Logan Square

This park, named for Latin American poet Julia de Burgos, features just two pieces of playground equipment and a play sculpture that are connected to a theme of nature and bugs in particular. The sculpture is a spider and the large net climbing feature - the focal point of the park - resembles a spider web. The other play element is a climbing structure shaped like a butterfly. The setting is wonderful; this park is an access point to the Bloomingdale Trail (aka "The 606") and there is a painted mural on the embankment titled "Rompeolas: Homage to Julia de Burgos" that is worth checking out. There are benches and a drinking fountain. This isn't your traditional playground but it's definitely worth checking out; highly recommend.

Haas Park is a wonderful park with a new fieldhouse, large soccer field, playground, and water spray feature. The playground has two large structures. One structure is designed for younger children and the larger structure is designed for older children and is accessible via a ramp. There is a wide variety of slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars as well as swing sets with the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The water spray feature is in the same area as the playground and is a 'triple shower sprayer.' The play area is fully enclosed and is next to a new fieldhouse building that provides access to bathrooms (when open). There are also benches and a drinking fountain in the fully enclosed play area. The main play surface is soft rubber and large trees provide some shade throughout the day. All in all, this is a great playground; highly recommend.

This playground is located on the south side of Kosciuszko Park (which, according to Wikipedia, is pronounced like "Costco" with a "shush" in the middle - Kos-Shush-Ko). This playground features a small area for younger children, a large area for older children, a large swing set, and a nice water spray feature. The surface is soft rubber and the space is made more comfortable through benches, picnic tables, and large shade trees. Although this playground combines somewhat standard playground elements, the total experience somehow transcends the sum of the parts and makes this a worthwhile destination playground.

Lucy Flower Park is a small neighborhood park with a sand box, water spray feature, and a playground. The playground has a set of non-traditional elements for older children and a small, more traditional structure for younger children. The sand box has a lattice roof for some shade and the water spray feature is designed to look like a flower. The non-play elements are wonderful; this site is fully enclosed and has a soft surface play area. There are benches, a drinking fountain, and picnic tables. Trees lining the nearby streets provide some shade. All in all, this is a great playground.

Maple Park is a small neighborhood pocket park with a large playground. There is a single play structure with the standard elements (slides, climbing elements, and a set of monkey bars) and a swing set near the back of the site with the standard Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, belt seat). The non-play amenities are also standard: a few benches and a drinking fountain bordering a fully enclosed play area with a wood chip surface. I've used the word "standard" three times (well, I guess four times now...) but that's not an insult! This is a great neighborhood playground.

Monticello Park is a small neighborhood with a large play structure for older children. There are a few slides and a number of bridges and platforms in this park as well as the standard set of swings. The play area is fully enclosed and has a few benches and one drinking fountain. Trees on the eastern side of the playground provide some morning shade and the western side features a basketball court.

Renovated in 2015, the Mozart Park playground offers modern and well-maintained elements to a variety of users. There is a larger play structure for older children and a small structure for younger children in a play area covered with wood chips. There are a few benches in the area and it near both the Mozart Park field house and the Metra train line.

Palmer Square Park is amazing and there is a small play area in the middle of the park that is part playground and part art installation. The playground is designed for younger children (under 5 years old) and is based on the book "The Velveteen Rabbit." The play area is somewhat linear and consists of four area connected by a walking path as well as a stepping stone path. One area is a raised stage with an audience of carved animals, the next is a little area with sculptural benches that look like tree stumps, the next is a flat area with a few pieces of equipment including a slide set into a small hill, and finally there is a small mound with two rabbit sculptures on top. The setting within Palmer Square Park is great - the park is covered with trees and is part of the boulevard system so it's somehow calm and quiet while also being lively. There are a few benches and lots of trees making this a perfect spot to bring a blanket to share a book or a picnic in the shade. This isn't not a traditional playground and will likely not entertain older children but this is a great spot for younger children; highly recommend.

The playground at Unity Park is a huge asset to the Logan Square neighborhood. It features huge elements: a huge play structure for younger kids, a huge climbing net structure, a huge play structure for older children, and a huge water spray feature. The area for younger children is quite large and features a light nautical theme with a ship bow and mast. Older children could play on the large climbing net structure and the dedicated area with a variety of elements. And the nearby spray feature is massive and features four large overhead sprayers. There are also the standard variety of swings in this fully enclosed playground. The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and picnic tables scattered around this small park. Those interested in history and/or wish to hear a catchy song should check out the audio documentary "Meet Me at Unity Playlot" by Long Haul Productions (available on SoundCloud here: https://soundcloud.com/longhaulpro/unity) because it tells the history of this park as well as features a song written about the park.