Bathrooms
This page lists Chicago Park playgrounds with bathrooms. These are almost always provided via a Chicago Park fieldhouse or a standalone "comfort station." This site does not include bathrooms that are located in nearby businesses or other public buildings. A few notes:
- Chicago Park fieldhouses are not open 24/7; most are only open on weekdays during business hours.
- Smaller "comfort stations" are open seasonally (i.e. closed in the winter) and are open during daytime hours. However, in my experience, many of these "comfort stations" - even in highly trafficked areas of the city - can be closed or non-functional.
Overall, I would rate access to bathrooms in Chicago Parks to be very mixed. Parks with a staffed fieldhouse are the best option but many of those buildings aren't open on weekends. Unstaffed 'comfort stations' seems even less reliable, though. If bathrooms are critical to you or your family before going, I would have a bathroom plan before setting out to the park.
Another very helpful resource is this map of other public bathrooms in Chicago published by the Chicago Tribune.
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63rd Street Beach PlaygroundThis playground, situated on the 63rd Street Beach, reflects it's location with a strong nautical theme. The entire play structure is shaped like a ship and is equipped with a steering wheel, tall mast, and even canons! This playground is fully integrated with the beach and is therefore not enclosed, in full sun, and the play surface is - of course - sand. This creates a unique play experience and offers some great views of Lake Michigan. -
Abbott Park - PlaygroundAbbott Park's playground is located in the northeast corner of the park and features a large play structure. This structure includes a few slides and some unique climbing elements. There is also a variety of swings (toddler and tire; belt seat and molded plastic with harness) and a see-saw and a car on a spring. The play area is not fully enclosed but the playground is set away from the street. The play surface is wood chips and low perimeter walls provide some seating. There are two water spray features just to the north of the playground. -
Ada Park - PlaygroundThe 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. -
Adams (George & Adele) Park - PlaygroundAdams Park has a great sandbox, large playground structures and swings, and a huge water spray feature in a comfortable and quiet environment; these features combine to make Adams Park a destination. The large sandbox has a sun shade umbrella overhead. There is a smaller play structure for younger children and a much larger, somewhat accessible play structure for older children. There are the standard varieties of swings and a see-saw as standalone elements. And the water spray feature is huge and features many different spray elements. The play area is fully enclosed and has a soft rubberized surface. There are a few benches scattered throughout the area and picnic tables tucked away at the south end of the park. The only downside of this park is that it is quite popular and that sometimes the water spray feature is reserved for groups enrolled in Chicago Park District programming and is therefore not accessible to the general public. Even with these downsides, this is a great destination playground for kids in Chicago. -
Altgeld Park - PlaygroundRenovated in 2013, this small playground is located in the northwest corner of Altgeld Park and features a large play structure designed for older children. This structure includes a few slides, climbing elements, rope bridge, and monkey bars. In a separate area, the playground also contains a small playhouse, a see-saw, and the standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. The site has some large trees that provide some shade and a small, covered pavilion for additional shade. -
Amundsen Park - PlaygroundThe playground in Amundsen Park is a good playground with four areas: a smaller structure for younger children, a set of swings, a larger structure for older children, and a water spray feature. The larger structure is low to the ground and accessible via a ramp with a few sprawling elements low to the ground. The non-play features are also good: the play surface is soft rubber and there are benches for seating. There is some shade from trees and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend. -
Anderson (Louis) Park - PlaygroundAnderson 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. -
Archer Park - PlaygroundThe playground in Archer Park is a wonderful little playground. Set on the eastern side of the park, this site contains two structures and a large set of swings. There is also a nice water spray feature closer to the fieldhouse. The play area is removed from traffic and includes benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain. The surface is soft rubber and the equipment is modern and well maintained. Highly recommend. -
Athletic Field Park - PlaygroundAthletic Field Park is a large park with a great playground and small water spray feature (among other amenities). The playground is situated on the south side of the park near the field house and includes a very small structure for younger children and a much larger structure for older children. There is also a small water spray feature near the playground. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches in the play area and a few picnic tables nearby as well and although there are trees and a small pavilion in the area, the playground itself is bright and sunny. -
Austin Park - PlaygroundThis playground is located in narrow Austin Park near the corner of Lake and Mayfield and just north of the CTA Green Line tracks. The equipment in this park is standard for Chicago playgrounds but larger than most. It contains a large climbing structure designed for older children with a few slides and climbing features as well as a climbing net and small climbing wall. On the same block, just further west, there are two large water features: one water spray area and one water playground. So while they aren't integrated into the playground they are quite close. The play area is not enclosed but it is shaded by large trees to the south. There is a bench near the park and bathroom access via the fieldhouse building near the water features. The play surface is wood chips. -
Austin Town Hall Park - PlaygroundThe playground at Austin Town Hall Park was locked when I visited in 2022 and may be used exclusively for park district programming. It is located off Central Avenue just north of the fieldhouse. It contains a single large play structure, a see-saw, and a hammock saucer swing. The play area is fully enclosed and has a play surface of wood chips. -
Avalon Park - PlaygroundThe playground in Avalon Park is located just south of 83rd Street and was renovated in 2016. The playground features two large areas - one designed for older kids and the other for younger kids - with a variety of modern equipment. The area for older children features unique net/rope climbing structures whereas the area for younger children features a more traditional play structure. Both areas include age appropriate swings and there are a few additional standalone elements. The playground itself is not enclosed but is removed from any street or parking lot. The play surface is wood chips but is set in a large grassy field and the entire area is very well shaded by large, mature trees. Although there is limited seating around the playground itself, there are benches and picnic tables in the immediate area. Furthermore, there is a dedicated water playground nearby as well. With modern equipment, plenty of shade and seating, and some great water features, this is a great playground.