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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.

This playground - south of the intersection of 27th and Federal Street - is likely a 'shared site' between Williams Park and Drake Elementary (the local signage was not clear). Regardless, this is a shady site with some wonderful playground equipment. The play area is fully enclosed and features a soft rubber play surface.

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 small and shady park features a variety of unique equipment. There are two areas with swings, another area designed for older children, and another area for younger children. The play area is large and consumes nearly the entire small site. The Metra tracks are immediately to the west of the playground and the passing of trains interrupts the general quiet of the neighborhood. The surface is wood chips and there are two benches.

The playground at Edward White Park consists of two main areas and a water spray feature. The two areas both feature moderate sized structures seemingly designed for school-aged children. There is the standard Chicago Park swings and a simple water spray feature. The amenities are light - no benches or seating in the area - but the equipment seems very new and well maintained. The play area opens directly to the rest of the park and the play surface is wood chips.

This playground - one of four in Washington Park - was renovated in 2022 and is a wonderful playground. It includes a single large play structure, a large set of swings, a few standalone elements, and a water spray feature. The structure has a nature theme and features a variety of slides and climbing elements. The swing set includes the standard swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The swing set also includes two 'double swings' - one with two belt seats and one with a belt seat and a toddler seat. The standalone alone elements include some interesting musical elements and the water spray element is a 'loch ness mister' and an spray element shaped like a flower. The entire area is enclosed and features nice amenities like benches, picnic tables, a drinking fountain (with a bottle filler!), and a bike rack. Washington Park is a beautiful setting and the area is surrounded by tall trees; these trees provide some shade but the play area is also quite open and sunny. All in all, this is a great playground and worth checking out - highly recommend.

Tucked beside the Metra Track off a quiet side street, this small playground is the only feature in Chi Che Wang Park. Surrounded by a large grassy space without trees or athletic fields, this playground features a soft rubberized surface and smaller elements best suited for younger children. There are some unique climbing animals (an elephant and gorilla) and the standard offerings of swings. The large, open grassy area and the relative quiet - broken only by a passing Metra Train - are the defining features of this playground.

Valley Forge Park features a new fieldhouse and a variety of athletic fields as well as a very modern and nice playground. The playground is located just west of the fieldhouse and features modern and somewhat non-traditional equipment. There is a tiny structure for younger children and the rest of the equipment is for climbing and exploring by older children. The play area is fenced from the street (but not fully enclosed) and opens into the rest of the park. There are a few benches for seating and the nearby fieldhouse provides access to bathrooms and drinking fountains (when open). The play surface is soft rubber. All in all, this is a great neighborhood playground.

The playground at Montgomery Ward Park is a gem. There are two traditional play structures. The smaller structure is quite small for younger children and the larger structure is designed for older children but is still rather low to the ground and safe for younger climbers. There are also two large, standalone rope net climbing elements on either side of the park. Lastly, there is a large set of standard swings, a rail slide built into terrain of the park, and a few standalone elements. Oh - there is also a water spray feature: a triple overhead sprayer. The amenities of this playground are solid too. The play area is fully enclosed and the surface is soft rubber. There are picnic tables (under shade umbrellas!) and many small, concrete cubes that can be used for seating (though, strangely, no benches that I can recall). The playground is bright and sunny without much shade though there are lots of trees in the grassy areas surround the playground. All in all, this is great playground; highly recommend.

Ping Tom Park is one of the best parks in Chicago and the playground, while somewhat standard, does not disappoint. It contains two play structures and a number of small, standalone elements, as well as swings and seating. The smaller play structure is designed for younger children and is quite small and accessible. The larger structure is somewhat sprawling and including a variety of elements: monkey bars, climbing elements, slides, and more. No element is truly remarkable or unique but the entire play structure is above average. There are a few unique standalone elements and a standard set of swings. The play area is entirely enclosed and the playground set near the middle of the park and is removed from cars and traffic. However, this park is near three (3!) active train lines including the CTA Orange Line, Metra and Amtrak trains (which cross the South Branch of the Chicago River on a bridge) and an active freight train line. So despite the distance from cars and traffic, this is playground has great views of trains and river traffic. The play area contains a number of benches and picnic tables and is shaded by several large trees making it a comfortable to sit and gather. The surface of the playground is soft rubber. Outside the playground, this park has other amenities worth exploring as a family: a large pagoda near the river, two large murals on the 18th Street overpass, and a natural area on the north side of the park. All in all, this is a great playground in a great park; highly recommend.

The playground at Ronan Park is located just south of Argyle St. on the west bank of the North Branch of the Chicago River and features dedicated areas for younger and older children. The area for younger children features toddler swings, a small play structure, and a teeter-tooter and 'seat on a spring.' The area for older children features belt seat and molded plastic seat swings as well as a larger structure with angled monkey bars and steeper slides. Neither play area is enclosed at all but both are set away from nearby streets. Both are also covered in wood chips and there are benches nearby both areas. The nearby park also offers a nature trail near the river and picnic tables and sculptures further south toward Lawrence.

This small playground - one of two in River Park - sits on the west side of the park near the corner of Carmen and Albany and the confluence of the North Branch of the Chicago River and the North Shore Channel. This playground is quite small and features toddler swings and a tire swing, an overhead slider and S-shaped monkey bars, and a small play structure. The surface is rubberized and gets some afternoon shade from nearby trees.

This playground - one of two in River Park - is located off Francisco Ave on the east side of the North Shore Channel. This playground features a large swing set, a small structure for younger children, and a large structure for older children. The larger structure also includes a variety of overhead elements to challenge older climbers. The play area is somewhat shaded and partially enclosed and has a few benches. River Park itself is quite large with lots of grassy area, nature paths, and paved paths for biking and running. There is also a water feature located near this playground (just north of the nearby pool) that has a variety of spray elements. All together, this is a wonderful playground with lots of nearby options; highly recommend.

This playground - one of four in Legion Park - is located on the east side of the park near Hollywood Avenue. It includes some old-school playground equipment - swings and a metal merry-go-round - as well as more modern equipment including some rope and metal traversing elements and a few slides. The play area is not enclosed at all but instead opens up unto a large grassy area with paths for walking and biking. The play surface is wood chips and although there are large trees in the area, this playground tends to be bright and sunny. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain nearby.

This playground - one of four in Legion Park - is the largest and features some interesting elements. There are two areas - one for younger children and one for older children - with age-appropriate equipment in each area. The area for younger children includes toddler swings, a small play structure, and a few standalone elements. The area for older children includes a much larger structure with several climbing elements and a large curved slide. There are also a few other traversing elements and some swings (belt seat and a large saucer swing) in this area. Like the other playgrounds in Legion Park, the play area opens directly into the park and isn't enclosed or fenced at all. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain nearby. The play area is quite large and the surface is wood chips.

A small neighborhood park that borders the Chicago River and the CTA Brown Line, this park contains a grassy hill and a large sand play area with a small bridge. The playground features a smaller area designed for younger children and another area with monkey bars and climbing elements designed for older children. There is plenty of morning shade and several benches and picnic tables at this park making this a comfortable spot to watch trains while you play.

The playgrounds at Rainbow Beach are located toward the northwest corner of the park and are two fully enclosed play area next to each other. They both feature unique net/rope climbing structures and a variety of swings: toddler, belt seat, and hammock saucer swings. The play surface of both is wood chips and though there aren't benches in the immediate area the low perimeter walls offer some informal seating. Situated away from traffic and with great views of Lake Michigan, these somewhat small playgrounds are gems and are worth the trip.

The Loyola Park playground is a large playground directly next to the Loyola Park Beach on the shores of Lake Michigan. It features a large play structure for older children and a smaller structure for younger children. Unique elements of this playground include a large, metal fish suitable for climbing, an array of musical instruments, and a parent/child swing. The play surface is wood chips though the sandy beach is steps away. There are a few benches nearby and a few trees for shade though the location is quite sunny most of the day. This is a unique playground with great views of Lake Michigan.

This playground - one of 10 in Lincoln Park - is located near the Roscoe Street underpass and is a unique playground. There is a small set of swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat) overlooking a fleet of small boats that are part sculpture and part playground equipment. The boats float on a soft rubber surface that is sculpted to resemble waves. There are a few benches and a comfort station with bathrooms is directly north of the playground. All in all, this is a unique little playground best suited for younger children.

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 - named the Max Pastin Playground - is in Lane Beach Park and features some solid playground equipment and great views of Lake Michigan. There are two play structures; the larger structure is for older children and is accessible via a ramp. There is also a standard set of Chicago Park swings: toddler, adaptive, and belt seat. The non-play amenities are solid. The play surface is soft rubber though the sand from the beach acts as a second play surface. There are a few benches and a drinking fountain and the play area is fully enclosed. This playground gets full sun in the morning and some shade in the afternoon and opens directly onto a sandy beach. All in all, a great playground; highly recommend.

The playground at Lake Shore Park is a great playground in Streeterville. There is a small and simple play structure for younger children and a much larger structure for older children with a few slides, climbing elements, and more. There is also the standard set of Chicago Park swings (toddler, adaptive, and belt seat). The play area is fully enclosed and features great views of Lake Michigan (although the views are over the often jammed DuSable Lake Shore Drive...). The play surface is wood chips and there are a few benches for seating. There are some trees that provide some shade and this playground is next to the fieldhouse for bathroom access. All in all, this is a great playground with great views.

This playground, situated on the 63rd Street Beach, reflects it's location with a strong nautical theme. The entire play structure is shaped like a ship and is equipped with a steering wheel, tall mast, and even canons! This playground is fully integrated with the beach and is therefore not enclosed, in full sun, and the play surface is - of course - sand. This creates a unique play experience and offers some great views of Lake Michigan.

This small playground features a large net climbing structure with a rope bridge leading to a curving slide, a hammock saucer swing, and a large spinning conical climber. The play area is somewhat enclosed and is the play surface is wood chips. There are a few benches near the playground and provides unobstructed views of Lake Michigan.