Better Water Spray Features

This site takes the opinion that the four sprayer is the worst water spray feature in the Chicago Park system. This raises the obvious question, what other water spray features are there? Here is the incomplete list:

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Here are the Chicago Park sites with a water spray feature that is not a four sprayer.

  • Playground
    Abbott Park - Playground
    Abbott Park's playground is located in the northeast corner of the park and features a large play structure. This structure includes a few slides and some unique climbing elements. There is also a variety of swings (toddler and tire; belt seat and molded plastic with harness) and a see-saw and a car on a spring. The play area is not fully enclosed but the playground is set away from the street. The play surface is wood chips and low perimeter walls provide some seating. There are two water spray features just to the north of the playground.
  • Playground
    Adams (George & Adele) Park - Playground
    Adams Park has a great sandbox, large playground structures and swings, and a huge water spray feature in a comfortable and quiet environment; these features combine to make Adams Park a destination. The large sandbox has a sun shade umbrella overhead. There is a smaller play structure for younger children and a much larger, somewhat accessible play structure for older children. There are the standard varieties of swings and a see-saw as standalone elements. And the water spray feature is huge and features many different spray elements. The play area is fully enclosed and has a soft rubberized surface. There are a few benches scattered throughout the area and picnic tables tucked away at the south end of the park. The only downside of this park is that it is quite popular and that sometimes the water spray feature is reserved for groups enrolled in Chicago Park District programming and is therefore not accessible to the general public. Even with these downsides, this is a great destination playground for kids in Chicago.
  • Playground
    Amundsen Park - Playground
    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.
  • Playground
    Archer Park - Playground
    The playground in Archer Park is a wonderful little playground. Set on the eastern side of the park, this site contains two structures and a large set of swings. There is also a nice water spray feature closer to the fieldhouse. The play area is removed from traffic and includes benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain. The surface is soft rubber and the equipment is modern and well maintained. Highly recommend.
  • Playground
    Athletic Field Park - Playground
    Athletic Field Park is a large park with a great playground and small water spray feature (among other amenities). The playground is situated on the south side of the park near the field house and includes a very small structure for younger children and a much larger structure for older children. There is also a small water spray feature near the playground. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches in the play area and a few picnic tables nearby as well and although there are trees and a small pavilion in the area, the playground itself is bright and sunny.
  • Playground
    Austin Park - Playground
    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.
  • Playground
    Avalon Park - Playground
    The playground in Avalon Park is located just south of 83rd Street and was renovated in 2016. The playground features two large areas - one designed for older kids and the other for younger kids - with a variety of modern equipment. The area for older children features unique net/rope climbing structures whereas the area for younger children features a more traditional play structure. Both areas include age appropriate swings and there are a few additional standalone elements. The playground itself is not enclosed but is removed from any street or parking lot. The play surface is wood chips but is set in a large grassy field and the entire area is very well shaded by large, mature trees. Although there is limited seating around the playground itself, there are benches and picnic tables in the immediate area. Furthermore, there is a dedicated water playground nearby as well. With modern equipment, plenty of shade and seating, and some great water features, this is a great playground.
  • Playground
    Avondale Park - Playground
    Avondale Park is a nice neighborhood park with a fieldhouse, outdoor pool, water spray feature, and a nice playground. The playground is tucked just north of the fieldhouse and includes a large, sprawling play structure and the standard set of swings. There is also a large sandbox and a water spray feature nearby. The play area is fully enclosed and is bright and sunny. There are a few benches and the play surface is wood chips. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and drinking fountains (when open).
  • Playground
    Beehive Park - Playground Park
    The small Beehive Park is a neighborhood park that features a small play structure and small water feature. The play structure is small but well-equipped and features a few slides, a variation of monkey bars, and a few other climbing/traversing structures. There are also two swings (toddler and molded bucket seat with harness) in the small play area. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the play area as well as a small, open-sided pavilion providing some shade in an otherwise very sunny and exposed site. There is a small and simple water feature with a single pole mister. All in all, this is a respectable neighborhood park.
  • Playground
    Bell Park - Playground
    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.
  • Playground
    Bessemer Park - Playground
    Located on the eastern edge of Bessemer Park, this playground boasts two big play areas, plenty of shade, and a nice water feature. The smaller area is designed for younger children and features a solid play structure and a few standalone elements as well as a variety of swings. The larger area is actually huge and features a large play structure for older children with lots of rope/net features for climbing and traversing. There is also a small water spray feature just to the south of the playground. The play areas are not enclosed but they are fenced from the street and set back a bit. The area is shaded by large trees and there are a few benches for seating. The play surface in both areas is wood chips. There is a fieldhouse building just to the north providing bathroom access. All in all, this is a great playground.
  • Playground
    Beverly Park - Playground
    Located in the northwest corner of Beverly Park, this playground - named the Maeve McNicholas Playlot - features a variety of interesting climbing elements and a small water spray feature. This isn't a traditional playground with a single, large play structure (or even monkey bars or a standard ladder!) but is rather a collection of elements with lots of rope/net climbing options. The most traditional structure has a few slides but all the climbing elements are rope net tunnels and bridges. There is also a huge, multifaceted net climbing element with a large curving slide sure to challenge advanced climbers. There is also a set of rope/net traversing elements and a standalone spinning conical net climber. The one standard element are the swings; they are the standard toddler and belt seat swings along with a hammock-style saucer swing. The water spray feature is a 'misting whale tail' which provides a gentle spray. The playground has solid amenities for families as well. There are benches and picnic tables near the play area as well as trees for some shade. The play area is not fully enclosed but is fenced from the street and opens into the rest of the park. The surface is artificial turf - a relative rarity for Chicago Parks! All in all, this is a wonderful and interesting playground; highly recommend.
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