Far North Playgrounds

Andersonville Park offers and nice, shady playground with a large structure for older children and a variety of swings. The large play structure is two platforms connected by a variety of climbing and traversing elements along with a few slides. The swings - toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire - are located near the back of the playlot. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. This park is also deeply shaded by large trees and there are a few benches, low walls, and a picnic table for seating.

Ashmore Park is a tiny neighborhood park on a residential street with a great little playground. There is a large structure with all the basics (slides, climbing elements, a variation on monkey bars, etc.) and some interactive panels. There are various swings including a toddler, belt, adaptive, and tire variations. The non-play amenities are okay with some exceptional shade from the large tree on and surrounding the site. There are benches, a drinking fountain, and a small table with a chessboard on the surface. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. All in all, this playground is a shady and quiet spot to spend a day at the park.

Aster Park features a large and sprawling set of playground equipment and a small water spray feature. The play structure has equipment for a range of kids including slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.' In most respects, it's a standard Chicago Park: wood chips surface, enclosed play area in the middle of the block, and decent shade from trees and neighboring buildings.

Austin Foster Park - aptly named because it is at the corner of Austin and Foster Ave - is a moderately large park with a few athletic fields and a nice playground. The playground is located at the park's southern edge and features two sprawling structures with lots of equipment. The non-play amenities include benches, a drinking fountain, and a picnic table. The location is right off a busy stretch of Foster Ave, so there is a fair amount of street noise. The play surface is wood chips and there the playground is fenced from Foster but not fully enclosed. All in all, despite the location, this is a good playground with lots of play elements.

Berger Park has a wonderful playground with views of Lake Michigan. There is dedicated area for smaller children close to the lake with a nautical theme and a larger structure for older children that is accessible via a ramp. This playground has a rubberized surface and the equipment seemed new and well maintained. There were plenty of benches and a few picnic tables. This is a great playground; highly recommend.

Bromann Park is a busy park on a busy corner of Chicago that fits a lot of equipment and amenities into a very small site. There is a standard set of swings, a collection of climbing/traversing elements, and a moderate size play structure accessible via a ramp. The amenities are solid: there are benches and picnic tables in the fully enclosed play area as well as a drinking fountain. The play surface is soft rubber and there is a lovely mural on the wall forming the north side of the park. All in all, this is a great little park - highly recommend.

The playground in Broncho Billy Park has a small structure for younger children, and larger and accessible structure for older children, the standard set of swings, and a water spray feature. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is a soft rubber and there are a few benches along the perimeter of the park for seating. In total, this is a 'standard neighborhood playground' in the best sense of the phrase - a solid playground for a variety of ages and uses.

The playground in Oscar Brooks Park is a small site with standard playground equipment. There is a single structure with a variety of elements and the Chicago Park standard swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The play area is bright and sunny and the play surface is wood chips. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open) and the park also includes a water feature located near the southwest corner of the park.

The small Brynford Playlot Park contains a small playground structure suitable for a range of children and a variety of swings (belt seat, molded bucket seat, toddler, and tire). The play area is fully enclosed with wood chips underfoot. There are a few benches, a drinking fountain, and a small picnic tables. This park is sandwiched between two buildings and on a rather busy stretch of Pulaski; however, a large mural on the north side of the park and some flowers on the eastern side try to soften some of this harshness.

About half of Buena Circle Park is a large grassy area and the other half is a playground. The playground half features three main area: a large, tall rope/net climbing structure with a few connected elements; a more traditional play structure, and an area for swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a saucer swing. The equipment is new, modern, and well maintained. The non-play amenities are somewhat standard for a Chicago Park: the surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain. A few large trees provide shade throughout the day and the entire park is fenced from the street. The nearby CTA tracks pass quite close to this park - thrilling rail fans or perhaps creating too much noise for others. Overall, this is a great neighborhood park; highly recommend.

The playground at Buttercup Park features a large play structure for younger children, a collection of climbing elements, the standard set of swings, and a small water feature. The most traditional play structure is actually two small structures connected by a set of low monkey bars; both structures contain a few climbing elements, interactive panels, and slides which create a nice somewhat traditional experience for younger children. The other main element is a collection of climbing and traversing elements made of metal, rope netting, and suspended rings that seems designed for older children. There is also a small water feature in the park with water jets from the ground. The swings - toddler, adaptive, and belt seat - are standard. The play area is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber surface that is mounded in places that transforms the surface itself into a play element. There are not traditional benches but decorated low perimeter walls provide plenty of seating and large mature trees provide plenty of shade. All in all - this is a great neighborhood playground and good destination.

Tiny Carmen Park is tucked between two large buildings and shaded by large trees making this a quiet and hidden spot in the Uptown neighborhood. The playground has some traditional elements - the standard varieties of swings, for example - but also features some unique and modern elements like a flexible black belt bridge and twisted net structure. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There aren't benches or tables but the low perimeter walls provide some seating.