site design Playgrounds
According to their website, site design ltd. "is an award-winning landscape architecture, urban design, and architecture firm based in Chicago, Illinois." This company has designed several Chicago Parks and Chicago Park playgrounds and they are some of the best in the city. This page seeks to catalog some of these playgrounds and - whenever possible - share some of the design drawings from site design.
"Seneca Park is a quiet oasis and well-loved community amenity that is immersed in Chicago history and sits at the crossroads of art, nature, culture, health, and community. The newly renovated playground accommodates toddlers through 12-year-olds with two distinct play spaces separated by age group. The playground promotes creative, non-linear play and provides fully accessible play opportunities for children through completely custom-designed play equipment." - Description from the site design website.
The design drawings indicate that the southern area is marked for "city-inspired play" and the northern area marked for "dune-inspired play" which is perfectly suited for it's location both downtown and steps from Lake Michigan.
Seneca Park is a wonderful playground; definitely a worthy destination playground.
"Unity Green at Gill Park is a unique, sustainable public park renovation located between the Uptown and Lakeview neighborhoods on the north side Chicago. The park’s primary objective was to provide an engaging open space that promotes unity within a diverse community. The new playground targets ages 2 through12 through educational, exploratory, and adventure areas that meld whimsical and colorful features with natural materials and play elements." - Description from the site design website.
This is the first playground I visited that I immediately was curious about the design inspiration behind it. This is a small and wonderful like playground.
"Mary Bartelme Park – a 2.3-acre contemporary urban park in the West Loop of Chicago – provides valuable green space in a previously industrial turned residential up and coming neighborhood. Through a combination of bold programming, dynamic design, industrial references, and sustainable features, the park has become a landmark for Chicago, offering a vibrant icon for the city as well as an urban refuge for the neighborhood." - Description from the site design website.
Another absolute gem of a playground. The playground is packed with interesting and unique elements and sloping terrian. The rest of the park is an interesting oasis in the city. And the misting fountains are one of the best water spray features in the city.
This playground is awesome.
Other site design Playgrounds
These are a few other parks/playgrounds that are designed by the site design group. All of them are wonderful, destination playgrounds.
Riis Park - Southeast Playground
under construction?
site design Parks
These are Chicago Parks that were designed by site design; I'm not sure about the playgrounds but they are all wonderful.
"The Park at Lakeshore East is a 5.3-acre urban park that is the centerpiece of the 28-acre mixed-use Lakeshore East development in Chicago’s Loop community. As the first project constructed from the Master Plan, the neighborhood park provides diverse and flexible spaces that accommodate a wide-range of community needs. Among the programmatic elements are passive water promenades, a dog park, a playground for younger children, a great lawn, gardens, lighting, and a variety of seating options. site served as the Landscape Architect of Record in collaboration with Design Landscape Architect OJB Landscape Architecture." - Description from the site design website.
Lake Shore East Park is another gem. I don't know if site design is responsible for playground but it's wonderful. It is not the original playground from the designs - it is recently renovated with somewhat traditional equipment but it is still a wonderful playground. Highly recommend.
"Ping Tom Memorial Park is a shining example of the transformation of vacant open space within the City of Chicago. Situated along the Chicago River near the 18th Street Bridge, the 7-acre historic railroad site was acquired by the Chicago Park District in 2002, and subsequently transformed into a vibrant anchor of the Chinese Community. The first phase of park includes traditional Chinese gardens, a playground, pavilion, and rolling green space overlooking the Chicago River. The second phase is a 5-acre expansion that includes a naturalized shoreline, community plaza anchored with concrete terraces cascading into the water, and a 300 linear foot boardwalk with iconic red Chinese ornamental railings that float above the river. The most recent additions - a Boathouse and Fieldhouse – create a much needed connection between the first two phases of improvement and provide new recreational opportunities, access to the Chicago River, and a unique and functional landscape that draws from traditional Chinese garden imagery. Through continued development, this unique park continues to serve as a symbolic cultural destination for Chicagoans." - Description from the site design website.
In my mind, Ping Tom Park is a top 10 Chicago Park. The playground equipment, honestly, is somewhat standard but the rest of the park and the amazing views more than make up for it.
Other Playgrounds
Before concluding, there are three more freely accessible playspaces within Chicago that were designed by site design:
- the Nature Play Area at Welles Park,
- the Nature Play Area at the Dan Ryan Woods,
- and a small pocket park near McCormick Place (https://www.site-design.com/projects/mccormick-place-pocket-park/)
These spaces - while not officially Chicago Park playgrounds by my definitions - are great play spaces.
Conclusion
The fact that one company has designed quite a few of the best playgrounds in the city is a great accomplishment. The designs have also helped me think more about playgrounds.