Lincoln Park

Adams 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.

The playground at Clover Park features bright colors and unique plastic evergreen trees atop the poles of the large play structure. There are a variety of elements for a variety of users - including the standard swing options - in the fully enclosed play area with a surface of wood chips. It is tucked in the middle of a block on Southport and the park features several large trees.

This playground in Clybourn Park features two swing sets and a large play structure connected to several traversing elements. The play area is fully enclosed and offers a few benches and limited shade options. The playground is located near a curve of the CTA Brown Line so this park is good for young train lovers.

This playground - called "Cummings Playground" according to Park District signage - is located just to the west of Lincoln Park zoo on the west side of Lincoln Park and features a number of sculptures of animals fitting it's location. The playground has two distinct areas. One area features equipment for younger children and a large sand play area with a sand table and a few toddler swings. The main area features a number of elements for older children including a large play structure, a climbing net, a unique traversing element, and additional swings. The playground is fully enclosed and the play areas contains areas of grass, sand, and wood chips. There are a few benches and trees but this playground is relatively bright, sunny - and busy! - most of the day.

The playground at Oz Park is a unique and wonderful space. Oz Park is named in honor of Lyman Frank Baum, the author of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" and features statues of characters from the universe. According to the Chicago Park district website, the name of this playground - "Dorothy's Playlot" - references both the main character from "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz" but also Dorothy Melamerson, a retired school teacher who donated money to park improvements. The massive play structure is one of a few wooden play structures within the Chicago Park District and while it features slides and swings, the massive, meandering, multi-level wooden structure is clearly the main feature of this space. It contains stairs and bridges and outlooks that children can explore independently (some of the spaces are quite small for some adult bodies). The play area is completely enclosed and heavily shaded by large trees. There are some benches and a small picnic table within the play area and additional picnic tables and a drinking fountain just outside one of the entrances. The play surface seems to be a soft rubber covered by artificial turf. This playground is truly a destination playground; highly recommend.

Jonquil Park is a moderate size park in the Lincoln Park neighborhood with a large grassy area and a very respectable playground. The fully enclosed play area features a large play structure for older children, a small structure for younger children, a unique 'obstacle course' featuring Kompan elements, and a few other standalone playground elements. There is also a nice overhead spray feature along with a few benches and picnic tables. You can see CTA trains in the distance while enjoying a great park and playground. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber; highly recommend.

Park 535 is a tiny neighborhood pocket park with a playground designed for very young children. The equipment is extremely minimal - a set of toddler swings and a playhouse - though the play surface is soft rubber that is mounded and sculpted to create small hills and a little bridge. This also appears to be a "neighborhood toy" site with lots of equipment left in the park for communal use. The play area is fully enclosed with lots of shade and seating. The site seems to replace a half block of W Wisconsin Street at Halsted (i.e. the park isn't on a standard lot but is instead a converted public plaza on the right of way). I think this location, the upscale neighborhood surrounding the park, and the small size combine to make this a very quaint and lovely park - highly recommend for younger (early walker to preschool) children.

Park West Park is a small pocket park with a great playground and tons of shade. There are two play structures in this fully enclosed play area - one for younger children and one for older - as well as the standard set of swings and a see-saw. The non-play amenities are solid; there is a drinking fountain, a picnic table, and benches. But the shade from the large, mature trees is a defining feature of this site. This is a wonderful park for younger kids on a bright and sunny day; highly recommend.

The playground in tiny Privet Park takes up nearly the entire area of the park and yet packs in a large climbing structure for older children and a pair of toddler swings. There are two benches and a drinking fountain in the fully enclosed and somewhat shady play area and the play surface is wood chips.

This small park features a playground with two play structures and a large set of swings. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and the second, designed for older children, is much larger and features a few large slides and climbing elements. The swings are standard (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and there are a few standalone features to round out the playground equipment. This small pocket park is tucked off the street and creates a somewhat cozy feeling. The play area is nearly completely enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and trees for seating and shade and there is a drinking fountain near the entrance. All in all, this is a solid neighborhood park.

Sunshine Playscape - one of ten playgrounds in Lincoln Park! - is a $1.5 million dollar playground designed by Ayres Associates in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and the Lincoln Park Conservancy. According to the Lincoln Park Conservancy website: "The Sunshine Playscape offers a unique play experience that blends the best of traditional playground equipment with nature-play elements [and] is designed to inspire curiosity and connection with the natural world." This description is generally true - there are a few standard playground elements like slides and swings built into a natural environment. There aren't any large, plastic play structures but instead the slides are set into the sloping terrain, large tree trunks are used as climbing structures, and other natural elements invite exploration and creativity. However, for such an expensive and well-designed park, I had questions about the height of the monkey bars (they are quite high!) and concerns about the lack of shade in the park. The play area is fully enclosed and is set back from the nearest streets opening onto a large grassy field instead. There are benches and picnic tables within the play area and the play surface is a combination of soft rubber, wood chips, and concrete. Though there are trees surrounding the playscape, the actual play area is quite bright and sunny (perhaps living up to it's name). All in all, this is an interesting and unique playspace that is worth a visit.

Supera Park is a super park! There are two play structures that are each designed to look like boats - complete with ship bow ladders and tall masts and sails. There are the standard set of swings as well as a sandbox. The play area is fully enclosed and the soft rubber play surface is shaded by large trees. There are benches and picnic tables for seating as well as a drinking fountain. A really great playground that is definitely worth checking out - highly recommend!

Wrightwood Park is a wonderful neighborhood park with some interesting - albeit dated - playground equipment. According to Google Street View, this equipment has been in place since at least 2007 (the earliest image available) so it's quite old by playground standards. The layout - one smaller structure for younger children, another for older kids, and two sets of swings - fits with other playground designs the equipment seems both well-loved and well-maintained. The non-play amenities are solid. The play area is soft rubber and is fenced from the street. There are benches in the area and a set of picnic tables near the northeast corner of the park. There is a small fieldhouse that should provide access to the bathroom (when open). All in all, this is a solid site with some interesting equipment.