Austin

This playground is located in narrow Austin Park near the corner of Lake and Mayfield and just north of the CTA Green Line tracks. The equipment in this park is standard for Chicago playgrounds but larger than most. It contains a large climbing structure designed for older children with a few slides and climbing features as well as a climbing net and small climbing wall. On the same block, just further west, there are two large water features: one water spray area and one water playground. So while they aren't integrated into the playground they are quite close. The play area is not enclosed but it is shaded by large trees to the south. There is a bench near the park and bathroom access via the fieldhouse building near the water features. The play surface is wood chips.

The playground at Austin Town Hall Park was locked when I visited in 2022 and may be used exclusively for park district programming. It is located off Central Avenue just north of the fieldhouse. It contains a single large play structure, a see-saw, and a hammock saucer swing. The play area is fully enclosed and has a play surface of wood chips.

The John Clark Park playground features a large climbing structure with a variety of slides, climbing features, and overhead elements. There is also the standard set of park district swings and a see-saw. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a small fieldhouse near the playground. An embankment for a freight train line forms the eastern edge of the park and there might be a slow moving train.

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.

This playground - one of two in Columbus Park - is located on the north side of the park between Jackson and Adams by Menard Drive. It features a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements along with a standard set of swings. The play area is not enclosed but it is fenced from Adams. There are some trees (mainly to the south) that provide some shade and a few benches for seating. The play surface is wood chips.

This tiny neighborhood pocket park is situated on a narrow site and features a single play structure. There are a few slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars as well as a tire swing. The play lot is mostly enclosed and covered in wood chips. There aren't any benches in the play area but a few perimeter walls provide some seating.

This playground at Davis Park (not to be confused with Davis Square Park in the Back of the Yards community area) is a standard Chicago playground with equipment for many children. There are the standard set of swings - toddler, adaptive, and belt seat - with an extra hammock style saucer swing as a bonus. There are two play structures - one for older kids and one for younger - and a few standalone features. The play surface is wood chips and the play area is fully enclosed from the street and opens into a basketball court at the rear of the site. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain but there are no trees or shade structures making the playground bright and sunny. The wall on the west side of the park has some great murals, though

The playground at DeGeorge Park features a large play structure with many unique climbing elements, swings (toddler, belt seat, and a tire swing), and a few other standalone elements. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches in the area as well as a few trees but the playground itself is bright and sunny.

The playground at Galewood Park offers a decent play structure, the standard set of park swings, and a small water spray feature. The main play structure includes some interesting ladders and two slides. There is also a set of swings (toddler and belt seat) and a few small standalone 'animals on poles' for younger children. The water spray feature is a simple 'four sprayer' in a concrete circle. There are plenty of benches, one drinking fountain, and the fieldhouse is quite close for bathroom access (when open). The main play surface is soft rubber and the play area gets some morning shade but is mostly bright and sunny.

Hazelnut Park is a small neighborhood park with a sizeable and shady playground. Renovated between 2016 and 2017, this playground features a large play structure with two slides and several climbing elements. There is a "car on a spring" and set of swings with a somewhat uncommon "double swing" where an adult and child can face each other in addition to the standard toddler and belt seat swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. The park is shaded by several large trees and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain near the entrance.

This playground features a play structure with a few slides, a large rope/net climbing structure, and a 'bloqx' (a geometric shape with climbing holds) as well as the standard set of Park District swings. The play area opens to the rest of the park and the nearby streets and sadly lacks benches (though low perimeter walls provide some informal seating). The surface is wood chips and some nearby trees provide some shade especially in the morning.

This playground - one of two in La Follette Park - is located near the northwest corner of the park and is a somewhat standard Chicago Park playground. There are two structures - one for younger children and one for older children - and a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). Both play structures are modern and well-maintained and the larger one is accessible via a barrier-free ramp. The play surface is soft rubber and the playground is near a drinking fountain and the fieldhouse. The site could be improved by adding benches and/or picnic tables and by adding additional shade.