10 Best Playgrounds in Chicago’s Suburbs: The Most Amazing Parks You Have to See to Believe

We are lucky to have such amazing playgrounds to explore! Especially in the summertime, I love trying to find the best playgrounds near me. I load my kids into the car, find a destination, and we are off on a guaranteed adventure. 

At Kidlist, we asked our readers to vote on the best playgrounds, and you delivered! Below, you’ll find the top 10 playgrounds of Chicago’s suburbs, as voted on by you. If you’re looking to check out even more awesome outdoor spaces, we have plenty of resources in our Guide to Parks and Playgrounds. Without further ado, let’s check out the winners!

1. Harvester Park in Burr Ridge

Harvester Park
15W400 Harvester Drive
Burr Ridge, IL 60527

Harvester Park is a fan favorite and has made our top playground list every year! We’re not surprised though because it has features that appeal to all interests and ages. The newer Route 66 themed section includes a 30-foot Willis Tower skyscraper with two chute slides, in-ground trampolines, climbing boulders, a zip line, Tow Mater car replica, and more. 

The park also features a barn for playing music, a treehouse, a sand area with pulleys, and a splash pad for hot days. There are also swings, bathrooms nearby, and picnic areas to sit or eat. This park truly has it all! To top it off, some additions will also be made to the park, which are coming within the next year so stay tuned.

2. Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground in Schaumburg

Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground
1111 E Schaumburg Road
Schaumburg, IL 60194

Bison’s Bluff is a huge, incredible playground that encourages kids to creatively play and build confidence as they interact with natural elements. A creek and waterfall add a water play element, while the big fort-themed play structure and giant bison to climb on are always a hit! There is also a sand area, a picnic pavilion, walking paths with nature play areas, and bathrooms. The nearby nature center is a lot of fun for kids, too.

The playground does get very crowded. During summer, they schedule one-hour play sessions. Admission is $2 or $3 for kids, depending on residency; advance reservations through their website are recommended. Check out our review of Bison’s Bluff for more details.

3. 95th Street Community Plaza in Naperville

95th Street Community Plaza
3109 Cedar Glade Drive
Naperville, IL 60564

A whimsical storybook theme, gated splash pad, and shared parking lot with the 95th Street branch of the Naperville Public Library make this playground a local destination. The soft, rubbery play surface and low-to-the-ground climbing structures are great for tots, while older kids will enjoy twisty climbers and taller slides.

While the playground itself isn’t very shady, there are some shades in the splash pad area, as well as a pavilion. The splash pad and library are great for cooling off on a hot day, too!

Check out more photos from the 95th Street Community Plaza’s grand opening.

4. Maine Park in Park Ridge

Maine Park
2701 W Sibley St
Park Ridge, IL 60068

How cute is this playground? The soft rubber surface and colorful components make it even more fun for play. There is a musical instrument area that looks like the forest floor with mushrooms, tree leaves, a flower, and butterfly to tap. Before or after playing at the playground, you can explore Wildwood Nature Center across the street and take a rest at the butterfly sculptural chairs outside the building. Between the nature center and playground is a nature play area as well.

5. Spring Rock Park in Western Springs

Spring Rock Park
4400 Central Avenue
Western Springs, IL 60558

Spring Rock Park includes two zip lines, rock structures to climb, a pyramid with webbing, slides, and swings. There is also a toddler park, a climbing tower, and a sand pit. There’s a unique treehouse deck to hang out on or have a snack, and in the summer, there is a free splash pad to help kids cool off! The park sits on a 41-acre lot and has paved paths throughout it, in addition to flower gardens, horseshoe pits, fields for soccer, football, and baseball, and courts for tennis, sand volleyball, and basketball.

There is also a secondary playground area that’s closer to the baseball fields. The park has bathrooms, water fountains, and picnic tables. The main playground is across the street from the train tracks; as an added bonus, kids are always entertained watching the BNSF trains as they zoom past.

You can stop at Tropical Sno for a sno cone, Oberweis Dairy for ice cream and/or bb’s Donuts for mini donuts with toppings to make your day extra sweet. They are all within walking distance of Spring Rock Park.

6. Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles

Pottawatomie Park
8 North Ave
St. Charles, IL 60174

This park is huge and has so much to do! It’s along the Fox River and has boat rentals as well as a mini golf course along the river with great views. There are two playgrounds spaced out so you can take a scenic walk from one to the other. The playground in the first image above has a fenced-in wheelchair swing and musical chimes to interact with, which makes it special. It also has nice picnic shelters with tables and permanent restrooms. Swanson Swimming Pool is right next door, so you can definitely make a day of it!

7. Camera Park in Glendale Heights

Camera Park
101 E Fullerton Ave
Glendale Heights, IL 60139

This playground was completed in 2022 and features an ADA accessible playground, fenced-in splash pad, fitness station, challenge course, and disc golf.

8. Phillips Park in Aurora

Phillips Park
1000 Ray Moses Drive
Aurora, IL 60505

This amazing park is home to so many free opportunities for fun, including two playgrounds (Mastodon Island and a big shaded playground behind the zoo), a small zoo, sunken gardens, and a splash pad in the summer. There is also a visitors center with Mastodon bones to marvel at. Phillips Park, which is 325 acres is also home to a golf course and aquatic center.

9. South Ridge Park in Hoffman Estates

South Ridge Park
1450 Freeman Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 6019

South Ridge Park is a recreation destination in Hoffman Estates. Here, you’ll find big and small playgrounds, as well as a zipline. The splash pad has tons of spray features, including a dump bucket. A huge ninja course lets older kids race through obstacles to try and get a personal best. Nearby sports courts include a sand volleyball pit.

Kids also like to take trips around the park’s large pond, which is ringed by a paved path that makes easy gliding for strollers and scooters alike.

10. Heritage Park in Homer Glen

Heritage Park
14240 W. 151st Street
Homer Glen, IL 60491

Heritage Park, completed in 2020, is full of fun activities for everyone! It sits on 103 acres of land, so there is plenty of space for entertaining features. The “Active Core” of the park encompasses its playground, ninja park, and sports area.

The playground has a few structures; there are slides, wide ramps, a sun shade, monkey bars, swings, activity stations, climbing rungs, and a separate toddler playground. There is also a nature playground and a musical instrument area. 

The large ninja park course provides an exciting way to test your acrobatic skills. Other features of Heritage Park include a sensory garden, a gazebo with picnic tables, paved walking paths, a disc golf course, and courts for pickle ball, tennis, and sand volleyball. In the winter, there is a sledding hill. Heritage Park also has bathrooms and water fountains. For more details, Check out Annie’s recent review of Heritage Park!

Bonus: Maggie Daley Park Play Garden in Chicago

Maggie Daley Park Play Garden
337 E Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601

We’re considering this an “unofficial” addition to the list since our Top Ten spots cover the suburbs. But our readers called out the Play Garden at Maggie Daley Park in downtown Chicago, and it’s definitely one of our favorite spots, too!

This huge three-acre space is divided into play spaces. For example, The Enchanted Forest invites kids to explore nature spaces and run down winding paths, while the Sea features a giant play ship, rolling blue play surface that mimics waves, and a giant lighthouse slide.

Some spaces are geared towards little kids, including the smaller of two splash pad spaces with gentle fountains. Meanwhile, two soaring towers connected by a suspension bridge in The Slide Crater area make for an awe-inspiring moment for older kiddos (and great photos against the Chicago skyline).

We love to pair a visit to the Play Garden with a trip to nearby Millennium Park, especially to see the “Spitting Faces,” as my kids (okay, and I) call Crown Fountain.

Haven’t been? It’s a totally doable afternoon trip from the suburbs. I recommend packing changes of clothes and/or sandals for the splash pads, as well as extra water, sunscreen, and snacks. Be prepared to walk, as the play garden is at the southeast corner of the park itself.

Looking for more fun playgrounds?

We have so many fantastic parks for you to explore! Here’s our guide to all types of playgrounds, including new playgrounds, fenced-in playgrounds for toddlers, inclusive playgrounds, ninja parks, and more.