Playground Equipment
Looking for a playground with a particular piece of equipment? This website is attempting to create an index of playable playground elements found at Chicago Park District playgrounds. You can browse the entire set of playground equipment or explore smaller sets of equipment grouped into more meaningful categories below. Of course, this index is incomplete, somewhat subjective, and hopefully funny.
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Swinging SeatsA strange features consisting of four seats connected by two horizontal beams that swing as sets. -
Double SwingA swing with two belt seats. -
Green Seat SwingAn unusual swing, the swing is a green C shaped piece of plastic suspended by four corners. Always part of a larger structure and not part of a traditional set of swings.
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Triple Saucer SwingA swing that is hung from a single overhead point with two rings above a saucer. -
Hammock Saucer Swing with Spider SeatA swing suspended from two points with a seat that looks like a spider web. -
Circle Seat SwingA swing with a circular seat suspended from a fixed point overhead. -
Hammock Saucer SwingA swing suspended from two points with a seat that is shaped like a saucer. -
Hammock SwingA swinging element fixed between two vertical beams, typically low to the ground, made of a rubber belt that swings freely. -
Double Swing: Toddler and Belt SeatA swinging element featuring two seats facing each other; typically one seat is a belt seat and the other is a toddler swing. -
Tire SwingA tire or similar torus shaped element suspended from a point above. -
Saucer SwingA swing suspended from a fixed point with a seat that is shaped like a saucer. -
Adaptive Swing with HarnessA molded bucket seat swing with a harness or other mechanism to secure the user. -
Adaptive SwingA swinging element consisting of a large molded seat suspended by four chains from an overhead support beam. -
Toddler SwingA swinging element consisting of a bucket-like seat, typically with leg openings, intended for use by a toddler or very young child. -
Belt Seat SwingThe classic. The standard. A swing with a somewhat flexible belt suspended on either side from two chains. *Sometimes the seats are actually not flexible but rigid. I may disambiguate at some point in the future.*
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Covered Rail SlideA slide consisting of parallel metal tubes set at an incline with additional metal tubes shaped into ovals above. Or a climbing element consisting of parallel metal tubes set at an incline with additional metal tubes shaped into ovals above. -
Bumpy SlideA single, straight slide with bumps. -
Jones SlideA small, standalone slide with internal stairs and a metal slide. -
Triple Slide 4 (Wiggle and Wave, Straight, Wiggle and Wave)Another variation on a slide with three chutes; this one has some wiggle and wave on the outside chutes. -
Sideless SlideA slide with not sides. I don't think it's the "slalom glider" that was banned but I'm also not sure... -
Stairs and SlideIt's part stairs and part slide - it's stairs and slide! But seriously, it's a standalone element with stairs on one side and a single straight slide on the other. -
Triple Slide 3 (Lines, Bumps, and Nothing)A slide with three chutes; one with lines, one with bumps, one with nothing. -
Big SlideA single, straight slide that is... big. -
Single Straight Slide (with Wiggle)It's a (mostly) straight slide with a bit of wiggle side to side. Sometimes they connect two platforms together so maybe they are a wiggle bridge too? -
Triple Slide 2 (Regular, Big, Regular)What's got two regular chutes and a big one in the middle? THIS SLIDE! -
Double Straight Slide with WiggleA double straight slide with wiggly sides. -
Straight Tube SlideA slide with a covered chute that descended in without a wave, curve, or wiggle. -
Curved Tube SlideA slide with a covered chute that descended with a curve. -
Corkscrew Tube SlideA tube slide that curves like a corkscrew. -
Double Split SlideA slide with two chutes that curve away from each other. -
Double Wave SlideA slide with two straight chute and a single wave.
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Canoe-Shaped Shape Void PanelA canoe-shaped panel with voids shaped like common shapes. -
Rocky Steps 3A climbing element that looks like rocks or boulders. -
Rocky Steps 2A climbing element that looks like rocks. -
Standalone Rope Net TunnelA standalone rope/net climbing element consisting of two metal arches angled away from each other with a rope netting forming a tunnel between the two arches. -
Vertical Standalone Spider Web ClimberA standalone element created by concentric circles or rope that looks like a spider web. -
Butterfly Cascade ClimberA cascade climber shaped like a butterfly. -
Cascade Climber with Holds and VoidsA climbing element with vertical panels with voids as well as holds. -
Climbing Wall with Voids and HoldsA climbing structure created by a panel with voids and holds. -
Spider Web LadderA rope net climbing element with two anchors in the ground and a tangle of ropes connected to a raised platform. -
Pole and Rope Suspension BridgeA huge, standalone element created by vertical metal poles with ropes and metal 'rungs' creating a suspension bridge meant to be climbed and traversed. -
Small Single Mast Climbing Structure 2A small single mast climbing structure with a relatively simple (nearly two dimensional) rope net layout. -
Geometric Circle ClimberA somewhat spherical climbing element created by a number of planes with circular openings. -
Quadrilateral Climbing WedgeA strange little climbing element consisting of a quadrilateral frame with organic 'rungs' -
Rocky Summit ClimberA climbing element with steps that look like rock ledges. -
Large Spinning Sphere with NetsA large, spinning spherical element with rope netting on the surface with additional netting on the equator of the sphere. -
Chain Link LadderA ladder that looks like the links of a chain
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Sit in the Ground Merry Go RoundThis is a spinning element that is set into the ground. -
Spinning Circle with HandleA spinning circular platform near the ground with a handle. -
Large Spinning Sphere with NetsA large, spinning spherical element with rope netting on the surface with additional netting on the equator of the sphere.
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Colorful Overhead Spinning CircleAn overhead element with a colorful spinning circle. -
Spinning Triangular Platform with HandleA curious little spinning element with a rounded triangular platform and a handle. -
Triple Top and Bottom SpinnerIt's three "Top and Bottom Spinners" together! -
Spinning Askew Hula HoopA spinning circular platform has an oval shaped structure with a circular disc set askew to the ground. -
Spinning Rose SeatMuch like a spinning bowl, but this one looks like a flower. -
Standalone Spinning Twisted Rope Net CylinderA single pole extends from the ground, dramatically flares into a circular metal base. Above the base, there is rope netting that forms a cylinder with a graceful quarter twist before meeting the circular metal ring that forms the top support. And the entire element rotates along the central pole. Amazing. -
Kompan ButtonLooks like a massive button with five holes but the holes are holes but rather bowls. -
Log RollerThis element is a plastic 'log' mounted on a metal pole set horizontal and low to the ground so that the 'log' can spin freely. There are handholds nearby so feet can spin the 'log.' -
Solar System SpinnerA spinning circle with a set of intersecting metal arches that somehow reminds me of the orbit of plants and the solar system. -
Egg-Shaped, Spinning, Climbing NetWhat's shaped like an egg, can spin around a central pole, and is made of rope netting? This playground element! -
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Large, Standalone Spinning Circle with Very Twisted TopA large, standalone spinning element with three large arches converging at a central point above a spinning circle. Three twisted poles connect the spinning circle to the structure. -
Spinning CircleA simple spinning element with a flat, circular panel that spins.
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S Shaped Single Beam Monkey Bar with Hanging RingsAn overhead element with a single beam parallel with the play surface that curves in an S shape with hanging ring holds. -
Full Circle Monkey Bars (Single Beam, Triangular Holds)An overhead element consisting of a circular beam with triangular hand holds. -
Sunshine Overhead ElementAn overhead element consisting of circular metal rings and straight connections. -
Colorful Overhead Spinning CircleAn overhead element with a colorful spinning circle.
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Swing Bar Monkey BarsTraditional monkey bars but the "bars" are suspended just below the two horizontal support beams and can swing. -
Straight Single Beam Monkey Bars with Circular HoldsAn overhead element with a single straight beam with circular holds hanging below the beam. -
S Shaped Single Beam Monkey Bars with Small HoldsAn overhead element with a single beam, shaped like an 'S', with small hand holds under the beam.
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Curving Single Monkey BarIt's a single bar (kind of two, actually) that curves like the letter 'S'. -
High Low Standalone ClimberStarts off as a ladder, then goes monkey bars, down, across, up, monkey bars, and, finally, a ladder again. -
Single Beam Open Book Monkey BarsAn overhead element consisting of a single beam with somewhat squarish loops that are angled toward the ground (i.e. not coplanar with the support beam and parallel to the ground) that sort of look like open books. -
Red Rubber Net Monkey BarsAn overhead element with two horizontal support bars (that are a bit wavy) with a red rubber cargo net for the hand holds. -
Single Beam Monkey Bars with Large Triangular HoldsAn overhead element with a single horizontal beam and large triangular holds.
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Full Circle Monkey Bars (Single Beam, Circular Holds)An overhead element where the main support beam is circular and the hand holds are also circular. -
Straight Hanging Ring Monkey BarsAn overhead element created by a series of hanging rings set in a straight line. -
Overhead Slider 2An overhead element with a sliding handle on a single pole that 'droops' in the middle. -
Double Overhead SliderAn overhead element with two parallel horizontal beams and two handles.
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Four Person See-Saw: XA see-saw for four people in the shape of an X. -
Standup Surfboard See-SawA see-saw element with two platforms and handlebars. -
Three Person See-SawA see-saw like element with springs where every seat is set 120 degrees from the other seats. -
Five Step StepperA play element with a single metal structure supported from a central hinge with five circular seats/steps. -
Dragonfly See SawIt's a two person see-saw that looks like a dragonfly. -
Two Seats on a SpringTwo circular seats on a spring base. -
Standup See-SawA see-saw that does not have two seats but is instead made entirely of metal and has hand holds. -
Two by Two See-SawA see-saw that can accommodate four children in a 'two by two' arrangement. -
Four Person See-SawA single beam with two seats on either side of a central fulcrum. -
Two Person See-SawA see-saw with two seats.
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Double Dip TraverseA metal traverse element with two parallel metal beams that each have one dip in them.
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Pole and Rope Suspension BridgeA huge, standalone element created by vertical metal poles with ropes and metal 'rungs' creating a suspension bridge meant to be climbed and traversed.
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KOMPAN Twisted Traverse Element 2A collection of play elements. The general shape is an arc and there are lots of ropes with discs and spheres, a green seat swing, and a curved climbing wall. -
Horizontal LadderA ladder that is horizontal (coplanar and perpendicular to the ground). It's also not wavy.
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Rope Traverse 5: Three Ropes in 2DA rope traverse element with one bottom rope, one top rope, and a rope strung between the top and bottom creating rectangular shapes. All in one plane perpendicular to the ground and coplanar with the support poles. -
Rope Traverse 4: Single Rope with HandlesTraverse element with a single rope on the bottom with handles suspended from a single rope on the top. -
Angled Triangle Cargo NetA triangular cargo net set at an angle between three posts. -
Plastic Traverse with Circular VoidsA traverse that connects two platforms made of plastic that has circular voids for hand/foot holds. -
Rope Net Traverse with Wooden Plank StepsIt's a rope net traverse element with two parallel ropes at the bottom and two parallel ropes at the top. Between the bottom ropes are a few wood plank steps. -
Plastic TraverseAn element connecting two platforms made from plastic. -
Net Plank BridgeA bridge element connecting two platforms created by a rope net bridge with small, separate planks along the bottom. -
Rope Traverse in an Arch (Two Rope Bottom)A large metal arch with a rope traverse element. The rope traverse element has two ropes running parallel to each other and the ground with planks between the ropes. There are also vertical support ropes forming the legs of a isosceles triangle. -
Freestanding Ladder with PatternIt's a ladder with a pattern and it's freestanding. -
Simple Double TraverseTwo parallel horizontal bars on the same horizontal plane. -
Cloud TraverseA standalone traverse element created by a lower support beam with rounded stairstep supports angled toward a central pole and an upper support beam set at the same angle. -
Geometric Metal TraverseA traverse element made of two metal horizontal pieces that are somewhat jagged geometric shaped that are mirrored reflections of the other.
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Three SprayerA four sprayer...with only three sprayers. -
Foster Park Water PlaygroundA collection of water spray elements at Foster Park; further description pending. -
Animal Water SprayerA water spray feature that looks like an animal. -
Water BirdsA water spray feature that reminds me of the little birds that rock up and down into a cup of water. -
Water BucketsA water features that appears to fill buckets and dump them out. -
Water Jets (from wall)A water feature that shoots water from a wall. -
Water Spray ArchSimilar to a water loop, but taller and the water sprays from the sides. -
Halo Water Spray FeatureA water spray feature with a single support pole and a circular 'halo' that showers water down. -
Humboldt Park Water Spray FeatureA big, complex water spray feature in Humboldt Park. -
Snake SprayerA water spray feature that looks like snakes. It sprays water - not snakes. -
Whale Tail Water SprayerA water spray feature that looks like the tail of a whale. -
Unity Park Five SprayerA big water spray feature with five colorful pipes spraying water.
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Standalone Rope Net TunnelA standalone rope/net climbing element consisting of two metal arches angled away from each other with a rope netting forming a tunnel between the two arches.
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Vertical Standalone Spider Web ClimberA standalone element created by concentric circles or rope that looks like a spider web.
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Four Mast Net Climbing StructureA net climbing element created by rope netting connecting four vertical posts with a circular black belt seat in the center. -
Spider Web LadderA rope net climbing element with two anchors in the ground and a tangle of ropes connected to a raised platform.
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Pole and Rope Suspension BridgeA huge, standalone element created by vertical metal poles with ropes and metal 'rungs' creating a suspension bridge meant to be climbed and traversed.
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Small Single Mast Climbing Structure 2A small single mast climbing structure with a relatively simple (nearly two dimensional) rope net layout.
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Large Spinning Sphere with NetsA large, spinning spherical element with rope netting on the surface with additional netting on the equator of the sphere.
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Kite Tangle Climbing StructureA large, standalone climbing structure where the skeleton of the structure consists of straight pieces of metal arranged in geometric kites and the interior is a tangle of climbing ropes
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Vertical Xylophone with MalletsA musical instrument with metal tubes hanging vertically from an arched metal support. -
Piano Knocker PanelA musical instrument with small hammers that hit the keys.
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Lilypad ChimesA standalone musical element consisting of many circular, metal discs with three mallets. -
Flower Petal PlayerA musical instrument that looks like a flower with four petals and a mallet. -
Drum SetA set of drums. There are other drums in playgrounds but this set is called a drum set. -
Tube DrumsFive tubes with varying diameters meant to be played like the drums. -
DrumA standalone drum. -
XylophoneA standalone xylophone.