This small neighborhood park is named after the poet Gwendolyn Brooks and features a small playground at water spray feature. The playground is divided into two sections. The smaller section is for younger children and features a small play structure and a set of toddler swings; the other section is for older children and features a structure with larger slides and other swings. The water spray feature is a standard four sprayer. The classic playground features - wood chips and a few wooden benches - are all the amenities offered at this site. The entire park is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed. It's a solid neighborhood park and playground.
Tiny Boswell Park sits on a quiet side street and features two small play structures. The smaller structure is designed for younger children and the larger structure is designed for older children and features a variety of slides and traversing elements. There are only toddler swings at the site - not standard belt seat swings - and a few other standalone elements. The play area is mostly enclosed and the play surfaces are wood chips. The park is bright and sunny and there are benches and a drinking fountain near the entrance.
The playground in Bosley Park was renovated in 2023 and is one of the nicest neighborhood playgrounds in the city. There is a large play structure with a variety of elements, an accessible 'merry-go round' set into the soft rubber play surface, and a set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). There is also a water spray feature. Amenities are solid with benches, some shade, and access to bathrooms. All in all, a great neighborhood playground and a worthwhile destination.
Bixler Park contains a wonderful playground with a large sandbox and a water spray feature. There are two main structures - one for younger and one for older children - each with modern elements. In addition, there is a play train, a large sandbox, and a single pole water sprayer.
The non-play elements are also great. The fully enclosed play area features benches and a drinking fountain and gets some shade from the nearby trees. The play surface is wood chips (outside the sandbox) and the playground is nicely tucked into a quiet corner of the park. All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.
This tiny neighborhood park is tucked away in the middle of a block but is packed with features. It has a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing features. There is also a 'musical bar' with a variety of instruments and a small climbing wall. And in the back there are the standard set of swings and a few spinning seats and a see-saw. The play area is shaded by large mature trees and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain as well. This is a standard neighborhood playground in the best sense of the phrase.
The small Beehive Park is a neighborhood park that features a small play structure and small water feature. The play structure is small but well-equipped and features a few slides, a variation of monkey bars, and a few other climbing/traversing structures. There are also two swings (toddler and molded bucket seat with harness) in the small play area.
The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the play area as well as a small, open-sided pavilion providing some shade in an otherwise very sunny and exposed site. There is a small and simple water feature with a single pole mister. All in all, this is a respectable neighborhood park.
Aspen Park is a small pocket park with a nice playground. There is a metal climbing element near the the entrance, a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) near the rear, and a sprawling play structure in the middle that includes a few slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The setting and non-play elements are standard; the play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain.
The playground at Arthur Ashe Beach Park is located right on the shores of Lake Michigan and features some solid playground equipment. There is a small structure for younger children, a separate structure for older children, and the standard set of swings. The structure for older children is much larger and somewhat accessible by those using a wheelchair; the main play surface is also accessible soft rubber. There are a few benches nearby that provide views of both the playground and Lake Michigan.
Armstrong Park - named for Lillian Hardin Armstrong, a jazz musician and composer who was married to Louis Armstrong - is a large park with a large playground. The playground features an area for younger children with a small play structure and toddler swings. The rest of the site features an assortment of standalone elements for older children; some are connected but there aren't standard ladders to raised platforms in this park for older children.
The rest of the park is beautiful with trees, ballfields and a walking path, but the area surrounding this playground is somewhat strange. The play site itself is a large wood chipped area that lacks seating (like benches or picnic tables) and shade. There is a shade pavilion nearby that offers some respite, but the size and general emptiness of the play area are somewhat strange. So while I have some quibbles with the design choices of this playground, I still think it's a decent neighborhood playground.
Just north of where the White Sox play, the playground at Armour Square Park is massive and well-equipped. There are a total of 16 swings as well as a large play structure for older children with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and overhead elements. The playground - on the northside of the park - is next to a large water spray feature. The play surface is fenced from the street and features a few benches and small picnic tables scattered around large, mature trees. All in all, this is a large playground with lots of great options.
Anderson Park is a small park with a great little playground. The playground is somewhat standard but is also wonderful. There is a single large play structure with a few slides, climbing elements, and plank bridge (thought, strangely, no monkey bars). There is a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and 'four sprayer' water feature. The setting is wonderful - sharing a site with two public schools and a fieldhouse - and it gets wonderful shade from the large, mature trees towering overhead. There are benches and a drinking fountain and access to bathrooms (when the fieldhouse is open). All in all, this is a great little playground. Highly recommend.
