New City

Back of the Yards Park features a sprawling set of playground equipment as well as a small water spray feature. The playground is a basic and classic Chicago Park playground with wood chips and a few scattered park benches.

The playground of Cornell Square Park is located on the eastern side of the park. Renovated in 2014, the playground features modern climbing elements made of ropes and netting and a small play structure that features a slide. The play surface is soft rubber and is treated as a play element with a large valley on one side and a small "tunnel" that runs under the play structure. There is also a water spray feature and the standard set of swings. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. There are few benches and a drinking fountain near this sunny and modern playground.

Davis Square Park, a historic park that opened in 1905 to provide social services to the neighborhood, is still open and is still providing services and amenities to the neighborhood. The playground area features a play structure and an assortment of playground equipment for climbing and traversing. Rounding out the equipment, there is a small set of swings as well as a large "four sprayer" water spray feature. There are some of the classic playground features - benches for seating, a drinking fountain, a play surface of wood chips - without any additional frills or comforts. The playground is situated near the southeast corner of the park and just south of the fieldhouse that provide bathroom access (when open). All in all, this is a normal neighborhood playground in a large and historic park.

The playground at Lowe Park was renovated in 2014 and features a train theme fitting its location near a freight train track. The playground consists of a single large structure with several levels and a few slides that would be suitable for a range of children. There are a few standalone elements and the standard set of Chicago Park swings. There is also a small water spray feature nearby with a single 'cactus sprayer' element. The play area is enclosed from the street and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and the Lowe Park fieldhouse is nearby for bathroom access (if open). There are a few trees in the general area but the playground itself is bright and sunny.

McInerney Park features a nice playground shaded by large, mature trees. There are two separate areas - one with a smaller structure for younger children and the other with a larger structure for older children - and a small set of swings. Both structures are relatively large and offer a variety of options for park-goers. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens directly into the rest of McInerney Park. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches and trees for seating and shade. There is nothing particularly noteworthy or novel about this playground; it's just a solid neighborhood playground in the best sense of the term. Highly recommend.

Tucked away in a quiet residential area, Micek Park offers a solid playground and water spray feature. The playground has two structures - one is quite small and designed for younger children and the other is significantly larger with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There is also a set of swings - toddler, adaptive, and belt seat - that are standard in Chicago Parks. The water spray features are a "triple shower sprayer" and a "single pole sprayer" both good for delivering a good soaking on a hot day. The amenities are somewhat modern and include a soft rubber play surface and a set of three picnic tables. The playground is fenced from the street but opens directly to the rest of the park and is not fully enclosed. And although there are large trees near the playground, the playground itself is bright and sunny. All in all, this is a very nice playground; highly recommend.

The Packingtown Park playground packs a punch. This tiny neighborhood pocket park has a moderate sized play structure with a variety of equipment, a set of swings with the Chicago Park essentials (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a small "four sprayer" water spray feature. The playground is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and features the 'classic' playground amenities of benches, a drinking fountain, and a wood chip play surface. All in all, a solid neighborhood playground.

This small playground - one of three in Sherman Park - is located on the east side of the park near Racine Ave. It features a single play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements and is one of the few playgrounds without any swings. The play area is not fully enclosed but is fenced from both streets. The play surface is wood chips and large trees provide some shade throughout the day.

This playground - one of three in Sherman Park - is located in the northwest corner of the park. It features two play structures and some swings. There are also plenty of benches and a few trees in the area and, according to maps, there is a water spray feature as well. * Note: when I visited (2022-04) the water feature was under construction and the playground needed some repairs. I plan to revisit.*

This playground - one of three in Sherman Park - includes the standard set of swings and a large play structure. The play structure includes a variety of elements including large curving slides and a few variations on monkey bars. The play area is fenced from the streets but not fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There aren't any benches but the low perimeter walls allow for some seating and nearby trees provide for some shade.

Taylor-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.

Wagner Park - oddly separated into two separate sections by a parking lot - contains a small playground and water spray feature on the western side near 51st and Morgan. This playground includes a small play structure for younger children and a larger collection of elements for older children. There are a few types of swings - toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and saucer - and a small "four sprayer" water spray feature. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and trees but the playground is bright and sunny most of the time.