature in the middle of the park. There is small swing set with two toddler swings and two belt seat swings and then two play structures. The smaller one is for younger children and features a couple of slides and climbing elements. The larger structure is quite large and sprawling with a few slides, climbing elements, and a variation of monkey bars. The larger structure is also quite accessible via ramps on both sides. The water spray feature includes two water spraying arches and a halo shower sprayer.
The playground is bright and sunny and is fenced from the street and opens into a large grassy space. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches dotting the play area. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.
The playground at Park 574 was designed by the firm site design in 2014 and features unique play elements set into a small hill. There is not a standard play structure but instead a series of connected standalone elements including a zipline* with circular seat, spinning elements, and a variety of net/rope climbing elements. A highlight of the park is perhaps the longest playground slide in any Chicago Park - a 22 foot slide set directly into the hill.
The surface is soft rubber that is mounded and sculpted in places enhancing the play area. There are amenities like picnic tables and a drinking fountain but one amenity sorely lack is shade: this park is in full sun all day. There is also a small water spray feature just south of the playground near the southeast corner of the park.
[Aside: on both of my visits (2021 and 2022) the Zipline was broken. Historical Google streetview images (2015-2021) never shows an operational Zipline.]
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!
This large playground is located on the east side of Skinner Park and and features a water spray feature, an area for younger children, a huge area for older children, and the normal variety of swings. The area designed for older children is particularly large and there are several mosaics and a large climbing animal (a dragon!) that make this playground stand out from others. There are benches and a few picnic tables in the fully enclosed play area and the play surface is soft rubber.
