Southwest Playgrounds

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.

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.

Brighton Park features a nice playground that gets the basics right. There are two play structure, one smaller and one larger, swings and a few standalone elements. Nothing fancy or novel - just a standard playground in the best sense of the term. The playground gets some good shade from nearby trees and has a few benches around the soft rubber surfaced playground. Play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. All in all, a decent neighborhood playground.

The playground at the Brighton Park Community Campus is a one-of-a-kind playground and one of the best in Chicago. This site opened in 2023 and features new playground equipment, a water spray feature, and a nature play area. The playground features several large structures that are hard to describe. These structures feature some familiar elements like slides and monkey bars but combine them in unusual ways. The water spray feature is immediately next to the playground and features a variety of jets from the ground and water loops. The nature play area is also in the same area and features a few different 'rooms' with different themes. This site is the new administrative center for the Chicago Park district and the buildings on the east side of the site are the administrative center and the park's fieldhouse. The fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when it is open) and the courtyard between the two buildings is a wonderful space with picnic tables. The playground has a soft rubber surface and is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There is a drinking fountain there as well as some benches. The site is currently bright and sunny and open. All in all, this is an amazing playground and a true destination playground; highly highly recommend.

The playground in Carpenter Park features a large play structure with a few slides and climbing features, the standard set of swings, and a zipline with circular seat. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the perimeter of the park.

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 small playground in Drexel Park features a variety of swings, a large play structure designed for older children, a couple variations on standard monkey bars. There area also a few standalone elements including a variety of drums and the standard set of swings. The play area is mostly enclosed and though there aren't benches, the low ledge around the perimeter of the play area provides some seating.

This tiny park, named Edmonds Park in honor of Molly Edmonds who was a long time neighbor and informal caretaker of this park, features a nice playground with a large play structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. There are also a few standalone elements like a spinning saucer and two tire swings. The play surface is wood chips and the mostly enclosed play area has a few benches and a drinking fountain. A notable feature of this park is the large, mature trees that provide shade throughout the day.

The playground in Gage Park - located near the south edge of the park - is a large and heavily shaded playground with some solid elements. There is a small structure for younger children and a much larger structure for older children with a variety of slides. that is accessible via a ramp. There is a small set of swings with the usual Chicago Park varieties but - interestingly - no monkey bars of any kind. The play area is enclosed and heavily shaded by large trees. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches scattered around the perimeter of the playground which is both set back from the street and fully enclosed. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.

Hale Park features a great playground. There is a single large structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements suitable for elementary school aged children (which is appropriate given that the site seems shared with the nearby Hale Elementary School). There is also a circle seat zip line and a few other standalone climbing and spinning elements. The non-play amenities and general setting are great. Hale Park is a large, open space with a modern fieldhouse. The playground has a play surface of wood chips and the nearby fieldhouse provides drinking fountains and access to bathrooms. All in all, this is a classic Chicago Park playground, an asset to the neighborhood, and a worthwhile destination. Hale Park also features a water spray area to the north of the playground; but this is separate from the main playground.

The playground at Hamilton Park is located on the northside of the park and features two play structures. The larger structure is designed for older children and features a series of ramps, slides, and other climbing elements. The smaller structure is nearby and is designed for younger children. There is also the standard set of swings and a water spray feature. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the area. Large trees just to the south provide some shade throughout the day.