The playground in Moran Park features the standard set of swings, some traversing/climbing elements, and a large play structure for older children. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few trees and benches in the area for shade and seating.
Montgomery Park consists of two play structures and a set of swings. The structures are standard Chicago Park structures: a variety of slides and climbing elements. The swings are also standard: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The wood chip play surface is bare in places and the equipment could use a cleaning. There is some shade from large trees and a few benches but the non-play amenities could be improved. All in all, this is a pretty standard neighborhood playground.
Minuteman Park, situated on a somewhat awkward lot next to Midway airport, features a great little playground. The playground includes a collection of elements for older children, a small play structure for younger children, and a set of swings with the typical Chicago Park offering: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. There is also a standalone 'triple top and bottom spinner' which is pretty neat. The playground is located in the southeast corner of the park and is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The play surface is soft rubber and there are both benches and picnic tables for seating.
Tucked away in a quiet residential area, Micek Park offers a solid playground and water spray feature. The playground has two structures - one is quite small and designed for younger children and the other is significantly larger with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There is also a set of swings - toddler, adaptive, and belt seat - that are standard in Chicago Parks. The water spray features are a "triple shower sprayer" and a "single pole sprayer" both good for delivering a good soaking on a hot day.
The amenities are somewhat modern and include a soft rubber play surface and a set of three picnic tables. The playground is fenced from the street but opens directly to the rest of the park and is not fully enclosed. And although there are large trees near the playground, the playground itself is bright and sunny. All in all, this is a very nice playground; highly recommend.
McKinley Park is a large park with a variety of athletic fields, a natural area with a lagoon, and a small playground. The playground is located near the center of the park and features a single play structure and set of swings. The play surface is wood chips and it opens directly into the rest of the park. There is a drinking fountain nearby but not much seating. Elsewhere in the park, there is a fieldhouse (with access to bathrooms when open) as well as a water playground. This is a good playground inside a great park.
McInerney Park features a nice playground shaded by large, mature trees. There are two separate areas - one with a smaller structure for younger children and the other with a larger structure for older children - and a small set of swings. Both structures are relatively large and offer a variety of options for park-goers. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and opens directly into the rest of McInerney Park. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches and trees for seating and shade. There is nothing particularly noteworthy or novel about this playground; it's just a solid neighborhood playground in the best sense of the term. Highly recommend.
This playground - one of two in Marquette Park - is located near the northwest corner of the park and features two play structures and a water spray feature. The smaller structure, designed for younger children, is quite small with just a slide and a climbing element. Relatively speaking, the structure for older children is much larger and includes a larger variety of elements. A set of swings with the Chicago Park standards - toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat - round out the equipment. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.'
The non-play elements are decent as well. There is a drinking fountain and a few benches scattered near the playground. The play surface is soft rubber and the playground opens to the rest of the park while still being fenced from the street to the north. All although the playground itself lacks shade most of the day, there are lots of large trees nearby for the classic park setting and a shady spot to rest. All in all, a solid playground.
This playground - one of two in Marquette Park - is a standard and classic Chicago Park playground. Standard equipment in a large open space. Wood chips and wood benches. Not enclosed, no soft surface, nothing fancy. Just a platonic playground.
The small and sunny playground in Luna Park features a large play structure with curving slides, some unique climbing equipment, several overhead and traversing structures, and standard swings (toddler and belt seat). The play surface is wood chips and there is a bench and a drinking fountain in the park.
The playground at Lowe Park was renovated in 2014 and features a train theme fitting its location near a freight train track. The playground consists of a single large structure with several levels and a few slides that would be suitable for a range of children. There are a few standalone elements and the standard set of Chicago Park swings. There is also a small water spray feature nearby with a single 'cactus sprayer' element. The play area is enclosed from the street and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and the Lowe Park fieldhouse is nearby for bathroom access (if open). There are a few trees in the general area but the playground itself is bright and sunny.
This small and sunny park contains a respectable playground. Beyond the standard set of swings, there is a large play structure for older children with several slides and a few climbing/traversing elements. There is also a standard "four sprayer" water spray feature nearby. The park gets full sun all day but there are a few benches for seating. The play area is partially enclosed and the surface is wood chips.
Lindblom Park has a large and sprawling playground. In addition to a large set of the traditional swings, this playground features a smaller set of elements for traversing and climbing and a large set of elements that comprise a more traditional playgrounds with slides and platforms. There are a handful of benches in the play area set a ways off Damen. The play surface is wood chips and there is some shade from nearby trees.
This small playground is technically part of Lily Gardens Park though it is also located just to the west of the much larger Hamilton Park. This playground features a unique large net tunnel climbing feature, a small play structure for younger children, a teeter-totter, and the standard set of swings. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and trees for seating and shade.
Leland Giants Park - named for the African-American baseball team that played in Chicago in the early 1900s - contains a playground with large and modern equipment. The single play structure features a variety of slides, climbing and traversing elements, and other features. The play area is somewhat enclosed and quite sunny; there are a few benches in the area for seating.
Renovated in 2015, the playground at LeClaire-Hearst Park is divided into three separate areas: an area for younger children, an area for older children, and a small water spray area. The area for younger children features a small play structure with a slide and several climbing elements as well as toddler swings. The area for older children is more sparse and features some climbing elements and a slide as well as belt seat swings and a small zipline. The water spray feature is set in the middle and consists of a single water spraying pole. The play area is fenced from the street but is not fully enclosed. Low perimeter walls provide some informal seating but the site would be improved by adding benches and picnic tables. The play area is bright and sunny (though there are many trees and shady spots nearby) and the play surface is wood chips. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open).
The playground at Lawler Park features a large net climbing structure, a moderate size play structure, swings, two water spray features, and lots of benches. The large standalone net climbing feature looks like a "web in a sphere" and has a few climbing panels and a large pole attached to the main structure. The other play structure is more traditional and features a lot of slides. There are the standard park district swings and a few standalone elements. The water spray features include a 'triple shower sprayer' and a 'loch ness mister' (my name for the small set of arches and tubes that mist water made to look like a water creature.)
The play area is fenced and set back from the street but is not fully enclosed. The main play surface is soft rubber and there are lots of benches surrounding the play structures. The nearby fieldhouse provides bathroom access (when the building is open) and there is a drinking fountain nearby. There are some trees near the playground but overall this is a bright and sunny playground. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.
This park - officially named Vicki M. Kucinski and Rosebeth Murphy Park - features a decent playground and a small water spray feature. The playground sits on 33rd Street across from a fire station has one large play structure, a set of swings, and a 'four sprayer' water spray feature. Nothing terribly exciting here - just a standard Chicago playground. The non-play elements - a drinking fountain and benches, wood chipped play surface, and a few large trees - are also rather standard within the city. But that's not an insult - this is a fine park.
The playground at Edward Kelly Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and features a large play structure, a set of swings, and a few standalone elements. The equipment is standard playground equipment with slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The amenities and settings are standard too: the play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for setting. The park itself is nice with two large athletic fields. All in all, this is a standard neighborhood park and playground in the best sense of the term.
This small playground features two play structures and the standard set of swings. One play structure is designed for younger children and the second, much larger, play structure is for older children and features a few slides, a rope net bridge, and monkey bars. The playground is shaded by large, mature trees and offers a few benches for seating.
Hoyne Park has a few athletic fields and a classic playground. The playground is a huge and sprawling structure that never gets too high off the ground but offers a lot of different slides, climbing elements, and monkey bar variations. Complementing the structure is a set of standard Chicago Park swings. The setting is quite nice; the park is on a quiet residential street and bordered by a train embankment creating a pleasant sense of place. Additional amenities - like benches or picnic tables - would improve the park. There is a fieldhouse at this site but it did not appear open. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground.
The playground in Hermitage Park features a large and unique net/rope climbing element, a large and somewhat accessible play structure, a rail slide, and the standard set of swings. There is also a unique and modern water spray feature in this park. The play surface is soft rubber that is sculpted in places for a unique terrain. There are also a few benches, a drinking fountain, and some shade making this a comfortable park.
Ryan Harris Park is named for an 11 year girl who was murdered in 1998 and features a large playground as part of that tribute. There are two large play structures. The larger structure is for older children and features a number of unique overhead elements and traversing elements. The smaller structure is designed for younger children and features two slides. There are also the standard set of swings and a seahorse sprayer water feature at this site. The surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches dotting the area.
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.
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.
