Englewood

The playground in Carpenter Park features a large play structure with a few slides and climbing features, the standard set of swings, and a zipline with circular seat. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the perimeter of the park.

The small playground in Drexel Park features a variety of swings, a large play structure designed for older children, a couple variations on standard monkey bars. There area also a few standalone elements including a variety of drums and the standard set of swings. The play area is mostly enclosed and though there aren't benches, the low ledge around the perimeter of the play area provides some seating.

This tiny park, named Edmonds Park in honor of Molly Edmonds who was a long time neighbor and informal caretaker of this park, features a nice playground with a large play structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. There are also a few standalone elements like a spinning saucer and two tire swings. The play surface is wood chips and the mostly enclosed play area has a few benches and a drinking fountain. A notable feature of this park is the large, mature trees that provide shade throughout the day.

The playground at Hamilton Park is located on the northside of the park and features two play structures. The larger structure is designed for older children and features a series of ramps, slides, and other climbing elements. The smaller structure is nearby and is designed for younger children. There is also the standard set of swings and a water spray feature. The play surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the area. Large trees just to the south provide some shade throughout the day.

Ryan Harris Park is named for an 11 year girl who was murdered in 1998 and features a large playground as part of that tribute. There are two large play structures. The larger structure is for older children and features a number of unique overhead elements and traversing elements. The smaller structure is designed for younger children and features two slides. There are also the standard set of swings and a seahorse sprayer water feature at this site. The surface is soft rubber and there are a few benches dotting the area.

The playground in Hermitage Park features a large and unique net/rope climbing element, a large and somewhat accessible play structure, a rail slide, and the standard set of swings. There is also a unique and modern water spray feature in this park. The play surface is soft rubber that is sculpted in places for a unique terrain. There are also a few benches, a drinking fountain, and some shade making this a comfortable park.

This small playground features two play structures and the standard set of swings. One play structure is designed for younger children and the second, much larger, play structure is for older children and features a few slides, a rope net bridge, and monkey bars. The playground is shaded by large, mature trees and offers a few benches for seating.

Leland Giants Park - named for the African-American baseball team that played in Chicago in the early 1900s - contains a playground with large and modern equipment. The single play structure features a variety of slides, climbing and traversing elements, and other features. The play area is somewhat enclosed and quite sunny; there are a few benches in the area for seating.

This small playground is technically part of Lily Gardens Park though it is also located just to the west of the much larger Hamilton Park. This playground features a unique large net tunnel climbing feature, a small play structure for younger children, a teeter-totter, and the standard set of swings. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and trees for seating and shade.

Lindblom Park has a large and sprawling playground. In addition to a large set of the traditional swings, this playground features a smaller set of elements for traversing and climbing and a large set of elements that comprise a more traditional playgrounds with slides and platforms. There are a handful of benches in the play area set a ways off Damen. The play surface is wood chips and there is some shade from nearby trees.

The small and sunny playground in Luna Park features a large play structure with curving slides, some unique climbing equipment, several overhead and traversing structures, and standard swings (toddler and belt seat). The play surface is wood chips and there is a bench and a drinking fountain in the park.

The playground in Moran Park features the standard set of swings, some traversing/climbing elements, and a large play structure for older children. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few trees and benches in the area for shade and seating.

This playground in Murray Park features a number of standalone elements and a large play structure designed for younger children. The standalone elements include a curving climbing wall and monkey bars, a balance beam, and spinning seat. The play structure includes another set of monkey bars as well as some slides. There are also two sets of swings with traditional belt seat, molded plastic seat, and toddler options. Immediately north of the playground is a water feature with a seahorse spraying element. The playground is not fully enclosed but is fenced from the street. The surface is wood chips and trees and benches provide some shade and seating. The nearby fieldhouse also provides bathrooms. This is a standard neighborhood park in the best sense of the phrase.

This playground - one of two in Ogden Park - is located on the north side of the park near 64th and Throop. It features a large play structure with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and a monkey bars. There are also a few standalone spinning elements and some swings (toddler and traditional). The playground is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and trees around the park providing seating and shade - though the playground is mostly sunny.

"In 1998, the Chicago Park District created a major regional playground in Ogden Park. One of the city's most exciting places for children, the Ogden Park playground includes assembly and stage areas, play equipment, an interactive water feature, and a canopied carousel." This - according to the Chicago Park District's website - helps explain the massive enclosed area on the east side of Ogden Park. The fully enclosed play area is accessible via the inner park drive (Black Dr.) and not the main street to the east (S. Racine Ave.) and features a massive playground, several different water spray features, and gazebo with a carousel, with plenty of benches and picnic tables. The play structures are mainly rope/net climbing features that were installed in the spring of 2016. The water spray features are not unique to this park; but having several different spray features in close proximity is novel. Lastly, in addition to several picnic tables, there are a number of circular concrete benches evocative of Jens Jensen's 'council rings' found in other Chicago Parks. This play area is truly unique in the city and is indeed a destination playground. *Note: when I visited 2022-04 the play area was locked; I plan on returning to get better images and will update this description then.*

The playground in Sherwood Park is located on northeast corner of the park and features and area for older children, an area for younger children, and a water spray area. The larger area for older children features an accessible play structure with a few slides and climbing elements as well as some swings. The smaller area features, appropriately, a smaller play structure with a few toddler swings. And the water spray feature is a set of large, multicolored tubes in a separate area. The play area is fenced but not fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. However, during my visit in 2022 and according to years of previous streetview images from Google, this rubber surface is in poor condition and needs to be replaced. In total, the playground equipment and structures are interesting but the playground surface needs attention.

Wolcott Park is a tiny neighborhood pocket park that contains a large playground structure and a set of swings. The structure includes a few slides and climbing elements as well as a circular monkey bars and a large metal traverse. The play ground is fenced but not fully enclosed and there is a drinking fountain and a few benches near the main entrance. The play surface is wood chips and the park get full sun most of the day.