Uptown

Bill Hersh Playground is a huge, sprawling, and accessible playground with lots of amenities. This playground - located in Lincoln Park and near the Margate Park fieldhouse - features a huge play area with two large play structures, two sets of swings, and a few standalone elements. Both play structures are accessible via ramps and have lot of connected platforms and bridges. Inside the fully enclosed play area are benches, picnic tables, and a drinking fountain. The surface is soft rubber. There is access to the bathroom via the Margate Park fieldhouse (when open) and access to the Lake via a pedestrian underpass under DLSD. There are two downsides to this park: it's quite close to DuSable Lake Shore Drive so there is a lot of road noise and there isn't much shade so it's bright and sunny on sunny days. Even with these downsides, this playground is a great place to gather and play. Highly recommend.

This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park! - sits near the end of Lawrence Avenue by N Simonds Drive and the Lakefront walking and biking trails. It features a variety of net climbing elements including a large new climber with a slide, an offset vertical climbing net, and a large circular platform with metal pods climbing nets. There are also a few swings - toddler, belt seat, and a hammock style saucer swing. The playground opens directly to the rest of the park and the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches but no other amenities directly near the park. There are also a few trees but the playground itself is bright and sunny.

This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park - is located just east of DuSable Lake Shore Drive and north of Montrose. It features a sprawling set of playground equipment with a variety of slides and climbing elements (including some rope/net climbing structures). There is also a solid selection of swings - toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and saucer - and a few standalone elements. The play area is fully enclosed and the play surface is wood chips. Although the playground itself is bright and sunny, some nearby trees provide shade and a small park comfort station provides additional shade as well as access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a solid lakefront playground.

Hickory Park is a small neighborhood pocket park in the middle of a block with two play structures and a great view of the CTA train tracks. The two play structures are somewhat standard - a smaller one for younger children and an older one for older children - with a few slides and climbing elements on each. There is a small set of swings, a see-saw, and a few other standalone elements. The non-play elements are decent too: a soft rubber play surface and a fully enclosed play area. A few benches and a drinking fountain make the space somewhat comfortable but there is a noticeable lack of trees and shade which make the playground feel somewhat barren. Despite these imperfections, it's still a decent playground.

The tiny Gooseberry Park playground features a number of unique climbing and overhead elements. There are several play structures with ladders and slides connected by traversable elements (think monkey bars, balance beams, and more!) with a standard set of swings at the back of the park. The play area is fully enclosed, the surface is mainly wood chips, and there are a few benches for seating.

Solid playground with two structures, a large set of swings, and a small water spray feature. The two play structures are both somewhat standard but offer a variety of slides and climbing elements. The swings are the standard Chicago Park varieties (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) and the water spray feature is a single pole water sprayer. The playground is fully enclosed, somewhat shaded, and with a play surface of soft rubber. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain in the play area with the Clarendon Community Fieldhouse providing access to bathrooms (when open). All in all, this is a very solid neighborhood playground; highly recommend.

Chase Park features a running track, outdoor pool, and a really great playground. The playground is located in the southwest corner of the park (Ashland and Leland) and features two main play structures as well as two sets of swings. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and the larger is designed for older children; the larger structure is accessible via a ramp and sprawls outward with a few climbing and traversing elements. The non-play amenities are great. The entire play area is fully enclosed (important because Ashland is quite busy) and the surface is soft rubber. There are benches and picnic tables inside the play area with a drinking fountain just outside the gate and access to bathrooms via the fieldhouse to the north. There is also decent shade from the large trees surrounding the site. All in all, in terms of play equipment and amenities, this is a great playground; highly recommend.

Tiny Carmen Park is tucked between two large buildings and shaded by large trees making this a quiet and hidden spot in the Uptown neighborhood. The playground has some traditional elements - the standard varieties of swings, for example - but also features some unique and modern elements like a flexible black belt bridge and twisted net structure. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is wood chips. There aren't benches or tables but the low perimeter walls provide some seating.

The playground at Buttercup Park features a large play structure for younger children, a collection of climbing elements, the standard set of swings, and a small water feature. The most traditional play structure is actually two small structures connected by a set of low monkey bars; both structures contain a few climbing elements, interactive panels, and slides which create a nice somewhat traditional experience for younger children. The other main element is a collection of climbing and traversing elements made of metal, rope netting, and suspended rings that seems designed for older children. There is also a small water feature in the park with water jets from the ground. The swings - toddler, adaptive, and belt seat - are standard. The play area is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber surface that is mounded in places that transforms the surface itself into a play element. There are not traditional benches but decorated low perimeter walls provide plenty of seating and large mature trees provide plenty of shade. All in all - this is a great neighborhood playground and good destination.

About half of Buena Circle Park is a large grassy area and the other half is a playground. The playground half features three main area: a large, tall rope/net climbing structure with a few connected elements; a more traditional play structure, and an area for swings: toddler, adaptive, belt seat, and a saucer swing. The equipment is new, modern, and well maintained. The non-play amenities are somewhat standard for a Chicago Park: the surface is wood chips and there are a few benches and a drinking fountain. A few large trees provide shade throughout the day and the entire park is fenced from the street. The nearby CTA tracks pass quite close to this park - thrilling rail fans or perhaps creating too much noise for others. Overall, this is a great neighborhood park; highly recommend.

The playground in Broncho Billy Park has a small structure for younger children, and larger and accessible structure for older children, the standard set of swings, and a water spray feature. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is a soft rubber and there are a few benches along the perimeter of the park for seating. In total, this is a 'standard neighborhood playground' in the best sense of the phrase - a solid playground for a variety of ages and uses.

Aster Park features a large and sprawling set of playground equipment and a small water spray feature. The play structure has equipment for a range of kids including slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. The water spray feature is a standard 'four sprayer.' In most respects, it's a standard Chicago Park: wood chips surface, enclosed play area in the middle of the block, and decent shade from trees and neighboring buildings.