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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Poplar Park contains a small and unique playground as well as a water spray feature. The playground contains just a handful of elements: a single mast rope net climbing structure, a large platform with climbing nets and unique metal pods, and an interesting assortment of swings (adaptive, belt seat, and hammock style saucer). No slides or monkey bars at this site! The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer'. This unique park features a few standard amenities - a drinking fountain and benches - as well as great shade from the towering trees on the site. All in all, this is an interesting little 'pocket park.'
Prairie Wolf Park is a nice neighborhood pocket park with a playground and water feature. The playground is somewhat non-traditional; the structure consists of a few slides connected by climbing and traversing elements and not bridges or platforms like other sites. The water feature is a small 'four sprayer' with jets from the ground. The surface is wood chips and playground gets some shade from the large trees on the site. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed There is a shade structure and drinking fountain near the entrance.
Railroad Junction Park is a shady and small neighborhood park with a great playground. This playground includes a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) as well as a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. The play area is fenced from the street but is not full enclosed. The play surface is wood chips and a highlight of this park is the shade created by large, mature trees. There are also benches surrounding the play area making this a comfortable park.
The playgrounds at Rainbow Beach are located toward the northwest corner of the park and are two fully enclosed play area next to each other. They both feature unique net/rope climbing structures and a variety of swings: toddler, belt seat, and hammock saucer swings. The play surface of both is wood chips and though there aren't benches in the immediate area the low perimeter walls offer some informal seating. Situated away from traffic and with great views of Lake Michigan, these somewhat small playgrounds are gems and are worth the trip.
Located in the northwest corner of Rosenblum Park, this playground features a huge rope/net climbing element, a large and accessible play structure with a variety of components, a standard set of swings, and a water spray feature. The play area is not enclosed but it is fenced from the street. The play surface is soft rubber and there are benches dotting the perimeter of the play area.
Sintic Park is a small neighborhood park consisting entirely of a large playground. There is a large play structure with a few slides. Connected to that structure, there are overhead and traversing elements for older children. There is also a smaller structure for younger children as well as a few standalone elements. Lastly, there is a standard set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The playground is also pretty standard in terms of amenities: the play surface is wood chips and there isn't much shade. Low perimeter walls provide some seating but there aren't benches or picnic tables for actual seating - though there is a drinking fountain. All in all, this is a pretty standard Chicago playground - not that that's a bad thing.
The playground in Spruce Park is a quiet and shady playground with play equipment designed for a variety of children. The main play structure is somewhat sprawling and features a variety of elements including slides and climbing features. It is pretty low to the ground except for one for one section accessible only by some difficult climbing elements; this keeps the area safe for younger children while also challenging for older climbers. There are also a few natural elements: rocks for climbing, a fake hollow log, and an acorn seat.
The play area is heavily shaded by large, mature trees. The main play surface is wood chips and the area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain near the play area.
This playground - one of two in Stout Park - is located in the northeast corner of the park and is designed for younger children. It features a small play structure, low-to-the-ground monkey bars, two toddler swings, and a little play house. The play surface is wood chips and the play area is fully enclosed (and opens to the rest of Stout Park). There are a few benches and the area is heavily shaded by large trees.
This playground - one of two in Stout Park - is located in the southeast corner and is designed for older children. There are some swings - belt seat and adaptive with harness - and a four person see-saw as well as a large play structure. The structure includes a vertical climbing net, corkscrew slide, curved slide, and other climbing elements. The play surface is wood chips and the play area is enclosed (and opens to the rest of Stout Park). There are some benches built into the low perimeter walls for seating and large trees provide some shade.
Sumac Park is a small neighborhood park with a great playground. The small playlot contains a small structure for younger children. There is also a somewhat non-traditional set of climbing elements for older children (think climbing nets and metal structure and not traditional ladders and slide). There are also a few interactive panels set low to ground for imaginative play for a variety of ages. The playground is heavily shaded by large trees and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches and a drinking fountain as well making this a comfortable spot to stop and play.
Sun Yat-Sen Park contains a wonderful little playground. There is a single large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a set of swings and a few standalone elements. Although the setting is next to the Stevenson Expressway (and the noise from the traffic can be loud), this little park has solid amenities and great trees. There are benches and tables near the western end as well as a drinking fountain. The play area itself is shaded in the afternoon and has a surface of wood chips. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.
Last renovated in the fall of 2014, Sycamore Park contains a large and somewhat standard playground and set of swings. The play structure is large and features most of the standard equipment: slides, climbing elements and ladders, and a set of monkey bars. The swings are also standard (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a circle seat zip line is the park's most unusual element.
The setting and non-play elements are also standard: the play surface is wood chips and there are benches for seating. There is a drinking fountain and tall, mature trees provide some shade.
The playground at Till-Mobley Park features a large play structure with several slides, climbing elements, and overhead elements. There is also a spinning sphere and the standard set of Park District swings (toddler, adaptive, and black belt). The play area, covered in wood chips, is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the streets. There are a few benches in the area for seating and a drinking fountain near the basketball court.
