Picnic Tables

The playground at the Brighton Park Community Campus is a one-of-a-kind playground and one of the best in Chicago. This site opened in 2023 and features new playground equipment, a water spray feature, and a nature play area. The playground features several large structures that are hard to describe. These structures feature some familiar elements like slides and monkey bars but combine them in unusual ways. The water spray feature is immediately next to the playground and features a variety of jets from the ground and water loops. The nature play area is also in the same area and features a few different 'rooms' with different themes. This site is the new administrative center for the Chicago Park district and the buildings on the east side of the site are the administrative center and the park's fieldhouse. The fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when it is open) and the courtyard between the two buildings is a wonderful space with picnic tables. The playground has a soft rubber surface and is fenced from the street but not fully enclosed. There is a drinking fountain there as well as some benches. The site is currently bright and sunny and open. All in all, this is an amazing playground and a true destination playground; highly 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.

Located in the southwest corner of Winnemac Park, this playground has lots of play structures and other amenities. There is a larger play structure for older children, a smaller play structure for younger children, and the standard set of swings. The play area is quite large and fully enclosed and uses a combination of soft rubber, concrete, and grass as the play surface. Mature trees on all sides provide spots of shade throughout the day and there are benches and picnic tables within the play area. In total, these features and amenities make this a wonderful and popular playground.

This park - named Williams-Davis Park in honor of Hattie Kay Williams and Izora Davis - contains a wonderful playground at the western edge of the pedestrian footbridge over DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The main play structure is quite large and features a number of slides and climbing elements and interactive panels. It is also accessible via a ramp for those using wheelchairs or in strollers. There are also a number of interesting standalone features: a single mast net climbing structure, a somewhat abstract climbing structure, a spinning bowl, and a large see-saw. There is also a standard set of park district swings. In the same play area is a water spray feature with two water loops and some jets from the ground. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are a number of benches in the play area and a few picnic tables just outside the enclosed area. While there is a drinking fountain, there is not much shade for this playground and it remains bright and sunny most of the day. All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.

This playground at Wildwood Park is a wonderful and quiet playground tucked away in a residential neighborhood. There are two main areas to the playground - a smaller area for younger children and a larger area for older children - as well as a new 'Nature Play Area' next to the play area. The play area for smaller children includes a small play structure, a spinning saucer, and a set of panels for imaginative play. The area for older children includes a large play structure with slides, climbing features, and a large metal traverse element. Between these areas is a small set of swings. The play area is not fully enclosed but it is fenced from the street and removed from traffic. The play surface is soft rubber and is shaded by large trees. There are plenty of benches and picnic tables for seating in the area. Altogether, this is a great playground; highly recommend.

The playground in Wicker Park is great. There are two large areas - one for older children and one for younger - as well as a small water spray feature. The area for older children features a large and sprawling play structure with a variety of climbing elements and slides. The area for younger children is quite small and features a small structure with two slides. The water spray feature are two misting bears that provide a gentle mist of water and are very cute. There are also two sets of swings with the standard Park District options. The other amenities of the park are also very solid. The playground is fully enclosed and the play surface is soft rubber. There are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain in the play area and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms (when open). There are even some trees that provide some shade throughout the day. All in all a great playground; highly recommend.

On the north side of West Chatham Park, you'll find a delightful playground and water playground. The playground is standard in many ways - a single large play structure with a few standalone elements and swings - but is also really well done. The water playground is a huge area with a variety of different water spray elements. These playgrounds open into the rest of the park and feature benches and picnic tables for seating as well as trees for shade. Both areas are fully enclosed and removed from traffic making them great places to spend some time. Highly recommend.

The playground at Welles Park is amazing. It features two traditional play structures as well as large rope/net climbing structure, a spinning conical net element, two large sets of swings, and a water spray feature. The two traditional play structures are next to each other; one is smaller and designed for younger children and the other is much larger and features more challenging climbing and overhead elements and steeper slides. The larger one is also accessible via a ramp off the soft rubber surface that covers this area of the playground. The large rope/net climbing structure is hard to describe but is massive and offers a variety of potential play actions. The two sets of swings contains the standard varieties of park district swings. The water spray feature isn't too intense and offers and gentle spray. The play area is fully enclosed and set off the nearby streets. The surface inside the area is a combination of soft rubber, woodchips, and cement though there is a grassy perimeter and the grassy expanses of the rest of Welles Park beyond. There are several benches and picnic tables within the playground space and the nearby park district building provides bathroom access when it is open. There are several large trees that provide some shade to different areas throughout the day. Given these amenities and it's location, this playground can be busy at times but is definitely a solid playground destination. [Aside: the newish Nature Play Area near the southwest corner of the park is also worth checking out!]

Weisman Park has a great playground, wonderful water spray feature, and lots of seating and shade. There are two main structures at this playground - one small structure for very young children and another structure that is larger and for older children. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat), a small playhouse, and a four person see-saw. The water spray area is also excellent: a triple water sprayer, a "loch ness mister", and water jets from a mosaic covered wall. The play area is fully enclosed and the main play surface is soft rubber. There are several picnic tables and benches for seating and the site offers some shade. All in all, this is a wonderful playground; highly recommend.

This tiny playground is tucked between two large buildings and features equipment designed for younger children. The main play structure is accessible via a ramp a features a variety of slides and climbing elements. There is a swing set in the back of the playground with the standard offering of swings. There are a few benches and a picnic table in the fully enclosed play space (with a soft rubberized surface). This playground also features a very unique play caterpillar.

The playground in Harold Washington Park has a lot to offer. There are two large play structures - one more traditional with slides and steps and the other less traditional with a large rope/net climbing element. There are also two sets of swings including toddler swings, molded bucket swings with a harness, belt seat swings, and a hammock swing with a spider web seat. There is also a water spray feature and a large sand play area. Aside from the sand area, the main surface is wood chips and the play area is fully enclosed. There are mature trees, benches, and picnic tables providing shade and places to sit and eat.

This playground - one of four in Washington Park - is located just of the Washington Park pool and is a wonderful space. The playground is quite large with multiple areas full of equipment: an open area with 'animals on springs', a sprawling and accessible play structure for younger children, a more standard structure for older children, a non-traditional set of climbing elements, swings, and a water spray feature. All in all, great play elements. The non-play elements are also high quality. The play area is fully enclosed and is shaded by large and beautiful trees. There are benches and small picnic/game tables for seating and the pavement itself is designed and imprinted with quotes and other graphics The play surface is soft rubber and the nearby pool facilities should provide access to bathrooms (when open). Really great playground - highly recommend.