I originally stumbled upon Veterans Park while on one of my daily morning walks. Being a park lover…read moreI had to take a moment to sit in Veterans Park and enjoy the scenery. My first impression of Veterans Park: Veterans Park is one of those underrated and low foot traffic parks that only a select few know about which is great if you want solitude. Amenities: Both the picnic sitting area and the playground equipment is up-to-date with little to no graffiti (which is a big plus if you are in a major city). If you are a chess/checkers lover there is an area in the park that you can practice your craft. Location: Veterans Park is right across the street from a mini dog park which brings the entertainment factor up a couple notches. The unfortunate part of Veterans Park is that it is in the middle of a random neighborhood which does nothing to increase the foot traffic. Unless you are searching for a local park you may never know Veterans Park is around you. I love the park nonetheless and it's slowly becoming one of my favorite miniature parks to visit.

One of my favorite hidden parks that is overlooked by many locals in the Forest Park area. They…read morehave an adorable playground with a mini bouldering wall and swings! The only other park that would rival this one is the Park District of Forest Park, which is a much larger park that typically has more visitors and families with children. This park is secluded, quiet, and a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery. There is a bench and a patio as well.

Was searching for fun stuff to do in Chicago and the suburbs with a toddler and this place popped…read moreup for us! Perfect way to beat the heat wave! Wonderful selection of things to play with, though this isn't really a "museum". Because it isn't a museum, it does seem a little crazy that they charge for adults. All of the indoor play places I've visited in Phoenix (where I live) they only charge for the child. But my son had so much fun it was worth it! His favorite were the treehouse and the cars. Glad we came here!

We visited this museum in Oak Park with our 15 month old grandson…read more He had a great time playing with so many different things. There were other families there, but it was not overly crowded. Many separate areas of play; a treehouse, veterinarian, kitchen, blocks, puppet stage...etc. fun place for young kids.

MPA Summer Camp is truly something my children look forward to during the winter months…read more The camp is diverse and inclusive and they have made some great friends. They look forward to seeing their camp friends each summer. The choice of classes is also such a bonus. There really is something for everyone. It might be more expensive than some other neighborhood camps, but for what the children experience? Well worth every penny!

Our family has loved it. My three children have attended it these past two years. We were so…read moregrateful they re-opened quickly during COVID. It is a very diverse camp, a true melting pot and we were super happy with the families we met.The campers were great. I hear they are quick to kick out campers who misbehave, which I appreciate, but be ready if your little one gets in trouble. The preschoolers must be potty trained. They are not flexible about it!! For the elementary campers, you have to create your child's day by selecting four classes. They have a lot of choices, but register early. The best ones tend to fill up really quickly. I learned that the hard way my first year. I was on top of it last year and my children loved all their classes. My only complaint was the mixed grade classes. Second graders with 4th graders is not always ideal. I have been told they are making it only 2nd and 3rd next year, and adding a 4th and 5th section. I hope it's true. That would ideal. They seem to be very organized. They distribute a lanyard at the start of each session with daily schedule and people authorized to pick-up. It really made it easy for my kids know their schedule. The teachers are great and they have counselors in all the classes with the kids to support the teachers. All and all, I really recommend it. It is miles ahead of the park district as far as offerings. It is a little bit more expensive but for what you get, it is really worth it.

My child went to a variety of camps and classes regularly in 3rd and 4th grade and wants to return…read morenow that she's in 6th. The instructors are caring, knowledgeable and kind. The atmosphere is just so welcoming and pleasant. We are big fans!

First off, the place is easy to miss since its in lower level of a residential building. Its a…read morecutesy place for kids bday parties. My friends daughter celebrated her b'day twice at this location and our daughter really enjoyed the parties. I would like to host a party here as well!

My family and I have always been huge fans of the Scout Cabin. On numerous occasions, we have taken…read moreadvantage of the fact that this cabin in Indian Gardens is available for rental by residents and various organizations. Rentals are available in six-hour time slots and you can even rent overnight! When I was in elementary school, my friend had the "coolest" birthday party ever: a sleepover at the Scout Cabin! We enjoyed cuddling in sleeping bags and listening to my friend's dad tell ghost stories about the cabin. In the past, my family has rented out the cabin for big picnics during the summer, which were always a HUGE hit among our relatives and friends. We have also rented the cabin most recently for a few graduation parties. My dad always does the actually renting, but the process seems pretty straightforward: go to the Riverside Water Tower to complete a rental form, show your ID, get approval. You can pick up the key right ahead of time and be sure you bring it back at the end of the day (or night, depending on the hours you agreed upon). Renting the Scout Cabin is really a blast. There is a long winding driveway leading up to the cabin, which sits practically right on the river and among lots of trees and vegetation. We always have fun decorating the posts at the front of the driveway with balloons or signs welcoming our guests. There is a small parking area right next to the cabin, which we usually reserve for our elderly guests; the rest park on the street. The cabin comes with a bunch of different items like picnic tables, a fridge, a microwave, two bathrooms (one for men, one for women), etc. There's also a grill outside and TONS of lovely green space for outdoor games. We've had water balloon tosses, badminton games, soccer games, you name it. I highly recommend renting out the Scout Cabin for your event or party. I promise it'll be a huge hit! Tip: In the summer months, the mosquitoes are particularly brutal. Be sure to bring bug spray, especially if you plan on hiking on the river trail near the cabin or playing games outside.

My teen has had an amazing experience working for WSSRA as a camp counselor this summer. Last…read morenight, I attended a WSSRA fundraiser with my teen and got to meet so many dedicated & enthusiastic staff and awesome clients/campers. My teen has been treated so well as an employee -honored for their talents and respected in every way- and I can see that kindness and respect shown by the staff to each client as well. I would recommend WSSRA as a job option for anyone passionate about caring for individuals with special needs. The programming is really impressive! I would also highly recommend WSSRA to individuals with special needs and their families who are looking for high quality special rec programming!!

I love Ultimate Ninjas! It's my favorite place ever! Coach Gabe is the best because he helps me…read morewhen things feel a little tricky, like the monkey bars. Sometimes I feel like I can't make it all the way across, but he shows me how to swing and tells me not to give up--and then I do it! That makes me feel super strong and proud. My most favorite thing is the warped wall because it makes me feel like a real ninja! I run as fast as I can and try to get all the way up. Even if I don't make it every time, it's still really fun to try again and again. I also like all the obstacles because they're like a big adventure playground. I get to climb, swing, jump, and pretend I'm on a ninja show. Everyone cheers each other on, and it makes me really happy. I always have so much fun and can't wait to go back! Love, Ethan T.

I was invited here for a party and to my surprise such a place was located in Chicago. Plenty of…read morefree parking and once you sign a waiver you are able to climb, jump and play like you are a ninja. There are two divided sections, first section you learn the simple obstacles like climbing and hanging. The second section has the wall you can run on and more complex items. There is always someone who works there to show you how each section is used. There are smaller rooms for parties where they order pizza to enjoy after all the events. Overall, I enjoyed myself and now first hand, I can say I am no ninja.

Great park! It's nice and clean. There are a good amount of slides for the kids at the playground…read more There are baseball fields to practice hitting, pitching, or throwing. There is a water playground with a small kiddie water slide. It's near mobile homes and a restaurant called "Buck's Pit Stop." I'll be coming back here again and again.

We took our 7 and 4 year old grandbabies to visit the splash park here. For a mere 3 measley…read moredollars per kid ( adults free!!!!!!) my kids were able to run wild with other same age kids thru different water park play areas. There is a dual slide in the center of the park that gets the most action. It is great for kiddos age 3 to 9. There are also spray spots all over the play area and large overhead buckets that fill up and spill onto whoever stands underneath. There are sturdy loungers for parents and Oma's like me to sit on as well as a covered area with picnic chairs you can sit under. There is a guard to make sure kids behave. There are clean single toilets right outside the splash park. Outside the splash park is a 4 story mega slide that was amazing. After splashing, the kids must have climbed that slide 30 times before we left to go home. My kiddos were beat after we left. And that is a miracle my friends!