West Playgrounds
The neighborhoods making up the west side of Chicago include some of the oldest neighborhoods and parks in Chicago.
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Altgeld Park - PlaygroundRenovated in 2013, this small playground is located in the northwest corner of Altgeld Park and features a large play structure designed for older children. This structure includes a few slides, climbing elements, rope bridge, and monkey bars. In a separate area, the playground also contains a small playhouse, a see-saw, and the standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. The site has some large trees that provide some shade and a small, covered pavilion for additional shade. -
Amundsen Park - PlaygroundThe playground in Amundsen Park is a good playground with four areas: a smaller structure for younger children, a set of swings, a larger structure for older children, and a water spray feature. The larger structure is low to the ground and accessible via a ramp with a few sprawling elements low to the ground. The non-play features are also good: the play surface is soft rubber and there are benches for seating. There is some shade from trees and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend. -
Augusta Park - PlaygroundAugusta Park features a playground with two play structures and the standard Chicago Park swings. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and is relatively small. The other structure is much larger and features a few slides, interactive panels, and overhead elements designed for older children. There are a couple of picnic tables and benches for seating. The play area is fully enclosed and boasts a soft rubber play surface. The playground itself is bright and sunny without much shade and there is a grassy area next to the playground. -
Austin Park - PlaygroundThis playground is located in narrow Austin Park near the corner of Lake and Mayfield and just north of the CTA Green Line tracks. The equipment in this park is standard for Chicago playgrounds but larger than most. It contains a large climbing structure designed for older children with a few slides and climbing features as well as a climbing net and small climbing wall. On the same block, just further west, there are two large water features: one water spray area and one water playground. So while they aren't integrated into the playground they are quite close. The play area is not enclosed but it is shaded by large trees to the south. There is a bench near the park and bathroom access via the fieldhouse building near the water features. The play surface is wood chips. -
Austin Town Hall Park - PlaygroundThe 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. -
Baraga Park - Playground ParkA small neighborhood park on an oddly shaped site contains a good playground and basketball court. The playground contains one large play structure with a few slides and climbing elements and two sets of swings. The non-play features are traditional: a few wooden benches dot the enclosed play area. The main play surface is wood chips and there is some shade due to the large trees and neighboring buildings. All in all, a very decent neighborhood playground. -
Barrett Park - PlaygroundBarrett Park is below street grade but the playground gets high marks! The playground itself features a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a set of swings. The playground is fully fenced in and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a few trees provide shade. There is a Chicago Park fieldhouse but does not seem open. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground. -
Bartelme Park - PlaygroundThe official Chicago Park website describes the playground like this: "The children's play area offers ADA accessibility that allows for inventive, non-linear play without traditional play equipment." Inventive, non-linear, and non-traditional are all great adjectives to describe this playground in the West Loop. The fully enclosed playground uses the rubber surface itself as a play element; there are steep inclines and valleys that invite play. Most of the elements are indeed non-traditional. While there are a few slides, there are no swings or monkey bars in this playground. Instead there is elaborate "jungle gym" structure made of belts of black rubber, a rope climbing structure, and a smaller structure for younger children. The play area is fully enclosed and there are several picnic tables that make this a comfortable playground in a new and beautifully landscaped park. -
Beilfuss Park - PlaygroundThe playground at Beilfuss Park is a great playground in an interesting location. The playground itself is quite nice with a large play structure for older children, a standard offering of swings, and some unique "acorn seats". The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and mature trees shading the fully enclosed play space. The rest of the Beilfuss Park is quite empty so there is plenty of space to fly a kite or watch the trains go by on the nearby Metra tracks. -
Bertha Honoré Palmer Park - PlaygroundQuiet, tucked-away, and shady, the playground at Bertha Honoré Palmer Park features a large play structure and a few other elements. The large play structure features two different slides (curving and corkscrew) and a lot of different climbing elements. There is also a standalone metal climber near the entrance and a hammock style saucer swing and a pair of toddler swings near the rear. The play area is fully enclosed and is shaded by large trees and the nearby buildings. There is also a small structure with two picnic tables for some additional shade and seating. The play surface is wood chips. All in all, this is a good playground tucked away on a quiet street. -
Boler Park - PlaygroundThe playground at Boler Park consists of two separate area dedicated to children of different ages. The area for younger children features elements that are quite small and low to the ground - a log that serves as a balance beam, some steppers, and a tiny play structure with a small slide. The other area features a larger structure with a few slides and climbing elements. The play area is fenced from the street and the main play surface is wood chips. Additional seating (benches or picnic tables) would improve this space as would more shade. But this is still a nice and well-maintained playground with some solid elements. -
Central Park - Playground ParkThough not nearly as large as Central Park in NYC, Chicago's Central Park does boast a large play structure for older children and an above-average set of swings. The main play structure includes a number of overhead elements, climbing structures, and slides. There are toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing in this playground. The play area is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are benches and a drinking fountain but sadly very little shade in the park.