I've been hearing about this park for a while and we were able to take a visit over there today…read more I'm glad I knew what I was looking for because Google Maps was going to take me to a small playground on the other side of the school, rather than Little Bear Park which is on the very corner of Patriot and Chestnut (and is almost entirely fenced in, which makes it attractive with little kids). The Little Bear Park is actually a section within the larger Gallery Park, so you may need to put that in if your GPS is confused about LBP. This park was established as part of the redevelopment of the military airfield in Glenview. Overall, I was disappointed in the park, but there were some things I really loved about it along with those that left a bit to be desired. First, it looked like a gorgeous, romantic garden like you might envision from an Austen novel. Truly a beautiful setting, with a small hedge maze and a several picnic tables. Quite an idyllic little spot within the larger park, and ostensibly where it gets the "garden park" part of its name. There's also a really awesome water feature here. It's really large, and unlike some "splash pads" that are little more than a tall pipe sticking out of the ground, this one had several arms coming out of the ground of different heights. It also had some water coming from spots in the ground, for a lot of different ways to play. My kiddo got soaked and loved it. Sadly, the playground section looked kind of old and worn. It has a cute castle/medieval theme, but all the play equipment was quite faded. Of more concern was that the playground terrain, which was that composite rubbery stuff, was broken off in quite a few places; more than once my babe brought me small or large pieces. Seems potentially fraught in a few different ways, but it was weird since in all the parks I've been to with that kind of ground cover I haven't seen chunks of it missing throughout the playground. There's lots of parking at/around this park, because it shares space with a middle school and park district headquarters. The playground itself isn't the attraction for me--though if we are already in Glenview, I might stop--but I would absolutely return for a beautiful picnic in the garden, and that's what really makes it shine.

Heads up if your kids like swings: there are none at this park. But there's a cool splash pad, a…read morehedge maze, a play structure, and a huge sand pit area.

Well, on this hot and muggy Sunday, we decided to have an atypical weekend visit to the shady Grove…read moreto do our almost daily walk. We typically only visit here on quieter weekday mornings. We were pleasantly surprised and fortunate to find the Blacksmith Shop open and that is the case only on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 3pm. Alec was the blacksmith on duty and he provided some insights into his craft as well as a walk-through of their various iron products, both functional and decorative. He is one of five volunteer blacksmiths on the staff here and really enjoys his time here. Thanks for the tour Alec!

What a great surprise. Needed a little down time and a chance to relax. The Grove provides just…read morethat. Free parking and no cost to walk around. The paths are easy to walk and the native prarie plants along with wild life is spectacular. The period building are relics from a very different era that look perfectly in place in woods. Will look to see what programming they have.

We happened upon the North Shore Artisan Market at this park. They had an eclectic collection of…read morevendors -- vintage clothing and accessories, foodstuffs, jewelry, art, plants, pet products, health and beauty items. It was a really nice assortment, the booths lined the paths, there were four or five long aisles. This is the only weekend for this location -- other markets in Chicago, Oakbrook and Naperville.

They're 10 and still loving it...yes!…read more I'm absolutely amazed that there is still something for my boys to enjoy at this park. C + E have now re-imagined the climbing structures into American Ninja Warrior Parkour training. Who would have thought? Tonight was lovely and amazing. Not only was the park crazy crowded with the nicest bunch of families, but my boys weren't intimidated or frustrated to take turns. There is a structure or activity for all ages... slides for older and younger kiddos, a well-maintained sandpit, climbing walls, swings, and so much more. Tons of benches and wall structures for sitting. What I particularly love about this park is the fact that it's humble without parent pretension. Every time we go we meet and chat with some random family. Though it's a super busy area, there is always parking right by the park. However, I imagine on game days that might be a different situation. Great atmosphere, lovely families, shops and restaurants withing walking distance. Note: There is no fence around the park area, but everyone keeps an eye out for all kiddos, so it seems.

This is a super cool playground in Highland Park. My children had a blast running around the three…read moreseparate playgrounds. I even took a nice long walk around the park. I also saw a dedicated area for skateboarding. The restrooms were clean.

This is my kids' favorite park, 10/10! The main attraction is a huge rocket ship that they can…read moreclimb in all sorts of different ways, and it has great slides too. There's also a separate play area for younger kids, which is perfect if you have little ones. One of the coolest features is a spinning swing where you sit on a rope and hold on while it takes you around in a circle. It's so much fun! We could spend hours here and the kids never want to leave!!

I visited Shelton Park because I struggled to find a solid area to park in Wilmette, which is where…read moreI had hoped to connect to the Green Bay Trail for a run. The park was my last hope to connect to the trail as I searched for an entrance to it as well as places to park within a reasonable distance. Its parking space appears to be well enough for its in-and-out flow of visitors throughout the day. During the times of my visits I have never once struggled to find a parking spot available. If that ever is a problem there is also availability along Old Green Bay Rd. Shelton Park appears to be very peaceful with a neighborhood appeal. It is an ideal place to play tennis or bring the children to play on its playground, Phil Thomas Memorial Playground as it is referred to. If you are yearning to get a small workout in, the park has fitness equipment: a built-in elliptical, pull up bar, and a place to do sit ups. As one who made this park my gateway to the Green Bay Trail I was able to get in a solid workout because of its fitness equipment. The park is well-manicured, consisting of picnic tables and benches if it becomes your pit stop while on trail or within the neighborhood for whichever activity of your enjoyment. Nearby sits the Metra railway, which temporarily drowns out the beautiful sounds of birds chirping or any humankind activities whatsoever within the park. In the meantime I plan to continue utilizing Shelton Park as my connector to the Green Bay Trail until I am fully accustomed to running in the area. I recommend it if you are in search of an area with activities I aforementioned or one that connects to the trail as I was. ~Blessings~ Thomas G

This is a review of the playground here: it is maybe the best playground on the north shore. I…read morethink folks want to keep it on the qt- it is not mentioned on yelp. It's primo as far as equipment and frolicking space with flowers and trees! It's amazing!

As I read through other reviews, there is a lot more to this park than just a trail around a lake…read more We did a fundraiser that included a walk around the lake. The park is very good and the walk is nice. The whole loop is only about 1 1/2 miles so it's an easy walk. The other reviews talk about accommodations for a party, indoor sports like basketball, a gym, and more. We didn't check any of that out since we didn't know they were there. Speaking of the path and the lake, it's lovely and a nice place to go on a warm day.

Gallery Park started out as a collection of flat aprons and runways in the Glenview Naval Air…read moreStation. The Naval station closed in '93, and the hundred and fifty acres that now comprise Gallery Park became available, and were incorporated as this park. Tip: There are several different trails here, all of which loop around Lake Glenview. The lake also has several piers, some small islands, and a bridge My two favorite trails here are the Lake Trail (one and a half miles long) and the Park Trail (one point eight miles long). I used to also very much enjoy the Lakeside Trail, but I ran into far too many ticks the last time I went there, so I've been avoiding it. Over and above the hiking trails, the park also has several soccer fields, tennis courts, and even some catch-and-release fishing spots. Last (but not least) there's a fitness zone with equipment for cardio steps, chest presses, an crunches, etc. But wait, there's more! You'll also find a children's garden, bike racks, water fountains, and picnic tables. All in all this is a pretty cool place to relax and get some nature on :-)

Horrible place. The forest preserve across the street is always open, yet this place is closed on a…read moresaturday, with no repairs going on, on a beautiful day. Our tax money is being used to pay these employees NOT to do their jobs. Lake County Forest Preserves are ALWAYS open.

Although Potawatomi Woods is not huge by comparison to other local preserves, it has a nice charm…read moreto it. This location has all the basic features such as areas to fish or boat, as well as paths for walking, hiking, and bicycling. There's also a grove available for picnics. Parking typically isn't too difficult and people are generally spread out fairly well across the woods, so you can enjoy a casual stroll without worrying about feeling crowded. These woods have a good variety of natural features that make it a great place to take pictures of the fall colors. If you have the right lenses, there's a nice variety of birds that can be photographed -- or possibly deer, rabbits, and other wildlife. Overall, it's amazing to have such a beautiful area in the middle of the busy suburbs. Definitely worth a visit if you live in this area and want to enjoy some natural beauty.

An expansive park complex, Meadowhill Park is packed with features for local outdoors enthusiasts…read moreand kids of all ages. I first came here years ago with my wilderness survival summer camp to use the Team Skills Obstacle Course. The course is tucked away in some woods, and features a number of well-designed obstacles that require teamwork to overcome. We've also taken advantage of their fun water park. There are numerous spots fields for baseball, softball, soccer, football, and more. In the winter, they set up an outdoors ice rink (weather permitting). In the other seasons, Northbrook hosts various events and festivals. They have plenty of parking, bathroom facilities, drinking fountains, most of the park has some lighting after sunset (though is technically closed at dusk), and is frequently patrolled by Northbrook's finest.

My daughter, a Northbrook resident, recently invited me and my husband to the swimming pool to…read moreenjoy water time with her and our 13th month granddaughter. It was a lovely experience. The employees were all friendly and helpful. Our hands were full going into the kidddie play pool, and a teen worker ran over to give us a hand. After awhile, we ventured over to the adult pool. It was equally enjoyable. I can't think of a better way to spend time on a hot and humid summer afternoon !!