River North

The playground at Montgomery Ward Park is a gem. There are two traditional play structures. The smaller structure is quite small for younger children and the larger structure is designed for older children but is still rather low to the ground and safe for younger climbers. There are also two large, standalone rope net climbing elements on either side of the park. Lastly, there is a large set of standard swings, a rail slide built into terrain of the park, and a few standalone elements. Oh - there is also a water spray feature: a triple overhead sprayer. The amenities of this playground are solid too. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is soft rubber. There are picnic tables (under shade umbrellas!) and many small, concrete cubes that can be used for seating (though, strangely, no benches that I can recall). The playground is bright and sunny without much shade though there are lots of trees in the grassy areas surround the playground. All in all, this is great playground; highly recommend.

Stanton Park contains a wonderful and sprawling playground featuring a huge variety of elements and some great amenities. There is a smaller structure for younger children, two net climbing elements, and a huge play structure for older children that sprawls on the ground and towers vertically. There is also an above average selection of swings and a small water spray feature. In my opinion, the location is both odd and wonderful - the playground is located in the middle of Stanton Park near the Skinner Classical School and the large fieldhouse/natatorium making the location surprising quiet and removed from traffic. The play site opens directly to the rest of the park (i.e. isn't fenced in) and the play surface is wood chips. The north end of the playground is fairly shady while the south end is quiet sunny (though large umbrellas over some picnic tables provide some shade). All in all, this is a wonderful playground and definitely worth a visit; highly recommend.

Renovated in 2022, the playground at Seward Park features two large and unique structures. One of the structures is a large, mostly spherical rope/net climbing structure with a few black belt patches in the interior and a few climbing and spinning elements connected. The other structure - vaguely reminiscent of the John Hancock Tower - is a large rectangular with a variety of ladders and climbing elements on lower half of the exterior and some climbing paths on the inside that lead to a large double straight slide and a massive 'double twisting corkscrew' slide. There are also two belt seat swings and a hammock style saucer swing and a small abstract play thing as the final elements of this playground. The play area is tucked in a relatively quiet corner of Seward Park but is not fully enclosed from the streets or rest of the park. The area is heavily shaded by large trees and the play surface is wood chips. Strangely, although there are benches in many other parts of the park, there is no seating near the playground itself. The nearby Seward Park fieldhouse should provide access to bathrooms (when the building is open). Despite the lack of seating, this is a great playground and definitely worth checking out.

The playground in Durso Park was renovated in the last few years and features new equipment with elements suitable for a wide range of children. There is a large play structure for older children featuring a few slides and climbing elements as well as interesting overhead elements like a curving set of monkey bars and an overhead slider. The play structure for younger children is considerably smaller but very clean and modern. There are a few additional standalone elements as well as the standard set of Park District swings. The playground is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a few large trees providing some shade.