We stopped here whilst waiting for our pizza order to be done. It was just alright; I was rather…read moredisappointed. There are two sections to the park, with the big rocket being the centerpiece. It's huge, multiple levels. There are at least three slides coming out from it. Lots of places for kids to climb and scurry and jump. But that part was too big for my kiddo so we went to the smaller section a few steps away. There was a structure to climb, several slides, some bars, and then even a little further away a bunch of swings. I tried to keep her from seeing the swings, to be honest, since I didn't want to have to deal with an upset kiddo when we had to leave without enough swing time. She played around a bit but didn't seem as interested in the playground. We went down a slide or two, but some of them had standing water since it has been a bit rainy recently. The playground isn't technically fenced in, but it is effectively so because it's behind the practice courts which are all fenced in. It'd be hard for your kid to get away from you. There's a parking lot for the Norridge Park District building but the neighborhood parking could be tricky, especially in the summer because there is restricted parking from Memorial Day to Labor Day (ostensibly because of the large pool structure that would keep the residents from having any parking for three months otherwise). The terrain of the park is wood chips and soil, decidedly not my favorite (maybe especially after a rain) and she got dirty pretty quick. I may bring her back when she's old enough to play on the rocket ship, but this won't be a park that we return to much if ever.

Very very nice huge playground in the woods. The air is clean, the people are nice... I wish we…read morelived closer :))) it has actually 3 playgrounds near to each orher

I keep finding myself back to this park ever since high school. They have plenty of outdoor…read moreactivities like basketball, sand volleyball, pickleball/tennis, and baseball. Big area to picnic with bathrooms. The lights stay on until about 11 pm during the summer/fall. They also have a waterpark. Great park for all ages. No issues with parking.

This review is for the pool. I grew up going to this pool every summer. I recently went here for…read morethe first time as an adult to bring my own child. It looks exactly the same and they have managed to keep it in good condition. It's nothing fancy but it's clean and well kept. I love that they have two kid pools, one with a bunch of fountains and that connects to slides and another that is more basic/quieter. There was plenty of seating and lots of staff/lifeguards around. They do adult swim for the last 10 min of each hour. One less star because it is very expensive for non-residents ($18 per person). My infant was free, thank goodness. I guess if I think about it that is about the cost of a movie ticket. Anyways, I will probably not be going as often as I would like because of the cost.

Beautiful park in Evanston. I like that they have the small children's and big children's…read moreplaygrounds separated. There's plenty of parking available. There's a large pond for fishing and there are ducks roaming around. The shelter space is very large covered with seating available too.

I grew up down the street. It was a sand and gravel pit, then became the town dump. In the 50's…read morethere was a movement to preserve it as a bird sanctuary , but that diden't take. In 1980 finally constuction was complete, and always ongoing . Absolute beauty , along the lines of a botanical garden,The picnic grove was established in 1929, and has beautifull rolling hills!

A nice little park (it's 5 acres on paper, but most of it is forest or ravine) tucked back in a…read moreresidential area, Port Clinton Park is walking distance from downtown Highwood and the old fort. Since it's kind of hidden, and there are only two or three dedicated parking spots, it is mostly only known by the local neighbors. A good chunk of it is wooded, with a small baseball/softball diamond at the northeast corner off of Bloom St., and a playground off the St. John's entrance. There's an okay-ish basketball court adjacent to the playground, that sometimes doesn't have a net on the hoop. Last I checked, they put one picnic table back, though they might have another there soon. The playground equipment is great quality, everything is well maintained, and the park district does a good job tending to the landscaping. The only lights are from neighboring houses, so head out before dusk. I also recommend you use quality mosquito repellent, because - despite the best efforts of the park district - the mosquitos can be kind of awful in the late summer just because of its forested nature. The small parking area along St. John's is gravel, and can only accommodate two or three vehicles - just be careful not to block off the neighbors' driveway north of the parking spots. You can also park along Bloom St., and walk through the path to the playground, but it's a narrow-ish section, so pull as far to the side as possible. Also, interestingly, I have seen whitetail deer chilling out at the park, so maybe to be a little careful - they'll mess ya up if you startle them. Maybe also watch your kids around the edges, as some of the wooded area is just thick enough that younger kids can be hard to find when playing hide-and-seek. Ravines run through it, so also make sure younger kids don't accidentally stumble down. They're not really dangerous, but dirty, and could be a little hard to climb out of without getting muddy.

Pretty decent neighborhood park not too far off of Willow Road. Emphasis on "neighborhood" park as…read morethere is no designated parking lot for this park; you'll have to hop on a residential side street and park your car there, and walk across the street. Greenview Park has a small little playground, swings, a few outdoor exercise equipment, like a rower and leg press. There's also a half-court basketball court, a small little field, and a small walking trail. Not too bad, if you're in the area and looking for a secluded park to hangout with the family and enjoy the fresh air.

We looked at this park for accessibility for mobility challenged people. Know before you go! Here…read moreis what we found: - 4 handicap accessible parking spaces - 1 handicap accessible restroom - Terrains are wood chips, fields, beach volleyball courts, sand box, and plastic surface - Park layout is: A school playground and basketball courts - 2 ramps to get into the park as well as 2 play ramps - No handicap accessible water fountains - The bigger playground is accessible Nice Park!!

This is a hidden gem for the city dwellers. Even though "Emily Oaks Nature Center" is surrounded…read moreby the residential area and one can hear the CTA trains passing back and forth, cloud and clear, it can still be considered as a mini "escape." In other words, it is a place to experience what mother nature has to offer, for both adults and kids. I would say the trail paths are kid-friendly and not too long for the little ones to explore. However, I think it is better to visit when daylight is available. Bike routes are separate from the walking path, so one doesn't have to watch out for bikers passing through. The Lakeview (or pond view) is serene. There are a few benches to sit down and enjoy the scenery. I see they have camp fires and other activities from time to time. I bet these are fun, as weather permits. In the beginning of the trail, a small scaled playground definitely can pull your kiddos away to release their energy. Parking is plenty and convenient. I think "Emily Oaks Nature Center" is going to be a re-visit for our family this summer.

If you can ignore the sounds of the Skokie Swift and passing traffic just outside the northern and…read morewestern boundaries of the nature preserve, Emily Oaks is a darling little slice of woods and lagoon tucked into a residential neighborhood of Skokie. They host camps here during the summer months, so you'll find chalk drawings on some of the paths and signs on some of the trees around that time, but it doesn't really detract from the atmosphere. (This is where my sibling and I learned to canoe and build campfires back in the day.) Chipmunks and geese abound; be sure to also check out the fish in the lagoon. They have shelters with picnic tables scattered throughout the preserve, so this is a peaceful place for a picnic lunch when camp's not in session. Just remember to leave the area as clean as you found it... and don't try starting any campfires without permission.

This is an excellent park to play or just lay in the grass!…read moreThere are two big kid swings and two toddler/ baby swings. There's a play structure with slides and a bridge. This park also has a big grassy field for soccer and or sun bathing. We go there almost every day. I only gave it 4 stars because there's not enough shade by the swings and the street traffic can be a bit loud.