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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
This modern playground on the lakefront features an enclosed play area with dedicated spaces for younger and older children. In addition to standard swings and slides, this playground boasts some interesting elements including a twisting rock climbing wall, a large curved slide set into the landscape, and a roller slide. Even though this playground is just steps from the 31st Street Beach, there are two water elements with gentle sprays designed for younger children. There are plenty of benches within the enclosed play space and an interesting and accessible area further south with more benches, picnic tables, and benches. One of the best playgrounds in Chicago.
The playground in Burnham Park near the 43rd Street Bridge is still under construction (as of 2023-03) but looks like it will be a wonderful playground. The new playground is just south of the 43rd Street Bridge just off the Lake Front path and the near the comfort station. The playground features a small set of swings, a rope net climbing structure, a small play structure for young children, a collection of elements for older children, and a good variety of musical instruments.
The non-play elements are solid; the play surface is soft rubber, the play area seems like it will be fully enclosed, and there are plenty of benches. This site provides nice views of the city skyline and the nearby comfort station should provide access to bathrooms (when open).
I'll plan on re-visiting this summer (and updating this review) because this looks like a great playground.
This playground - one of five in Burnham Park - is situated just south of 47th Street and west of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and features two large play structures and two sets of swings. The elements are largely standard with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and overhead features. The non-playable amenities are also somewhat standard: a drinking fountain, a few park benches, with a play surface of wood chips.
This playground - called "Shore Playground" according to a Park District sign on the fencing but simply "Burnham Playground" online - was renovated in 2015. It features a large play structure, a few standalone climbing elements, and the standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and is shaded by a few large trees. The surface is wood chips and there are a few benches nearby for seating.
Butternut Park features a large playground with two separate area in a small and shady location. Near the entrance is a set of elements for older children including some monkey bars and slides as well as a large rope/net climbing structure. Near the back of the park is a smaller structure for younger children and a set of toddler swings. There are also the standard swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and a few standalone elements. The site itself is located in the middle of a residential block and is fully enclosed. The main play surface is wood chips though there is a grassy area as well. There aren't formal benches but low walls throughout the site provide some seating and large, mature trees provide shade. All things considered, this is a good neighborhood playground.
Small Chestnut Park is a neighborhood park with a neighborhood playground featuring two play structures and few other elements. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and has a few small slides, low to the ground monkey bars, and other climbing elements. The other structure is much larger and includes more challenging climbing and overhead elements as well as larger slides. This park has a solid offering of swings (toddler, molded bucket, belt seat, and hammock style saucer swings). The play area has a surface of wood chips and is bright and sunny throughout the day. There are a few benches near the play area and a drinking fountain.
Coleman Park is a small neighborhood park in the middle of a residential block with a great playground and water spray feature. There are two play structures - a smaller one for younger children and a larger one for older children - as well as two sets of swings, a sand play area (with a unique concrete table), and a standard 'four sprayer' with a concrete seal sculpture in the middle. All together, this playground elevates some standard equipment to something better than the sum of its parts.
The setting is great; the park has some great trees and it's location on a quiet street is quite nice. The non-play amenities include benches and a drinking fountain and the main play surface is wood chips. This is a great little playground and definitely worth a visit.
Small Dobson Park contains a playground with two play structures and a standard set of swings. One play structure is designed for younger children and the other is designed for older children. The larger play structure contains a few slides, climbing elements, and traversing elements. The play area has a wood chip surface and is fully enclosed. There are a few benches in the play area and a few trees providing some shade.
Donovan Park is a large, active park with a variety of athletic fields/courts (baseball/softball, basketball, and volleyball) as well as a nice playground and water spray feature. The playground is located in the northeast corner of the park and includes a standard set of swings and a long and narrow play structure with slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer' that is located near a small park district building. The open and sunny play area is fenced from the street and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain and the park building provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a nice neighborhood park.
This playground - one of two in Dunbar Park - is a great playground for a climber. Most of the equipment in this playground uses cables and nets for the main climbing structures and is therefore somewhat unique among Chicago playgrounds. Although there are limited options for young children, older climbers will likely enjoy the challenge of the two large climbing structures, rope bridge, and single curved slide.
This playground - one of two in Dunbar Park - is a shady oasis in the city. This playground features an area for younger children, a large area for older children, swings, as well as a water spray feature for the summer months. The surface is a soft rubber and there are plenty of benches around the perimeter of the fully enclosed play area. Mature trees to the south create a comfortable shade on summer days. Highly recommend this playground.
The playground in Ellis Park contains two play structures, some standalone elements, and a small water spray feature. The smaller play structure designed for younger children is actually quite large and features three slides and a variety of different climbing elements. The larger play structure is massive. It is fully accessible and includes a long ramp that snakes back and forth several times before reaching the highest platform. There are a number of slides and other climbing elements on this structure as well as a circular monkey bars. The standalone elements include a see-saw and the standard set of swings. The water spray feature is located nearby and is a simple four sprayer. The playground is accessible with soft rubber surface and barrier free access to the highest platform. There are a few benches in the play area and the new Arts and Recreation Building provides access to bathrooms.
Renovated in 2015, the playground at the Essex Park contains a modern play structure some some standard equipment (slides, climbing structures, monkey bars) as well as some more interesting equipment (an overhead slider and a 'top and bottom' spinner). There is also a standard set of swings nearby. The play area is fenced but not fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches and a drinking fountain but not much shade.
