Lower West Side

A small neighborhood park on an oddly shaped site contains a good playground and basketball court. The playground contains one large play structure with a few slides and climbing elements and two sets of swings. The non-play features are traditional: a few wooden benches dot the enclosed play area. The main play surface is wood chips and there is some shade due to the large trees and neighboring buildings. All in all, a very decent neighborhood playground.

Barrett Park is below street grade but the playground gets high marks! The playground itself features a large play structure with a variety of slides and climbing elements as well as a set of swings. The playground is fully fenced in and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches and a few trees provide shade. There is a Chicago Park fieldhouse but does not seem open. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.

This playground - one of two in Dvorak Park - is located in the northeast corner of the park and is a great playground. The play area is packed with elements: a very tall structure with a long curving slide, connections to smaller platforms with a roller slide and other climbing elements, a large rope net climbing structure, overhead monkey bars and an overhead slider, and lots more. The entire site seems designed for older children and climbers but there are elements for younger children as well. There is also a large set of standard swing (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) to complete the offerings. The play area is fenced from the streets but is not fully enclosed and the main play surface is wood chips. This playground has a lot of seating as well as a lot of shade from large, mature trees surrounding the site. There is also bathroom access via the fieldhouse building (when open) and a large water spray feature (again, when open) next to the pool just south of this playground. This site is packed with interesting equipment and is full of shady spots and plenty of seating; this makes it a great neighborhood playground and, in my mind, definitely a destination playground.

This small playground - one of two in Dvorak Park - is located on the south side of the park near 21st and May. I try to never talk bad about a Chicago Park playground...but the one on the northeast side of the Dvorak Park is far superior. Yet this single small structure still stands and invites small kids to slide, climb, and traverse the monkey bars. The surface is soft rubber and the play area is fenced from the street and has a few benches in the bright and sunny area. But with a true destination playground in the same park, this one does not compete.

The playground in Harrison Park is a massive and sprawling playground that is one of the best in Chicago. Located in the southeast corner of the park, the play area features several large play structures and a huge variety of swings. The smaller play structure is actually quite large and seems designed for younger children. The large play structure for older children is - in a word - huge. It is a sprawling collection of climbing elements, slides, and overhead challenges. The swing options are also huge: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, tire, and saucer. And there are additional standalone elements scattered throughout the huge play area. The play area is fenced from the street and opens into the rest of Harrison Park. The surface is largely wood chips though there are concrete sections with hopscotch and other games painted to the surface. There are a few benches (under the shade of a few trees!) and low perimeter walls provide additional seating. The play area does get some shade but is also sunny at times. The nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and there is a drinking fountain nearby as well. This is not your typical neighborhood playground but instead a huge and sprawling playground paradise and a true destination; highly recommend.

Thomas Jefferson Park - oddly, one of three 'Jefferson Parks' in Chicago! - is a quiet space tucked near downtown with a solid playground and water spray feature. The playground boasts two play structures - a small one for younger children and a larger one for older children) as well as a rope/net traverse feature and a few standalone elements. The water spray feature is a 'triple overhead sprayer' that is suitable for a variety of kids. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The amenities near this playground are also solid. There is seating - benches and a few picnic tables - as well as bathrooms and a drinking fountain. The play area opens to the rest of the park and is fenced from the street and the play surface is soft rubber.

Throop Park offers a great playground with a variety of equipment. There is a single large play structure that is both tall and sprawling with a variety of slides, climbing elements, and overhead elements to challenge older children. There is an interesting mix of swings - toddler, belt seat, and a tire swing - and a few standalone elements in the large play area. In the corner of the park is a simple water spray feature shaped like a mushroom. The playground is connected to the entire park which is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. The play area is wood chips and while the play area itself lacks shade most of the day, there is a shade pavilion next to the playground. There are also a few benches and a drinking fountain.