This playground is located on the south side of Kosciuszko Park (which, according to Wikipedia, is pronounced like "Costco" with a "shush" in the middle - Kos-Shush-Ko). This playground features a small area for younger children, a large area for older children, a large swing set, and a nice water spray feature. The surface is soft rubber and the space is made more comfortable through benches, picnic tables, and large shade trees. Although this playground combines somewhat standard playground elements, the total experience somehow transcends the sum of the parts and makes this a worthwhile destination playground.
This playground - called "Cummings Playground" according to Park District signage - is located just to the west of Lincoln Park zoo on the west side of Lincoln Park and features a number of sculptures of animals fitting it's location. The playground has two distinct areas. One area features equipment for younger children and a large sand play area with a sand table and a few toddler swings. The main area features a number of elements for older children including a large play structure, a climbing net, a unique traversing element, and additional swings. The playground is fully enclosed and the play areas contains areas of grass, sand, and wood chips. There are a few benches and trees but this playground is relatively bright, sunny - and busy! - most of the day.
Sunshine Playscape - one of ten playgrounds in Lincoln Park! - is a $1.5 million dollar playground designed by Ayres Associates in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and the Lincoln Park Conservancy. According to the Lincoln Park Conservancy website: "The Sunshine Playscape offers a unique play experience that blends the best of traditional playground equipment with nature-play elements [and] is designed to inspire curiosity and connection with the natural world." This description is generally true - there are a few standard playground elements like slides and swings built into a natural environment. There aren't any large, plastic play structures but instead the slides are set into the sloping terrain, large tree trunks are used as climbing structures, and other natural elements invite exploration and creativity. However, for such an expensive and well-designed park, I had questions about the height of the monkey bars (they are quite high!) and concerns about the lack of shade in the park.
The play area is fully enclosed and is set back from the nearest streets opening onto a large grassy field instead. There are benches and picnic tables within the play area and the play surface is a combination of soft rubber, wood chips, and concrete. Though there are trees surrounding the playscape, the actual play area is quite bright and sunny (perhaps living up to it's name). All in all, this is an interesting and unique playspace that is worth a visit.
This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - is named the Arthur Telscer Playground and features a play structure, sandbox, and water spray feature. The play structure is relatively small and is designed for younger children. The is also a collection of overhead and climbing elements nearby that should prove challenging to older children. There is also a set of swings with the Chicago Park standards - toddler, adapative, and belt seat - along with a few standalone elements including two animal sculptures. The water spray feature is a simple 'four sprayer' and there is a sandbox (usually with a few leftover sand toys). This playground is heavily shaded and fully enclosed with a few benches for seating. All in all, this is a solid playground; highly recommend.
Morrie Mages Playground - one of 10 playground located in Lincoln Park! - is just to the east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive (and the accurately named 'Recreation Drive' that provides vehicular access to some lakefront amenities) and Irving Park. This playground is sandwiched between the lakefront walking and biking trail and provides a large, enclosed play space with a variety of elements.
There are elements for younger children including a small single mast climbing structure and a modern looking Kompan created play structure along with some swings and other standalone elements. The elements for older children include another Kompan play structure and a set of rope/net traverse elements.
The non-play features are also great with a 'classic playground' vibe; wood chips surface surrounded by grass, wooden benches for seating, and some shade created by large trees. Improving the comfort of this site is a collection of picnic tables; decreasing the comfort is the close proximity to the noise of DLSD. I also don't recall a drinking fountain and the nearest bathrooms (likely at the golf course) would be a long walk away.
Despite these imperfections, this is a great playground and a worthwhile destination; highly recommend.
The location of this playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - has some real pros and cons. Plus: quiet, tucked away, and shady, easy (paid) parking. Cons: awkwardly set between a driving range, mini golf course, and some tennis courts with a few dumpsters right against the fence. So the ambiance is mixed.
The playground itself is solid. A large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a unusual assortment of swings: toddler, adaptive with a harness, and a saucer swing without and traditional belt seat swings.
The site itself is mixed but has some classic Chicago Park features - wood chip surface, wooden benches - and I bet the nearby Chicago Park building would provide access to a drinking fountain and bathroom (when open). All things considered, I still think this is a solid playground.
This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park - is located near the Roscoe Street underpass and is a unique playground. There is a small set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) overlooking a fleet of small boats that are part sculpture and part playground equipment. The boats float on a soft rubber surface that is sculpted to resemble waves. There are a few benches and a comfort station with bathrooms is directly north of the playground. All in all, this is a unique little playground best suited for younger children.
Maple Park is a small neighborhood pocket park with a large playground. There is a single play structure with the standard elements (slides, climbing elements, and a set of monkey bars) and a swing set near the back of the site with the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat). The non-play amenities are also standard: a few benches and a drinking fountain bordering a fully enclosed play area with a wood chip surface. I've used the word "standard" three times (well, I guess four times now...) but that's not an insult! This is a great neighborhood playground.
Martin Park contains a solid neighborhood playground. There is the standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat) and a play structure with a few slides and climbing elements. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. There is a bench and low perimeter walls provide additional informal seating. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood playground for younger children.
A small, neighborhood park with a very large climbing structure, a variety of swings, and a small play structure with a slide and other elements. Playground is fully enclosed off a quiet side street with ample benches and shade.
Monticello Park is a small neighborhood with a large play structure for older children. There are a few slides and a number of bridges and platforms in this park as well as the standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and has a few benches and one drinking fountain. Trees on the eastern side of the playground provide some morning shade and the western side features a basketball court.
Renovated in 2015, the Mozart Park playground offers modern and well-maintained elements to a variety of users. There is a larger play structure for older children and a small structure for younger children in a play area covered with wood chips. There are a few benches in the area and it near both the Mozart Park field house and the Metra train line.
Tucked in the middle of a residential block, Nelson Park is a tiny Chicago Park with a neighborhood playground. There is a single play structure with one slide that is connected to a variation of monkey bars as well as several traversing/climbing elements. This park also offers a variety of swing options: toddler, belt seat, and a tire swing. The play area is fully enclosed and is bright and sunny and the play surface is wood chips.
The playground at Oz Park is a unique and wonderful space. Oz Park is named in honor of Lyman Frank Baum, the author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and features statues of characters from the universe. According to the Chicago Park district website, the name of this playground - "Dorothy's Playlot" - references both the main character from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" but also Dorothy Melamerson, a retired school teacher who donated money to park improvements.
The massive play structure is one of a few wooden play structures within the Chicago Park District and while it features slides and swings, the massive, meandering, multi-level wooden structure is clearly the main feature of this space. It contains stairs and bridges and outlooks that children can explore independently (some of the spaces are quite small for some adult bodies).
The play area is completely enclosed and heavily shaded by large trees. There are some benches and a small picnic table within the play area and additional picnic tables and a drinking fountain just outside one of the entrances. The play surface seems to be a soft rubber covered by artificial turf.
This playground is truly a destination playground; highly recommend.
Palmer Square Park is amazing and there is a small play area in the middle of the park that is part playground and part art installation. The playground is designed for younger children (under 5 years old) and is based on the book "The Velveteen Rabbit." The play area is somewhat linear and consists of four area connected by a walking path as well as a stepping stone path. One area is a raised stage with an audience of carved animals, the next is a little area with sculptural benches that look like tree stumps, the next is a flat area with a few pieces of equipment including a slide set into a small hill, and finally there is a small mound with two rabbit sculptures on top.
The setting within Palmer Square Park is great - the park is covered with trees and is part of the boulevard system so it's somehow calm and quiet while also being lively. There are a few benches and lots of trees making this a perfect spot to bring a blanket to share a book or a picnic in the shade.
This isn't not a traditional playground and will likely not entertain older children but this is a great spot for younger children; highly recommend.
Contrary to the name, you cannot actually view other parks when in Parkview Park. Interesting name aside, there is a great playground on the north end of the Parkview Park that includes two large play structures and a variety of swings. The smaller play structure is lower to the ground and features a number of interactive panels and small climbing elements. The larger structure consists of several platforms connected by various climbing and overhead elements. Completing the playground is a spinning, four seat merry-go-round and swings: toddler, tire, belt seat, and adaptive. The play area is fully enclosed and there are a few benches and a picnic table near the play area. There are also some large trees to provide moments of shade throughout the day.
Park 535 is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with a playground designed for very young children. The equipment is extremely minimal - a set of toddler swings and a playhouse - though the play surface is soft rubber that is mounded and sculpted to create small hills and a little bridge. This also appears to be a "neighborhood toy" site with lots of equipment left in the park for communal use. The play area is fully enclosed with lots of shade and seating.
The site seems to replace a half block of W Wisconsin Street at Halsted (i.e. the park isn't on a standard lot but is instead a converted public plaza on the right of way). I think this location, the upscale neighborhood surrounding the park, and the small size combine to make this a very quaint and lovely park - highly recommend for younger (early walker to preschool) children.
Park West Park is a small pocket park with a great playground and tons of shade. There are two play structures in this fully enclosed play area - one for younger children and one for older - as well as the standard set of swings and a see-saw. The non-play amenities are solid; there is a drinking fountain, a picnic table, and benches. But the shade from the large, mature trees is a defining feature of this site. This is a wonderful park for younger kids on a bright and sunny day; highly recommend.
The playground in tiny Privet Park takes up nearly the entire area of the park and yet packs in a large climbing structure for older children and a pair of toddler swings. There are two benches and a drinking fountain in the fully enclosed and somewhat shady play area and the play surface is wood chips.
Revere Park is a large park with a recently remodeled fieldhouse and a great playground. The playground is located on the east side of the park just south of the parking lot and is a fully enclosed soft surface playground. There are two structures, the standard set of swings, and plenty of seating with both benches and picnic tables.
This small park features a playground with two play structures and a large set of swings. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and the second, designed for older children, is much larger and features a few large slides and climbing elements. The swings are standard (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and there are a few standalone features to round out the playground equipment.
This small pocket park is tucked off the street and creates a somewhat cozy feeling. The play area is nearly completely enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and trees for seating and shade and there is a drinking fountain near the entrance. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood park.
Sheil Playground is a tiny playground on the busy Southport corridor with a strong baseball theme that features the Cubs logo and a chalkboard replica of the iconic green scoreboard. A new playground - consisting primarily of large, red metal arches - provides climbing structures as well as a smaller area for younger children. The play area is completely enclosed and features several benches and picnic tables.
The South Lakeview Park playground features a solid array of elements separated into areas for younger and older children. These two play structures are modern and feature a variety of equipment; there is also a dinosaur play structure, a see-saw, and a variety of swings. The play surface is well-loved soft rubber and there are several benches and picnic tables for seating.
