Periwinkle Park is located near the junction of the Chicago Skyway and I-94; this fact of location is relevant to the playground at this site because 1) the road noise is quite loud in the playground and 2) it may explain the concrete aesthetic for this playground. Though wood chips are the primary play surface, there is a striking amount of concrete in this park including benches, stairs, and a raised platform. One slide is somewhat integrated into the concrete and the rest of the structures seems like modern structures set between the concrete elements. So the overall aesthetic is somewhat bizarre but not terrible.
Beyond the small structure, there is a small water spray feature in a corner of the park. The play area has a few benches and gets some morning shade from tall trees to the east of the park But the playground tends to be bright, sunny, and - thanks to the highway - quite loud.
Hadiya Pendelton Park is named after a Chicago teen killed by gun violence in 2013 and some of the parks design elements - a stack of books and a large musical motif printed on the main walking path - reflect this fact. The playground within the park isn't a traditional playground and instead consists of large, modern standalone elements. These elements include two large net climbing structures, a huge spinning platform with additional elements, a saucer swing, and a rope traverse. Immediately next to the playground is a small water spray feature with three modern spray elements. The entire park is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The playground surface is wood chips though there are large grassy areas throughout the park. There are benches and a drinking fountain in this bright and sunny park.
This playground - one of two in Nichols Park - is located on the west side and is designed for younger children. There is a small, somewhat traditional play structure, swings appropriate for younger children (toddler and adaptive) and a few standalone elements including a spinning bowl and a 'drum set.' The play area is wood chips and while it is fenced from the street it is not fully enclosed and instead opens into Nichols Park. Trees provide some shade and a few benches provide some seating.
This playground - one of two in Nichols Park - is located on the east side of the park and seems designed for older children. Rather than a traditional play structure, this playground is a collection of various climbing and traversing elements as well as a few standalone elements (including a zipline!). The playground is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed and instead opens directly into the park. Although there aren't benches of picnic tables, the low perimeter wall provides some seating. Large trees provide some shade to the area and the play surface is wood chips.
"Moccasin Ranch Park" is named for a collection of stories titled "Moccasin Ranch" written by Hamlin Garland in 1909 when he lived at 6427 S Greenwood just a few blocks from this park. Curious name aside, this park is a nice neighborhood pocket park with a large play structure and some swings. The structure includes a few slides and various climbing elements. There are three swings - a toddler swing, belt seat swing, and adaptive swing. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There are benches and a drinking fountain in this bright and sunny site.
Meyering Park features two large play structures, a variety of swings, and a large water playground. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and features a few climbing elements and slides. The larger structure includes a plank bridge, a few slides, and various overhead elements along with a large set of swings . There is also a water playground located just to the east of the 'traditional' playground. The surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches for seating. Large trees provide some shade throughout the day and the fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms.
The playground of Metcalfe Park is on the north side of the park and features a variety of swings and two play structures. The swings - toddler, adaptive with a harness, belt seat, and a tire swing - are solid offerings and the structures both include a number of slides and unique climbing elements. There is also a small 'four sprayer' water spray feature at this park near the playground. The play area isn't fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. There are a few benches near the playground and the main surface is wood chips.
McKeon Park is a moderate sized neighborhood playground with a large playground that was renovated in 2014. There are a variety of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a tire swing!) and a large play structure with a few slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The play area is quite large and covered in a wood chips with a grassy area to the north. The setting is great - a quiet residential area - but the amenities are lacking. There are a few benches around the perimeter of the park but adding a few picnic tables or a drinking fountain would improve this site. Despite these imperfections, this is a still a great playground.
The playground at McGuane Park is a really solid neighborhood playground. There is a single large play structure with lots of metal climbing elements and a variety of slides (including a large triple slide). There are a few standalone elements - balance beam and spinning seat - and two sets of swings (toddler swings and belt seat swings). There is also a nice water spray feature with two twisting water sprayers and some rock features. There is also an interesting rock climbing element just to the north of the playground (this is officially part of Palmisano Park
but it is directly across the street to the north).
Located near the McGuane Park fieldhouse, there is access to bathrooms (when the building is open) and a drinking fountain. The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches doting the perimeter of the play area and some large trees provide shade at different points throughout the day. Overall, this is a great neighborhood park with some great amenities; a solid destination playground.
Mandrake Park was dedicated in 2001 and the playground equipment seems to be original to that era (at the very least, it appears on Google Street View in 2008). There are two play structures - a tiny structure for younger children and a much larger structure for older children. The larger structure contains a triple slide - among others - and some relatively unique climbing elements: an offset corkscrew climber and a ring/bubble climber. There are two sets of swings, one toddler and one standard black belt seat, The play area itself is quite large and has a soft rubber surface. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and there are a number of benches and even a few picnic tables (with umbrellas!) in the area but the playground itself is bright and sunny. There is also a small fieldhouse nearby with bathrooms and a drinking fountain.
Small Malus Park features two moderately sized play structures and a few other standalone elements. Both play structures features a few slides and climbing elements - the larger one also features some looping loop monkey bars and a net climbing element. There are some standard swings (toddler, traditional, and tire) as well as a teeter-tooter and a 'car on a spring.' The play surface is enclosed and trees and benches provide some shade and seating.
Lyle Park, situated on a stretch of Wallace Ave that feels more like an alley and next to an elevated freight train line, features some great graffiti art and climbing elements. The main play structure was installed in 2016 and features a number of unique metal climbing and traversing elements and - curiously - just one metal slide. There are swings (toddler, traditional, and tire) in the narrow play area too. The play surface is wood chips and is shaded by large trees.
Set in the northeast corner of Lake Meadows Park is a solid playground designed for a variety of ages. There is a very small play structure for younger children and a then a large, sprawling structure for older children. The larger structure includes a few slides, climbing elements, traversing elements, and a variation on monkey bars. There are also two swing sets with the standard Chicago Park varieties: toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat swing. The other elements of this park aren't novel but are classic playground features. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens to the rest of the grassy park. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating. Trees provide some shade but the playground is bright and sunny. The site does offer great views of the trains passing on the train tracks to the east. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.
Kenwood Community Park is a great park. There are fields for active recreation and - on the northern edge - a wonderful playground with two large play structures, a sandbox, and a water spray area. Both areas are fenced from the street and feature a soft rubber play surface shaded by large trees and plenty of benches. The sandbox is quite nice and there is a standard 'four sprayer' water sprayer. A small fieldhouse should provide access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.
Kennicott Park is a moderate sized neighborhood park in the Kenwood Neighborhood with a great little playground. The playground features a somewhat sprawling play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and overhead features. There are two standalone elements and a set of swings with the Chicago Park standards: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and drinking fountains (when open). All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Jacolik Park is a new and modern playground. The centerpiece of the play structure is a large rope/net climbing element with various climbing, overhead, and traverse elements connected to it. There is a solid set of swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and hammock saucer swing) to round out the playground equipment.
In terms of amenities, this is pretty standard. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are benches and a drinking fountain as well as a few trees (though the play area itself is bright and sunny most of the day). All in all, this is a standard neighborhood playground.
This playground, situated on the 63rd Street Beach, reflects it's location with a strong nautical theme. The entire play structure is shaped like a ship and is equipped with a steering wheel, tall mast, and even canons! This playground is fully integrated with the beach and is therefore not enclosed, in full sun, and the play surface is - of course - sand. This creates a unique play experience and offers some great views of Lake Michigan.
This playground - one of many located in Jackson Park - is located on 67th between East End and Ridgeland. It features a distinctive set of playground equipment that includes a larger structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. There is also a rope traverse feature and the standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips.
This small playground near the northwest corner of Jackson Park is named Chrysalis Playground according to Park District signage and has a small nature theme. There are decorative trees, a unique egg-shaped chair, and an "animal facts" spinning panel. There is also standard equipment like slides and climbing steps that seem designed for younger children. The play area is fully enclosed and somewhat shaded by large trees. The play surface is wood chips and while there aren't benches, the low perimeter wall provides some seating.
This playground - one of 7 in Jackson Park! - is located in the very northwest corner of the park near 56th and Stony Island and is called Dickerson Playlot according to Park District signage. It features a large play structure with a couple slides, a variety of monkey bars and other overhead elements, and some climbing features. There is also a standard set of swings in this somewhat shady and wood chipped play area. The partially enclosed play area is surrounded by grass and large trees and offers views of the nearby Metra Electric Line.
This playground - one of several in Jackson Park - is near 64th and Stony Island and is a standard Chicago Park playground. There is a single large play structure with a variety of play elements as well as a standard set of swings. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are benches near the playground and the nearby fieldhouse should provide access to bathrooms and a drinking fountain (when open). All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.
This playground - one of many in Jackson Park - is located near 67th and Jeffery. It features a large play structure for older children that is accessible via a ramp carved into the terrain as well as a smaller structure for younger children. The playground equipment is standard for Chicago Parks and there is also a standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is soft rubber.
Humbert Park features a basic, no-frills playground with a large play structure, the standard set of swings, and small circle-seat zipline. Additional amenities like a drinking fountain, picnic tables, or even some grass would certainly improve the park (at least for the adults) but the play structures are nice and provide lots of climbing and sliding options. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The play surface is wood chips and a few large trees provide a decent amount of shade throughout the day and there are a few benches for seating.
This small park is packed with great playground equipment! There are three main play structures in this park: a sprawling traditional play structure with a firetruck theme on one side, a somewhat taller structure with a corkscrew slide, and an interesting rocketship climbing element. Additionally, there are a few standalone elements as well as a set of swings in this packed play space. Half of the park is wood chips and half is soft rubber and large trees and neighboring buildings provide bits of shade throughout the day. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and there are a few benches. All in all, great playground with interesting equipment; highly recommend.
