The playground in Ada Park is located in the northwest corner of the park and features a large play structure suitable for older children. There are several large slides and challenging overhead elements as well as a few climbing and traversing features. There are two sets of swings with the standard Chicago Park options (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). There is a water spray feature nearby - but it is integrated with the pool and not the playground. The play area opens to the park but is fenced from the street. There are benches and a picnic table and the wood chip covered play area is heavily shaded by large, mature trees. All in all, a solid playground.
This small playground features equipment, renovated in 2014, features some interesting elements and some intriguing arrangements of standard elements. Some of the interesting elements include a large metal structures that can be traversed and a metal, spherical globe that appear to be a throwback to earlier eras of playground design. The slide arrangements at this part are also intriguing; standard, single slides are arranges so that they curve under each other or diverge sharply. These unique elements are situated in a standard play area covered with wood chips featuring an area for younger children, an area for older children, and swings.
Located in the northwest corner of Beverly Park, this playground - named the Maeve McNicholas Playlot - features a variety of interesting climbing elements and a small water spray feature. This isn't a traditional playground with a single, large play structure (or even monkey bars or a standard ladder!) but is rather a collection of elements with lots of rope/net climbing options. The most traditional structure has a few slides but all the climbing elements are rope net tunnels and bridges. There is also a huge, multifaceted net climbing element with a large curving slide sure to challenge advanced climbers. There is also a set of rope/net traversing elements and a standalone spinning conical net climber. The one standard element are the swings; they are the standard toddler and belt seat swings along with a hammock-style saucer swing. The water spray feature is a 'misting whale tail' which provides a gentle spray.
The playground has solid amenities for families as well. There are benches and picnic tables near the play area as well as trees for some shade. The play area is not fully enclosed but is fenced from the street and opens into the rest of the park. The surface is artificial turf - a relative rarity for Chicago Parks! All in all, this is a wonderful and interesting playground; highly recommend.
Blackwelder Park features a solid playground and water spray feature. The playground features two structures - a smaller one for younger children and a larger one for older children - as well as a set of swings featuring the Chicago Park standards: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The larger structure is accessible via a ramp and features a few climbing and overhead elements as well. The water spray feature is a standard and effective "triple shower sprayer." The non-playable amenities are also solid. There are benches and two picnic tables for seating as well as a drinking fountain. The play surface is soft rubber and the play area is fenced from the street (and nearby train tracks) but is not fully enclosed. Large trees border the space and provide some shade and sense of enclosure. All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.
Last renovated in the summer of 2015, the playground at Bogan Park is located in the shady southeast corner of the park and features two play structures. The smaller play structure is designed for smaller children and the larger for older children. There is also a set of swings offering the standard Chicago Park options: toddler, adaptive with harness, and belt seat.
The play area is quite shaded by large, mature trees and is fenced from the street. The play surface is wood chips and there is a bench and drinking fountain nearby. All in all, this is a standard neighborhood playground in the best sense of the term.
Brainerd Park features a solid neighborhood playground and water spray feature on the west side of the park. The playground contains two structure. The smaller structure is designed for younger children and the larger structure is designed for older children and is quite large and sprawling. It contains a variety of slides and climbing elements and is partially accessible via a ramp. There is also the standard Chicago Park swing options: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The water spray feature is a triple shower sprayer. The non-play elements are also solid. The play area is fully enclosed and the soft rubber play surface is shaded by large trees. There are benches in the play area and the park building to the south should provide access to bathrooms and a drinking fountain (when open). All in all, this is everything a neighborhood playground should be; highly recommend.
This playground is set in the moderate sized Maggie Cosme Park on a quiet street in Beverly. The play structures are moderate in size and offer a variety of swings, slides, and climbing structures. Although there are trees in the park, the playground is bright and sunny. There are a few benches for seating and the playground overlooks the Metra station.
Dawes Park features a great playground and small water spray feature. The playground includes a variety of swings and a moderate sized play structure with a number of climbing and overhead elements sprawling from the main structure. I am strongly biased in favor of shady playgrounds and this playground has great shade. The play surface is wood chips and is fenced from the street. A small comfort station provides access to bathroom and a drinking fountain (when open) and a single pole water spray feature is great in the summer months. Great playground; highly recommend.
The playground at Dooley Park is a small site with well-loved but well-maintained equipment. The Chicago Park website doesn't provide information about the last renovation of this playground, but Google Streetview shows this same equipment in place since at least 2007. However, the main play structure is still quite functional with a variety of slides and climbing elements.
Because I'm bias in favor of shade, soft rubber surfaces, and benches - this site gets high makes because it has all three. The play site is also fully enclosed. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground; highly recommend.
This small playground features a small structure for younger children, a larger structure for older children, a zip line, monkey bars, and a traversing element in addition to standard swings. The surface is wood chips and the play area is bright and sunny.
Euclid Park features a nice and somewhat shaded playground and small water spray feature. The playground is located near 98th and Parnell and contains a large and sprawling play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and overhead challenges. The site also contains the standard Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. A little further into the park - near the fieldhouse - is the small water spray feature: a 'four sprayer.' The non-playable amenities are classic: wood chips, wooden benches, some shade, and a drinking fountain. The play are is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed; the fieldhouse should provide access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this playground gets high marks across the board.
Foster Park has a great playground and a huge water playground. The playground is located near the northwest side of the park and includes a large play structure with several large standalone elements, including a zip line, arched climber, and large metal climbing structure. There are also standards like slides and monkey bars and a variety of swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and tire.
The general setting and non-play elements are great; it's a classic playground with a wood chip play surface and wooden benches with easy access to the fieldhouse.
The water spray features - more accurately called a water playground - are impressive. I visited in October (so nothing was on) but it was one of the largest water playgrounds in the city.
All in all, this is a great playground with a wonderful water playground; highly recommend.
Graver Park features a nice playground, water spray area, and picnic area in a quiet setting. The playground - named the Barbara Vick playground - includes a moderate sized play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements, two set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat), and a few standalone elements. The main play surface is wood chips and there is a sand box. A short distance away is a large water spray area with a variety of water elements and - next to that - is an area with several picnic tables. There is also a fieldhouse that should provide access to bathrooms (when open). Both the playground and water spray area are fully enclosed. Additional seating and shade would improve this site, but it is still a great play area; highly recommend.
The playground at Hayes Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and is divided into three area. One area includes a moderate sized play structure and swings for older children. The second area includes play elements and swings for younger children as well as a sandbox. And the third area - between the two play areas - is a water spray feature. The non-play amenities are somewhat lacking - no benches or drinking fountains - and the nearby trees provide only limited shade.
The playground at Hurley Park is a modern and clean playground featuring an area for young children, an area for older children, and the standard variety of swings. The surface is soft rubber and there are several benches as well as a natural area on the west side of park marked as a "bird and butterfly" sanctuary with large trees.
The playground at Kennedy Park is located near the northeast corner of the park and features some large play structures, the standard set of Chicago Park swings, and a small water spray feature. There is a small play structure for young children and a much larger and sprawling structure for older children. A few standalone elements and two sets of swings round out the play area. There is also a small water spray feature with a gentle misting pole. The play area is set away from the street and is fully enclosed. There are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain and the main play surface is soft rubber. All in all, this is a very solid neighborhood playground.
The playground at King Park is a small but delightful little playground. There is a single compact play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements. There are a few standalone elements, an area with interactive panels for younger children, and the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat). There is a small 'four sprayer' water spray feature. The setting and non-play amenities are nice: the play surface is soft rubber and there are benches and a drinking fountain nearby. The play area is fenced from the street and bordered by nice shade trees. All in all, a very nice neighborhood playground.
Lamb Park is a small park near the roar of I-57 that features a playground divided into two 'rooms.' One room is for younger children and features a small structure and - unsurprisingly - the other other room is for older children and features larger equipment. There are two varieties of swings - toddler and belt seat - and a few standalone elements as well. The play area is fenced from the street but no enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There are a few benches for seating and lots of trees for shade throughout the day.
The playground at Lee Park provides the basics - slides, swings, climbing elements, benches - in a somewhat shady site. There is a small yet sprawling play structure for younger children and a few connected elements to challenge older children. There is a overhead slider, a see-saw, and the standard set of swings. The site is heavily shaded by large trees but still somewhat exposed to a busy stretch of 87th Street. The play area is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and low perimeter walls for seating and a drinking fountain.
Marshfield Park contains a small playground and a water spray feature. The playground contains two structures (one small and one large), a few standalone elements, and the standard set of Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive (with harness), and belt seat. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.' The playground is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. This playground lacks shade and seating options; adding one or both would greatly improve the site.
Tucked just off a quiet cul-de-sac, the playground at McKiernan Park features some interesting - although perhaps somewhat dated - playground equipment. There are two structures - one smaller and one larger - that offer some of the standard play elements: slides and a few climbing elements. There is a small swing set, a few standalone elements, and a simple water spray feature. There are benches and a small table near the play area as well as a some large trees providing some shade. The play area is fenced from the street and opens directly into the park and the play surface is artificial turf. The small park district building nearby should provide access to bathrooms (when open).
The playground in Mount Greenwood Park is a massive and sprawling site with a huge variety of play elements and areas. There is a water spray feature with water jets from the ground and a single pole water sprayer right inside the entrance. There is an area for younger children with a few low slides that is accessible via a ramp. Nearby, the soft rubber surface is mounded into a series of humps and dips with a few slides and a net climbing feature. This elevated area leads directly (via a barrier free ramp) into the larger play structure for older children. Connected to this play structure is a huge variety of overhead elements (i.e. variations on monkey bars) and climbing/traversing elements. There are also two sets of swings with the usual Chicago Park varieties. Again - this is a massive and sprawling site.
The amenities are also really solid. There is ample seating with both benches and picnic tables. The play area is set off the street and is fully enclosed from the street with just one entrance and exit. The play surface is soft rubber and very accessible; a child in a stroller or someone uses a wheelchair could access most parts of the playground. There are some trees around the perimeter of the play area but most of the playground is bright and sunny. Lastly, there is an impressive amount of art in this playground! Both in the form of tile mosaics and intriguing, interactive music elements (way more interesting than the typical bongo drum play element!).
I highly recommend this great playground!
The playground at Munroe Park features a small structure for younger children, a larger collection of elements for older children , the standard set of Chicago Park swings, and a small water spray feature. The collection of elements for older children features a rope net climbing element, geometric climbing walls, and other metal climbing elements.
The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the area. The play area opens to the rest of the park but is fenced and fully enclosed from the street. Some trees to the south provide some shade and the park fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a good neighborhood playground.
