The Best Playgrounds in Chicago
The Best Places to Let the Kids Play in Chicago
Chicago is a very kid-friendly city, and there are plenty of playgrounds that are perfect for kids and parents who need a break from sightseeing. There are dozens of playgrounds scattered all over the city. Here are some of the best playgrounds around Chicago to take your kids so that they can burn off that extra energy in a fun, productive, and family-friendly way.Winnemac Park
This 22 acre park offers a number of sports and activities as well as a playground and an impressive Fourth of July fireworks display.
5100 N Leavitt St, Lincoln Square, Chicago, IL, 60625
Union Park
This 13 acre park is located in the Near West Side area. The park has large fields, playgrounds, a swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, and baseball fields. The playgrounds have slides, swings, and plenty of space for kids to run around.
1566 West Washington Boulevard, Near West Side, Chicago, Illinois, 60612
Chicago has plenty more to offer, so see also our other articles: The Best Places to Take a Walk in Chicago and The Best Science Museums in Chicago.
Prairie District Park
This little park has slides, climbing areas, play houses, and water misters. There's also a nice dog park where pets can run free, a running path, and a pool.
2051 S Prairie Ave, Burnham Park, Chicago, IL, 60616
Ping Tom Memorial Park
300 West 19th Street, Chinatown, Chicago, Illinois, 60616
Oz Park
This wooden playground is designed with a Wizard of Oz theme. It has wooden climbing structures, slides, and small statues of characters from the movie. Young kids enjoy searching for familiar characters while they run and explore.
2021 N Burling St, Lincoln Park, Chicago, IL, 60614
Mary Bartelme Park
Located in the West Loop, this playground offers a nice spot for kids who need a break from exploring the city or parents who need to rest their tired legs. The playground has slides, bridges, swings and more. There are also mist sprayers for hot days.
115 S Sangamon St, West Loop, Chicago, IL, 60607
Maggie Daley Park
337 E Randolph St, Millennium Park, Chicago, IL, 60601
Loyola–Leone Beaches
These beaches stretch out for eight blocks, making them the longest stretch of beach in Chicago. Located near Loyola University in the East Rogers Park neighborhood, this area has a playground and areas that are perfect for strollers. There are also a number of sports fields nearby including baseball fields, basketball courts, and a kayak launching spot.
1222 W Touhy Ave, East Rogers Park, Chicago, IL, 60626
Interested in more travel advice for Chicago? Check out Things to Do in Chicago's South Loop and Romantic Places to Visit in Chicago.
Juniper Playlot Park
This charming playground in Lakeview has sensory paths with musical instruments and a playhouse where kids can enjoy using their imagination. There's also a net structure for little climbers and a small climbing hill.
3652 N Greenview Ave, Lakeview, Chicago, IL, 60613
Jackson Park
This is a 600 acre park that sits on the edge of Lake Michigan on the South Side of Chicago. It has a variety of facilities including basketball, tennis courts, and playgrounds. The Osaka Garden is also on the grounds, which is a Japanese style garden that's on an island in the park's east lagoon. There are also several beaches and a running track that visitors can take advantage of.
6401 S Stony Island Ave, South Shore, Chicago, IL, 60637
Indian Boundary Park
Indian Boundary Playground is a popular playground because of its large wooden play structure and natural setting with native plants. It's a fun play space where kids can run and explore, swing, or climb on the wooden train. There's also a nearby nature center with little cottages where kids can play. There are water sprayers to cool everyone off when the weather gets hot.
2500 W Lunt Ave, West Ridge, Chicago, IL, 60645
Independence Park
This is a fun playground with zipline swings, a rope web for climbing, and slides. There are bathrooms nearby as well as an indoor swimming pool.
3945 N Springfield Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618
Gill Park
This impressive playground was designed by an urban architecture firm and includes unique play structures, an adventure path, and climbing logs. It's a colorful playground that kids of all ages can enjoy. There's also a fieldhouse nearby with a swimming pool.
825 W Sheridan Rd, Lakeview, Chicago, IL, 60613
Garfield Park
Garfield Park is a popular city park on the West Side of the city in the Garfield Park neighborhood. It has a number of recreational facilities including baseball, boxing, basketball, tennis, and swimming. There's also a playground and trails for running, walking and bike riding. When the weather isn't cooperating, you can head inside to the Garfield Park Conservatory, which has about 120,000 plants from 600 different species in a 1.6 acre indoor space.
300 N. Central Park Ave., Garfield Park, Chicago, IL, 60624
Planning a trip to Chicago? You might also be interested in The Best Parks in Chicago.
Burnham Park
Burnham Park follows the banks of Lake Michigan for six miles from 14th Street to 56th Street. It spans 600 acres and includes the Burnham Harbor, Soldier Field, and McCormick Place. The Lakefront Trail passes through the park as well. Skateboarders will appreciate Burnham Skate Park, but there are also tennis courts, a fishing pier, and several beaches. For kids, there is a playground.
South Loop, Chicago, IL
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