Benches
This site includes information about benches located within or near a Chicago Park playground. Obviously 'quiet near' is somewhat arbitrary but I've used my best judgment.
I've defined "bench" to mean something designed specifically as seating; many playgrounds have low perimeter walls to create a sense of space that you can sit on - but those don't count as benches on this site. I also don't count play elements as seating.
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Brighton Park Community Campus (Park 596) - PlaygroundThe playground at the Brighton Park Community Campus is a one-of-a-kind playground and one of the best in Chicago. This site opened in 2023 and features new playground equipment, a water spray feature, and a nature play area. The playground features several large structures that are hard to describe. These structures feature some familiar elements like slides and monkey bars but combine them in unusual ways. The water spray feature is immediately next to the playground and features a variety of jets from the ground and water loops. The nature play area is also in the same area and features a few different 'rooms' with different themes. This site is the new administrative center for the Chicago Park district and the buildings on the east side of the site are the administrative center and the park's fieldhouse. The fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when it is open) and the courtyard between the two buildings is a wonderful space with picnic tables. The playground has a soft rubber surface and is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There is a drinking fountain there as well as some benches. The site is currently bright and sunny and open. All in all, this is an amazing playground and a true destination playground; highly highly recommend. -
Zatterberg Park - Playground ParkA shady and small park, Zatterberg Park features two play structures, a small set of swings, and a few standalone elements. Both play structures are somewhat minimal and have a "tree house" aesthetic: no steering wheels or interactive panels but rather natural and arboreal structures with a play surface of wood chips. The narrow site is fully enclosed and features a few benches and a drinking fountain. Fitting the theme, the site is full of beautiful trees that provide wonderful shade. Highly recommend - especially on sunny days or for children who seek to play among the trees. -
Wrightwood Park - PlaygroundWrightwood Park is a wonderful neighborhood park with some interesting - albeit dated - playground equipment. According to Google Street View, this equipment has been in place since at least 2007 (the earliest image available) so it's quite old by playground standards. The layout - one smaller structure for younger children, another for older kids, and two sets of swings - fits with other playground designs the equipment seems both well-loved and well-maintained. The non-play amenities are solid. The play area is soft rubber and is fenced from the street. There are benches in the area and a set of picnic tables near the northeast corner of the park. There is a small fieldhouse that should provide access to the bathroom (when open). All in all, this is a solid site with some interesting equipment. -
Woodhull Park - PlaygroundThe playground at Woodhull Park is located in the northeast corner of the park and features two play structures and a small water feature. The smaller structure is designed for younger children and includes a few slides and climbing elements. The larger structure also includes slides as well as a variety of climbing elements with monkey bars and other traversing elements attached. Most platforms of this structure are also accessible via a ramp and the main surface is soft rubber making this play structure somewhat accessible. The water spray feature nearby is small and features a single bent pole water sprayer. The area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There are a few benches and trees for seating and shade. -
Elizabeth Wood Park - PlaygroundThis small playground features modern elements and a unique, serpentine fence with painted balusters that can spin. Named for Elizabeth Wood, the first Executive Director of the Chicago Housing Authority, this playground is situated near the site of the Lathrop Homes, one of the first public housing projects in Chicago. The play area is entirely enclosed and there are some modern concrete benches to match the modern aesthetic of the equipment. -
Wolcott Park - Playground ParkWolcott Park is a tiny neighborhood pocket park that contains a large playground structure and a set of swings. The structure includes a few slides and climbing elements as well as a circular monkey bars and a large metal traverse. The play ground is fenced but not fully enclosed and there is a drinking fountain and a few benches near the main entrance. The play surface is wood chips and the park get full sun most of the day. -
Winnemac Park - PlaygroundLocated in the southwest corner of Winnemac Park, this playground has lots of play structures and other amenities. There is a larger play structure for older children, a smaller play structure for younger children, and the standard set of swings. The play area is quite large and fully enclosed and uses a combination of soft rubber, concrete, and grass as the play surface. Mature trees on all sides provide spots of shade throughout the day and there are benches and picnic tables within the play area. In total, these features and amenities make this a wonderful and popular playground. -
Wilson (John) Park - PlaygroundWilson Park contains a solid playground and water spray feature. There are two play structures - one for younger children and one for older children - and a small water spray feature. There are a few benches and a park district fieldhouse that provides bathroom access (when open). The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. The play equipment and the amenities make this a solid neighborhood playground. -
Wilson (Frank) Park - PlaygroundWilson 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. -
Williams- Davis Park - PlaygroundThis park - named Williams-Davis Park in honor of Hattie Kay Williams and Izora Davis - contains a wonderful playground at the western edge of the pedestrian footbridge over DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The main play structure is quite large and features a number of slides and climbing elements and interactive panels. It is also accessible via a ramp for those using wheelchairs or in strollers. There are also a number of interesting standalone features: a single mast net climbing structure, a somewhat abstract climbing structure, a spinning bowl, and a large see-saw. There is also a standard set of park district swings. In the same play area is a water spray feature with two water loops and some jets from the ground. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are a number of benches in the play area and a few picnic tables just outside the enclosed area. While there is a drinking fountain, there is not much shade for this playground and it remains bright and sunny most of the day. All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend. -
Wildwood Park - PlaygroundThis playground at Wildwood Park is a wonderful and quiet playground tucked away in a residential neighborhood. There are two main areas to the playground - a smaller area for younger children and a larger area for older children - as well as a new 'Nature Play Area' next to the play area. The play area for smaller children includes a small play structure, a spinning saucer, and a set of panels for imaginative play. The area for older children includes a large play structure with slides, climbing features, and a large metal traverse element. Between these areas is a small set of swings. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and removed from traffic. The play surface is soft rubber and is shaded by large trees. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables for seating in the area. Altogether, this is a great playground; highly recommend. -
Wieboldt Park - Playground ParkThis small and shady park features a variety of unique equipment. There are two areas with swings, another area designed for older children, and another area for younger children. The play area is large and consumes nearly the entire small site. The Metra tracks are immediately to the west of the playground and the passing of trains interrupts the general quiet of the neighborhood. The surface is wood chips and there are two benches.
Here is a map of the Chicago Park playgrounds with benches.
Playgrounds without Benches
Because most (about 80%) of playgrounds do have benches, here are some that don't have benches.
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Wolfe Park - PlaygroundThe playground in Wolfe Park contains a small play structure, a set of swings, and a small water feature. The single play structure is quite large and includes a few slides and some unique climbing features. There are also a few climbing, traversing, and overhead elements next to the main structure as well as a standalone see-saw in the area. There is a small set of two adaptive swings in the same area and - curiously - a set of belt seat swings and toddler swings on the other side of the fieldhouse in the northwest corner of the park. The water spray feature is a simple "overhead triple sprayer" that was renovated in 2015 with the rest of the playground. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches nearby but the low perimeter wall provides some informal seating. Large trees provide some afternoon shade the the fieldhouse should provide bathroom access when open. -
Williams Park - PlaygroundThis playground - south of the intersection of 27th and Federal Street - is likely a 'shared site' between Williams Park and Drake Elementary (the local signage was not clear). Regardless, this is a shady site with some wonderful playground equipment. The play area is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber play surface. -
White (Edward) Park - PlaygroundThe playground at Edward White Park consists of two main areas and a water spray feature. The two areas both feature moderate sized structures seemingly designed for school-aged children. There is the standard Chicago Park swings and a simple water spray feature. The amenities are light - no benches or seating in the area - but the equipment seems very new and well maintained. The play area opens directly to the rest of the park and the play surface is wood chips. -
West Pullman Park - PlaygroundThe playground in West Pullman Park is a solid playground with some great trees. There are two play structures, a set of swings, and a small water spray feature. The structures are standard in the best sense of the word and come with many of the standard elements: slides, monkey bars, and other climbing elements. There are a few nice amenities - soft rubber surface, benches, access to bathrooms in the nearby community center - but the trees are the standout feature. Beautiful trees - both in the playground and the rest of the park - provide beautiful shade. Again, solid playground with some great trees; highly recommend. -
Washington (George) Park - South PlaygroundThis playground - one of four in Washington Park - has a solid play structure and would be improved with additional amenities. The play structure is a single, sprawling structure with lots of options: slides, climbing elements, monkey bars, an overhead slider, etc. There are also two sets of swings with the standard Chicago Park options: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The play surface is wood chips and - although there are some fences to create a sense of space - and the area is surrounded by beautiful trees. However, other basic amenities - benches, picnic tables, drinking fountains - are lacking; adding these would greatly improve the site. -
Montgomery Ward Park - PlaygroundThe 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. -
Trumbull Park - PlaygroundShade 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 Grove Playground ParkThe 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. -
Taylor- Lauridsen Park - PlaygroundTaylor-Lauridsen Park contains an athletic field, a new fieldhouse (completed in 2010) and a nice playground. The playground includes areas for younger children, a larger structure for older children, the standard set of Chicago Park swings, and a 'loch ness mister' water spray feature. The play area is fully enclosed near the northwest corner of the park and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches and a drinking fountain in the play area and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground. -
Sweet Clover Park - Playground ParkSweet Clover Park is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with a decent playground. The playground has two small structures, a drumming area, and a standard set of swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The non-play amenities are mediocre; there is plenty of shade from nearby trees and buildings and a drinking fountain but there aren't any benches or picnic tables for seating. The play surface is wood chips and it is not enclosed from the street. In many ways, this is a standard Chicago Park playground. -
Stout Park - SE PlaygroundThis playground - one of two in Stout Park - is located in the southeast corner and is designed for older children. There are some swings - belt seat and adaptive with harness - and a four person see-saw as well as a large play structure. The structure includes a vertical climbing net, corkscrew slide, curved slide, and other climbing elements. The play surface is wood chips and the play area is enclosed (and opens to the rest of Stout Park). There are some benches built into the low perimeter walls for seating and large trees provide some shade. -
Stanton Park - PlaygroundStanton Park contains a wonderful and sprawling playground featuring a huge variety of elements and some great amenities. There is a smaller structure for younger children, two net climbing elements, and a huge play structure for older children that sprawls on the ground and towers vertically. There is also an above average selection of swings and a small water spray feature. In my opinion, the location is both odd and wonderful - the playground is located in the middle of Stanton Park near the Skinner Classical School and the large fieldhouse/natatorium making the location surprising quiet and removed from traffic. The play site opens directly to the rest of the park (i.e. isn't fenced in) and the play surface is wood chips. The north end of the playground is fairly shady while the south end is quiet sunny (though large umbrellas over some picnic tables provide some shade). All in all, this is a wonderful playground and definitely worth a visit; highly recommend.