Lake View

This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - is named the Arthur Telscer Playground and features a play structure, sandbox, and water spray feature. The play structure is relatively small and is designed for younger children. The is also a collection of overhead and climbing elements nearby that should prove challenging to older children. There is also a set of swings with the Chicago Park standards - toddler, adapative, and belt seat - along with a few standalone elements including two animal sculptures. The water spray feature is a simple 'four sprayer' and there is a sandbox (usually with a few leftover sand toys). This playground is heavily shaded and fully enclosed with a few benches for seating. All in all, this is a solid playground; highly recommend.

Tucked beside the Metra Track off a quiet side street, this small playground is the only feature in Chi Che Wang Park. Surrounded by a large grassy space without trees or athletic fields, this playground features a soft rubberized surface and smaller elements best suited for younger children. There are some unique climbing animals (an elephant and gorilla) and the standard offerings of swings. The large, open grassy area and the relative quiet - broken only by a passing Metra Train - are the defining features of this playground.

This neighborhood playground is definitely a destination playground. The fully enclosed play area features a soft rubber play surface, an artificial turf field (with the Cubs logo befitting it's location close to Wrigley Field), several benches, and picnic tables covered by large shade umbrellas. The two play structures are both solid; one is designed for younger children and the other is designed for older children and features cues to famous Chicago skyscrapers at the tops. There is also a large net climbing feature and the normal variety of swings. The standout feature of this playground, though, are the water features. There is a three part overhead shower-like sprayer, a misting ring, jets coming from a mosaic wall, and an interactive water table. Given all the amenities, this playground is popular in the summer months and for good reason - this is a great playground.

Evergreen Park is a small neighborhood 'pocket park' that has a small playground that is also a time capsule to another era of playground design. Despite the age (the current structures date to at least 2007 and likely earlier), this playground is well maintained and very functional. There are slides, swings, and climbing elements. The amenities are basic - wood chip surface, a few benches for seating, some shade provided by buildings and trees - but together make for a good, classic playground experience.

This playground - designed by the firm Site Design - combines modern and traditional elements with a forest theme. Traditional elements like swings and slides are present though some traditional elements have a modern, natural twist: two logs positioned like a balance beam, wooden beams supporting climbing structures instead of the traditional metal beams, etc. Even the playground surfaces mix the modern and natural; the play area surface is a combination of wood chips and soft poured-in-place rubber that is sculpted into hills and mounds and the concrete paths are decorated in bold colors and geometric shapes. The play area is fully enclosed and there are few benches and picnic tables for seating and a few trees dot this otherwise sunny play area.

Juniper Park Playground is a small, neighborhood playground with unique elements and a natural design perfect for younger kids. Aside from a few slides and swings, there aren't many traditional playground elements; instead there is a large sandy area (with a faucet and trough for water play), rocks and logs for climbing, and a large rotating net for climbing. This is also a small water feature. Plenty of benches and a few picnic tables make this a really wonderful playground.

One of the smallest playgrounds in Chicago, this playground features just three elements: a small single mast climbing structure, a spinning conical climber, and a hammock saucer swing. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There is a lot of afternoon shade but no benches (though short perimeter walls provide some informal seating).

Solid playground tucked into a small pocket park in the middle of a residential block. There is a single sprawling play structure with a few slides and climbing options. Two sets of swings with the standard offerings (toddler, adaptive with a harness, belt seat) and a few standalone elements: a see-saw and a standalone rope net bridge. The play area is fully enclosed and somewhat shaded by trees and neighboring buildings. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating. All in all, a pretty standard neighborhood park and playground.

This playground features a small grassy area, benches, and picnic tables and is situated on a small, triangular lot on a busy stretch of Lincoln Avenue and near the Metra tracks. The playground is fully enclosed and well-maintained and features an area for younger children and an area for older children. The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is soft rubber. This is a great little neighborhood playlot.

The location of this playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - has some real pros and cons. Plus: quiet, tucked away, and shady, easy (paid) parking. Cons: awkwardly set between a driving range, mini golf course, and some tennis courts with a few dumpsters right against the fence. So the ambiance is mixed. The playground itself is solid. A large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a unusual assortment of swings: toddler, adaptive with a harness, and a saucer swing without and traditional belt seat swings. The site itself is mixed but has some classic Chicago Park features - wood chip surface, wooden benches - and I bet the nearby Chicago Park building would provide access to a drinking fountain and bathroom (when open). All things considered, I still think this is a solid playground.

This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park - is located near the Roscoe Street underpass and is a unique playground. There is a small set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) overlooking a fleet of small boats that are part sculpture and part playground equipment. The boats float on a soft rubber surface that is sculpted to resemble waves. There are a few benches and a comfort station with bathrooms is directly north of the playground. All in all, this is a unique little playground best suited for younger children.

Martin Park contains a solid neighborhood playground. There is the standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat) and a play structure with a few slides and climbing elements. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There is a bench and low perimeter walls provide additional informal seating. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground for younger children.

A small, neighborhood park with a very large climbing structure, a variety of swings, and a small play structure with a slide and other elements. Playground is fully enclosed off a quiet side street with ample benches and shade.

Morrie Mages Playground - one of 10 playground located in Lincoln Park! - is just to the east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive (and the accurately named 'Recreation Drive' that provides vehicular access to some lakefront amenities) and Irving Park. This playground is sandwiched between the lakefront walking and biking trail and provides a large, enclosed play space with a variety of elements. There are elements for younger children including a small single mast climbing structure and a modern looking Kompan created play structure along with some swings and other standalone elements. The elements for older children include another Kompan play structure and a set of rope/net traverse elements. The non-play features are also great with a 'classic playground' vibe; wood chips surface surrounded by grass, wooden benches for seating, and some shade created by large trees. Improving the comfort of this site is a collection of picnic tables; decreasing the comfort is the close proximity to the noise of DLSD. I also don't recall a drinking fountain and the nearest bathrooms (likely at the golf course) would be a long walk away. Despite these imperfections, this is a great playground and a worthwhile destination; highly recommend.

Sheil Playground is a tiny playground on the busy Southport corridor with a strong baseball theme that features the Cubs logo and a chalkboard replica of the iconic green scoreboard. A new playground - consisting primarily of large, red metal arches - provides climbing structures as well as a smaller area for younger children. The play area is completely enclosed and features several benches and picnic tables.

The South Lakeview Park playground features a solid array of elements separated into areas for younger and older children. These two play structures are modern and feature a variety of equipment; there is also a dinosaur play structure, a see-saw, and a variety of swings. The play surface is well-loved soft rubber and there are several benches and picnic tables for seating.

Weisman Park has a great playground, wonderful water spray feature, and lots of seating and shade. There are two main structures at this playground - one small structure for very young children and another structure that is larger and for older children. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat), a small playhouse, and a four person see-saw. The water spray area is also excellent: a triple water sprayer, a "loch ness mister", and water jets from a mosaic covered wall. The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is soft rubber. There are several picnic tables and benches for seating and the site offers some shade. All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.

Wendt Park is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with a sandbox, swing set, and moderately sized play structure. The play structure includes a few climbing elements, slides, and a set of monkey bars. The play space is fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches for seating and the site is shaded by trees and neighboring buildings. A great space for younger children; highly recommend.

This 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.

A 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.