Playgrounds Descriptions to Improve

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.

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.

The playground at Austin Town Hall Park was locked when I visited in 2022 and may be used exclusively for park district programming. It is located off Central Avenue just north of the fieldhouse. It contains a single large play structure, a see-saw, and a hammock saucer swing. The play area is fully enclosed and has a play surface of wood chips.

This small playground features equipment, renovated in 2014, features some interesting elements and some intriguing arrangements of standard elements. Some of the interesting elements include a large metal structures that can be traversed and a metal, spherical globe that appear to be a throwback to earlier eras of playground design. The slide arrangements at this part are also intriguing; standard, single slides are arranges so that they curve under each other or diverge sharply. These unique elements are situated in a standard play area covered with wood chips featuring an area for younger children, an area for older children, and swings.

The playground at Calumet Park just northwest of the Calumet Beach and features a single large play structure with a variety of swings and standalone elements. The playground itself is a rather standard affair but the setting is quite unique for Chicago with both large trees overhead and views to Lake Michigan. There are benches around the perimeter of this playground and the main play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a pretty standard playground in a great location with some above average views.

This playground is set in the moderate sized Maggie Cosme Park on a quiet street in Beverly. The play structures are moderate in size and offer a variety of swings, slides, and climbing structures. Although there are trees in the park, the playground is bright and sunny. There are a few benches for seating and the playground overlooks the Metra station.

Gately Park is a nice playground that shares a site with a Chicago Public School.

Hermosa Park features a playground with two different areas, a solid set of swings, and a small water spray area. The small play area is designed for younger children and features a traditional play structure with a set of toddler swings in the same area. The larger area features equipment designed for older children but is not a standard structure with platforms but rather a set of connected climbing elements with a large net/rope tower at the center. There are also swings (adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing) in this area. The water spray feature is a simple 'four sprayer.' The play areas are set away from the street toward the middle of the park and have a surface of wood chips. There are a few benches and tall trees provide some shade. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and drinking fountains (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.

The playground at Hiawatha Park features modern play elements and tons of amenities. The playground itself features modern elements with lots of 'low to the ground' climbing and traversing elements including a wavy black belt bridge, semi-circular climbing net, and an interesting net funnel. There is a ramp leading to the only platform and the surface is soft rubber so this playground would be somewhat accessible to people using wheelchairs or people using strollers. Another accessible feature is a collection of interactive panels set at ground level accessible by everyone including very young children. There is also a variety of swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire. Beyond the play equipment, there are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain and a large sunshade making this a very comfortable play area. There is also a water spray feature located nearby and the Hiawatha Park field house a short ways away for bathroom access. The play surface is soft rubber and the play area is fully enclosed from the street and opens to a large grassy field. This is a great playground; highly recommend.

This small playground features two play structures and the standard set of swings. One play structure is designed for younger children and the second, much larger, play structure is for older children and features a few slides, a rope net bridge, and monkey bars. The playground is shaded by large, mature trees and offers a few benches for seating.

The playground at Edward Kelly Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and features a large play structure, a set of swings, and a few standalone elements. The equipment is standard playground equipment with slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The amenities and settings are standard too: the play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for setting. The park itself is nice with two large athletic fields. All in all, this is a standard neighborhood park and playground in the best sense of the term.

This playground - one of two in La Follette Park - was locked when I visited in October of 2022. The fenced area included a large water spray area and a small playground with a single small structure and set of swings. Looking at Google Street View, it appears the water spray feature was renovated sometime in 2021 or 2022 (which might be related to the locked gate) but some signage or notice would have been appreciated.

The playground at Lee Park provides the basics - slides, swings, climbing elements, benches - in a somewhat shady site. There is a small yet sprawling play structure for younger children and a few connected elements to challenge older children. There is a overhead slider, a see-saw, and the standard set of swings. The site is heavily shaded by large trees but still somewhat exposed to a busy stretch of 87th Street. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and low perimeter walls for seating and a drinking fountain.

Located on the west side of Mann Park, the playground features an impressive array of swings - mostly belt seat and toddler. There is also a large play structure with a black belt bridge, tall curving slide, and other climbing elements. On the other side, there are a handful of standalone elements: a balance beam, hammock swing, spinning seat, and a large metal traverse. All in all - a lot of good elements. Making the playground more comfortable is an abundance of seating, a drinking fountain, access to the park building, and a good amount of shade. The play surface is wood chips and is fully enclosed from the street.

The playground at Munroe Park features a small structure for younger children, a larger collection of elements for older children , the standard set of Chicago Park swings, and a small water spray feature. The collection of elements for older children features a rope net climbing element, geometric climbing walls, and other metal climbing elements. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the area. The play area opens to the rest of the park but is fenced and fully enclosed from the street. Some trees to the south provide some shade and the park fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a good neighborhood playground.

Park 535 is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with a playground designed for very young children. The equipment is extremely minimal - a set of toddler swings and a playhouse - though the play surface is soft rubber that is mounded and sculpted to create small hills and a little bridge. This also appears to be a "neighborhood toy" site with lots of equipment left in the park for communal use. The play area is fully enclosed with lots of shade and seating. The site seems to replace a half block of W Wisconsin Street at Halsted (i.e. the park isn't on a standard lot but is instead a converted public plaza on the right of way). I think this location, the upscale neighborhood surrounding the park, and the small size combine to make this a very quaint and lovely park - highly recommend for younger (early walker to preschool) children.

The playground in Park 540 is located near 24th and S Dearborn that, despite it's location near downtown, is actually somewhat quiet. The playground features two large play structures with a variety of slides and climbing elements. Interestingly, there are no swings in this playground - a relative rarity for Chicago Parks! The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber (one of the structures also includes a ramp so it is somewhat accessible). The playground is bright and sunny without much shade and there are a few benches for seating.

The playground at Park 574 was designed by the firm site design in 2014 and features unique play elements set into a small hill. There is not a standard play structure but instead a series of connected standalone elements including a zipline* with circular seat, spinning elements, and a variety of net/rope climbing elements. A highlight of the park is perhaps the longest playground slide in any Chicago Park - a 22 foot slide set directly into the hill. The surface is soft rubber that is mounded and sculpted in places enhancing the play area. There are amenities like picnic tables and a drinking fountain but one amenity sorely lack is shade: this park is in full sun all day. There is also a small water spray feature just south of the playground near the southeast corner of the park. [Aside: on both of my visits (2021 and 2022) the Zipline was broken. Historical Google streetview images (2015-2021) never shows an operational Zipline.]

This small, neighborhood playground is in the northwest corner of Ridge Park and was renovated in 2013 with modern playground equipment including a variety of monkey bars, slides, and the standard mix of swings. This playground also has a small train play area and overlooks the Metra tracks so might be good for a child interested in trains. The surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the perimeter.

The playground at Senka Park is located on the eastern side of the park and seems well loved. The current equipment has been in place since at least 2007 and shows signs of its age. The playground has three main areas: an area for younger children with a traditional play structure and a play ship, an area for older children, an a water spray feature (not pictured in this review). The equipment is standard and offers a variety of slides, climbing elements, monkey bars, and swings. The rest of Senka Park is quite nice with winding walking paths and several athletic fields. There is a large shade pavilion near the playgrounds (though the play areas themselves are quite bright and sunny). Additional seating - benches and picnic tables - would be a welcome addition. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground but some improvements could transform this site into a true gem.

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.*

The playground in Wicker Park is great. There are two large areas - one for older children and one for younger - as well as a small water spray feature. The area for older children features a large and sprawling play structure with a variety of climbing elements and slides. The area for younger children is quite small and features a small structure with two slides. The water spray feature are two misting bears that provide a gentle mist of water and are very cute. There are also two sets of swings with the standard Park District options. The other amenities of the park are also very solid. The playground is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain in the play area and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). There are even some trees that provide some shade throughout the day. All in all a great playground; highly recommend.

The playground in Sherwood Park is located on northeast corner of the park and features and area for older children, an area for younger children, and a water spray area. The larger area for older children features an accessible play structure with a few slides and climbing elements as well as some swings. The smaller area features, appropriately, a smaller play structure with a few toddler swings. And the water spray feature is a set of large, multicolored tubes in a separate area. The play area is fenced but not fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. However, during my visit in 2022 and according to years of previous streetview images from Google, this rubber surface is in poor condition and needs to be replaced. In total, the playground equipment and structures are interesting but the playground surface needs attention.

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.*

Site was under construction 2022-10; need to check back.

"In 1998, the Chicago Park District created a major regional playground in Ogden Park. One of the city's most exciting places for children, the Ogden Park playground includes assembly and stage areas, play equipment, an interactive water feature, and a canopied carousel." This - according to the Chicago Park District's website - helps explain the massive enclosed area on the east side of Ogden Park. The fully enclosed play area is accessible via the inner park drive (Black Dr.) and not the main street to the east (S. Racine Ave.) and features a massive playground, several different water spray features, and gazebo with a carousel, with plenty of benches and picnic tables. The play structures are mainly rope/net climbing features that were installed in the spring of 2016. The water spray features are not unique to this park; but having several different spray features in close proximity is novel. Lastly, in addition to several picnic tables, there are a number of circular concrete benches evocative of Jens Jensen's 'council rings' found in other Chicago Parks. This play area is truly unique in the city and is indeed a destination playground. *Note: when I visited 2022-04 the play area was locked; I plan on returning to get better images and will update this description then.*

The playground at Munroe Park features a small structure for younger children, a larger collection of elements for older children , the standard set of Chicago Park swings, and a small water spray feature. The collection of elements for older children features a rope net climbing element, geometric climbing walls, and other metal climbing elements. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the area. The play area opens to the rest of the park but is fenced and fully enclosed from the street. Some trees to the south provide some shade and the park fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a good neighborhood playground.

This playground - one of two in La Follette Park - was locked when I visited in October of 2022. The fenced area included a large water spray area and a small playground with a single small structure and set of swings. Looking at Google Street View, it appears the water spray feature was renovated sometime in 2021 or 2022 (which might be related to the locked gate) but some signage or notice would have been appreciated.

The playground at Edward Kelly Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and features a large play structure, a set of swings, and a few standalone elements. The equipment is standard playground equipment with slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The amenities and settings are standard too: the play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for setting. The park itself is nice with two large athletic fields. All in all, this is a standard neighborhood park and playground in the best sense of the term.

Gately Park is a nice playground that shares a site with a Chicago Public School.

This playground is set in the moderate sized Maggie Cosme Park on a quiet street in Beverly. The play structures are moderate in size and offer a variety of swings, slides, and climbing structures. Although there are trees in the park, the playground is bright and sunny. There are a few benches for seating and the playground overlooks the Metra station.

The playground at Austin Town Hall Park was locked when I visited in 2022 and may be used exclusively for park district programming. It is located off Central Avenue just north of the fieldhouse. It contains a single large play structure, a see-saw, and a hammock saucer swing. The play area is fully enclosed and has a play surface of wood chips.