Irving Park

Mayfair Park is a small park with athletic fields, a basketball court, and a great playground and water spray feature. The playground is located near the southwest corner of the park and features two large structures, a set of swings, and a water spray feature. The larger play structure is accessible via a ramp and sprawls out with a variety of slides and climbing elements. The smaller structure seems designed for younger children and yet is also quite large. The water spray feature seems like an upgraded 'four sprayer' - there indeed four sprayer arranged in a circle but the surface is soft rubber and there is a 'halo sprayer' as well. An exceptional fact about this playground is that it was installed in 2007 (!) and yet the equipment and general feel is quite modern. The non-play amenities and setting are both first class. The play area is soft rubber and there are benches and picnic tables within the play area with a nearby fieldhouse providing access to bathrooms (when open). The site gets decent shade from the tall, mature trees and the play area is fenced from the street (although not fully enclosed). This is a first rate playground; highly recommend.

Although Kolmar Park sits on Kolmar Avenue, the park is no longer named after the street. In 2022, residents worked to name the park in honor of Gertrud Kolmar - a German-Jewish author who died in the Holocaust. The park itself is tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood and features a ball field and a small playground. The playground itself is standard in many ways - there are two play structures and two sets of swings. The larger structure is actually two 'towers' connected by a rope net climbing feature with an overhead slider. The smaller structure contains a low to the ground set of monkey bars as well as a few slides. The non-play features are also standard: the main play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches around the play area as well a few picnic tables tucked under some nearby trees. The play area is fully enclosed and is shaded by some large trees. All in all, this is a nice little neighborhood playground.

Kilbourn Park features a large and open playground and a new nature play area. The play ground has two structures - one for younger children and one for older children - with many of the standard features you would expect: slides, monkey bars, swings, and more. Next to the playground is a nature play area which has natural and open-ended play elements like stumps and branches. These descriptions might sound lame - a "standard playground" and a nature play area with stumps and rocks - but both areas are really great. Both areas have a surface of wood chips and are bright and sunny. The playground is not fully enclosed but fenced from the street and set back a good distance. There are a few benches but low perimeter walls provide some informal seating around the playground. There is a drinking fountain and the nearby fieldhouse provides bathroom access (when it is open). Also, there is a nearby train track so kids can watch the occasional train pass by. All things considered, this is a great park to visit.

The playground at Independence Park has it all. There is a play structure for younger children that is accessible via ramp as well as a small playhouse and spinning saucer. There are two zip lines - one with a molded plastic seat with harness and the other with a circular seat. For older kids, there is a huge single mast climbing net that is connected to two other large play structures that each have other elements and large slides. And there are swings: toddler, belt seat, molded seat with harness, and hammock style saucer swings. The play area is not enclosed and the soft rubber play surface gets full sun throughout the day,. However, there are benches and drinking fountains near the play area as well as a picnic table for some comfort. There is also a water spray feature in the park - though it is a basic four sprayer feature located north of the pool off Irving Park so it's not directly adjacent to the play ground. All in all, this is a great playground and a worthy destination playground.

The Horner Park playground is - in a word - amazing. There are two play large play structures, a small zipline, a variety of swings, and a few other standalone elements that make this a destination playground. The smaller structure for younger children contains a few slides, tubes, and climbing features as well as a few interactive panels. The larger structure for older children is quite large; it features multiple platforms connected by various bridges and net/rope climbing elements and several slides. There is a small zipline with a hanging circle seat. There are a lot of swing options: toddler, molded bucket seat with a harness, belt seat, and a large standalone saucer swing. The play area itself is quite large and while it is fenced from the street it is not fully enclosed. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and picnic tables doting the perimeter for seating. The Horner Park fieldhouse is quite close and provides access to bathrooms. While this playground doesn't have everything (it lacks a water feature and could be improved with more shade) this playground is still amazing. This is definitely a destination playground. Beyond the playground, Horner Park is one of the largest parks in the area and includes a large hill that is perfect for flying kites or sledding; a free parking lot of California Avenue; and a walking path around the entire park perfect for walking, biking, or riding scooters. There is also a small (and I believe unofficial) nature play area south of the parking lot off California.

California Park is a great park located on the bank of the North Branch and accessible via the Riverview Pedestrian Bridge. The playground is located near the southern edge of the park. It features a somewhat non-traditional set of equipment that is more like a linear obstacle course than a traditional vertical play structure. The water spray feature is a single pole mister/sprayer. The play area is fully enclosed and has a wood chip play surface. There are a few benches and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a decent neighborhood park.

Athletic 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.