The Best Playgrounds in Chicago

Brand new in 2023, this unique playground is the best in Chicago. 

A wonderful playground with shade, picnic tables, a big water spray area, and a shaded sandbox. It can be crowded (and day camp groups can take over the water spray area during the summer) but this is a wonderful playground.

This is a wonderful and unique park in the West Loop. There is a unique 'black belt' climbing element and some other unique equipment. Definitely worth visiting.

Berger Park is a lakefront playground with a sprawling play structure and a play boat.

A somewhat standard playground with a huge and shaded play area makes this park a wonderful destination.

A little gem in Hyde Park with two play structures, a sandbox, and a play train.

Renovated in 2023, this is a great neighborhood playground in Bridgeport. 

A wonderful sculpture, great play equipment, a water feature, and plenty of seating make this a great playground.

Modern and interesting, this playground in the South Loop is a great spot for younger children.

Right by the Lincoln Park Zoo, this playground features Kompan equipment and animal sculptures.

A great playground with probably the best water feature for younger children in the city; this is a great one.

As one of only two wooden playgrounds in the city, this one has to make the list.

A shady oasis in Bronzeville, this playground is awesome.

Interesting and modern equipment, two water spray features, a large climbing wall, and a secluded grassy hill over the harbor - all with views of Lake Michigan and the skyline. One of the best playgrounds in Chicago.

In the highly landscaped and swanky Lakeshore East Park, Benton playground is a shady and wonderful gem.

Brand new in 2022, this playground is nice and clean in a quiet residential area; super solid option.

A wonderful playground - especially for younger children - there are two play structures and a water spray feature.

Funky and cool, the playground at Gill Park is wonderful, especially for younger kids.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the only playground in the Gold Coast is super nice.

Two large play structures and a water spray feature. This is a great playground.

This is just a neighborhood playground done very well.

This playground has a massive main play structure with lots of climbing options.

Perhaps the largest playground in the city, this is an awesome site. Highly recommend.

Interesting equipment, picnic tables in the shade, and a water spray feature.

A ton of unique climbing elements make this a great destination.

There are some great playgrounds in Humboldt Park, but I think this is the best. Fully enclosed and surrounded by trees, this is a nice place to visit for the day.

This is a huge playground with two zip lines and a large climbing net.

This is the other wooden playground in Chicago. There is also a water spray feature and a wonderful nature play area.

A wonderful spot with an accessible play structure, a weird set of traversing elements, and a water spray feature.

This is a great playground with two structures and a water spray area.

This bright and sunny Kenwod site is a standard playground in a lovely setting.

This playground has lots of elements, a water spray feature, and a sandbox.

Great playground with an accessible play structure and a water feature.

A huge and sprawling site with lots of unique equipment, this playground in Little Village is amazing.

This is a huge playground with lots of interesting equipment. This fully enclosed site is bright and sunny with plenty of benches and picnic tables.

This playground has interesting equipment and lots of trees.

A classic playground - standard equipment over wood chips - that somehow stands out.

A playground with great shade is a great playground.

This site has lots of interesting equipment with a water spray feature and a picnic table.

This out-of-the-way gem has two modern play structures and a water spray feature.

This is a solid playground with views of the Chicago River and lots of interesting equipment.

This is a huge, sprawling and highly accessible site with several distinct play areas, interactive musical elements, a water spray feature, and tons of amenities. Highly recommend.

This is a large accessible playground with great shade and a water spray feature.

Oakdale Park is a sprawling and shady play site with a play dinosaur that opens to a large, grassy site.

This site contains some unique equipment and elements with some interesting sculptural play elements; highly recommend.

This playground is removed from traffic and features lots of interesting equipment. It opens to large grassy fields and is near the Walking Stick Woods nature play area. There are also tons of picnic tables nearby.

A large playground in the park with some of the best skyline views and some of the best places to watch trains in the whole city.

A great park in the Little Village neighborhood, this playground features some unique equipment.

This features a massive play structure with a two-story slide.

This is a sprawling site with lots of interesting play elements.

This is a quiet neighborhood park tucked into the Sauganash neighborhood; perfect for a quiet play date or picnic.

A playground with everything: a huge main structure, a net climbing element, a separate area for younger kids, and a water spray feature.

Recently renovated, this playground features a huge main structure and a strange - and wonderful - net climbing element on the Near North Side.