The "Home Alone" gazebo might be gone, but a new era just began…read more A $2 million dollar renovation happened in the center of the Hubbard Woods Business District, and this beautiful green activity hub for the community was born. Currently the focal point of a Wednesday summer concert series, musicians are rocking the new pavilion and kiddos are getting their moves on at the splash pad and various climbing structures. Adjacent to the Hubbard Woods Metra Station and across from Once Upon A Bagel, this place is a refuge for commuters, shoppers enjoying the Design District, and passersby looking for an impromptu picnic or rest. Fun for the whole family, the play area is appropriate for ages up to seven or eight with various play structures and swings for the bigger kids. Plenty of seating and parking surrounding the park. Super cool factor alert: There's a free-standing station for repairing your bicycle, just in case you get a flat or need to tweak your seat height or handle bars. Air and all the tools you could need!

Beautiful park, with water. Nice people and what a neighborhood?! We love coming up this way where…read moreit's actually safe!

I remember taking all kinds of after school / summer arts, crafts, and sports activities here as a…read morekid, decades ago. Having seen inside the building, it hasn't changed a whole lot. Having been converted from a school that was built in the late 1950s,heavily renovated in the late 1970s, and only minor renovations in the 80's to present day; the building still appears in excellent condition. They host a number of Park District activities mostly for children, and some adult activities, as well as a number of all-ages events in the adjacent park. They also rent out rooms for community activities and private events, though the Highland Park Park District website. In the winter, the building is toasty warm though a teensy bit drafty near some of the windows (specifically those facing the park - maybe they're older?). In the summer, it seems like the place can get a little warm, as the AC seems to struggle a little. Still, the building is relatively comfortable for its age, and all the facilities are well maintained. The adjacent park - West Ridge Park - is very nice. There is a 0.4 mile (0.64 km) asphalt track that circles the park, with additional paths leading towards Red Oak Elementary School and surrounding city sidewalks. The parking lot is in great shape, has plenty of spots, and drains nicely. Accessible parking is near the West Ridge building. The playfields are pretty nice, though seem to flood a little bit during the rainy season. During the peak of the youth baseball, softball, and soccer season the field seems to stay dry enough. In early spring and fall, it can get a little muddy. The track also can get flooded in some spots, so walk carefully after a heavy rain. In the summer, you probably should wear a good mosquito repellent - West Ridge Park seems to have more mosquitos than other parks in the area (Woodbridge Park on Barberry Rd. or Devonshire Park at Devonshire Ct. and Winthrop Rd.), but not as bad as Larry Fink. During several weeks out of the year, Canadian geese like to chill here. I wouldn't recommend saying 'hello,' they can be a little aggressive. I frequently see whitetail deer roaming around as well. There's a playground that has equipment for 3 ~ 12 years of age, with benches around it so parents can comfortable supervise. The play area is pretty far from the parking lot, which is nice for some peace of mind, but - because there's only a little bit of cover - means you should keep an eye on the sky for rain. There are two or three water fountains around the park, a pet bag dispenser, and numerous garbage & recycling cans. There are a few porta-potties, and the park district will add more whenever there are events like movie night at the park. Aside from a few lights in the parking area, and alongside the building, the park isn't lit - best to head out before dusk. West Ridge Center offers a lot to residents of Highland Park, especially grade school to high school age kids. If you live in the area, I suggest checking out all the programs and activities they offer. Even you don't participate, the park is a nice feature for anyone needing a little time outdoors.

This is a review of the West Ridge walking/running path. During this mandatory stay-at-home order,…read moreit's still essential and okay to take a walk and get some fresh air. My hubby has been doing a great job of pushing us out the door to get a two mile walk in as often as possible. Yesterday we were about 30+ minutes away from a rain shower, so I suggested taking a walk closer to home. The truth is, the path is nothing fancy, the cement is a little bit cracked in a couple of areas, but it sure does the trick. This path is .4 miles all the way around, and it's small enough that you can keep your eye on the starting post for when you need to count your laps. There is onsite parking. It never seems crowded. It's flat and a little monotonous, but it gets the job done! Great little neighborhood walking path.

I recently spent some time at Deerpath Park, and it turned out to be a great place to enjoy the…read moreoutdoors. One of the best things about this park is how much it has to offer in one location. There are multiple walking trails that are perfect for getting some exercise or just enjoying a relaxing walk, and it's conveniently located near plenty of stores if you need to grab something before or after your visit. The park has something for everyone, including baseball fields, basketball courts, volleyball courts, soccer fields, and two playgrounds for kids. There's also a nice pavilion with restrooms, making it a great place for family gatherings, picnics, or spending the afternoon outside. Everything was clean and well maintained, and there was plenty of space to spread out without feeling crowded. Whether you're looking to play sports, go for a walk, or simply enjoy a nice park, Deerpath Park is a fantastic place to visit. I'll definitely be coming back.

A nice place to go for a stroll or a jog. The park is family friendly, peaceful, serene and clean…read more There's also a newly built kid's playground park with fun things to do for them. It's a well maintained place.

Did you know Highland Park is well know for all it's beautiful parks in and around the entire city?…read moreTiny community parks in neighborhoods, big parks with covered areas near the downtown and patchy grass walks hidden around town. Don't let the website link fool you into thinking this park is still under construction, because I'm pretty sure it's complete... and it's fabulous! We used to come here when the kids were smaller. The play structures were pretty scrappy. I remember the sand was dirty and loaded with hornet looking flying thingies, it used to be super buggy, but the plus side was always the spinning climbing toys. There are still have cool kid spinning structures, but they got a facelift, and we're so excited because we can officially still call this park *the spinning park*. Pluses: - Brand spanking new climbing structures - Different areas for different ages - A running track around the park - A ginormous field for outdoor field sports - It's usually pretty quiet and unpretentious here - It's a nice neighborhood park at the end of a street Minuses: - Not a lot of covered picnic areas, unless I just didn't see them - Nothing else I can think of - Street parking only near the play area What a lovely place to bring the kiddos.

This is a really nice park, that's at the South end of the Sherwood Forest subdivision. It's not…read morethe fanciest park in Highland Park, but it still has its charm and a good number of amenities. Their crushed-limestone path is a great trail for running. It's very even, stays firm even after a rain, and is easy on the joints. There are water fountains along the trail, and at the playgrounds. There are two playgrounds, one suited for younger children, and the other suited for older kids. Between them are a number of benches and tables to park strollers, eat, or hang out. The shelter isn't fancy, but the bathrooms are clean and they have an overhang to protect you from the rain. The baseball diamond is pretty plain, but is fine for a quick pickup game. The two full basketball courts are in good condition, as are the backboards and rims (though they take the nets off during the winter). There appear to be no parking at the north entrance, so you'll have to park along the south end and walk to the park area. The only lights are at the shelter, so you'd best head out before dusk. Early in the spring, sometimes the park district forgets to tend to the grounds as often, and it can become overrun with dandelions and tall grass, but they often get to it after a few days. Mooney park is probably my favorite park in the Sherwood Forest area (with Cloverdale Park a close second).

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!

It was great taking my family out here for outdoor activities. My kids love it. They were playing…read moresoccer with some random friends on the fields for a few hours and got exhausted

Thanks to Google maps, i found this park. I wanted to cycle in Evanston, and needed a turnaround…read morepoint. This was it! Peaceful park, with a playground for children. This is one of those so peaceful you can take a nap type of parks; also have a picnic. I do see many more trips to this park in the future. Enjoy, if you decide to visit this park.

A sensational park, trail, nature reserve that has been a gem for decades. As a kid, we would often…read morevisit the forest preserve to fish, go on the playgrounds, bike the extensive well-connected trails, walk..so much memories here. Great spot to host a cookout or party with their rental shelters too. Happy to see it still functioning for many folks after all these years. Wish Charleston, SC had preserves like this!

There was a wedding reception (dinner and dancing) held in Shelter A and B of this forest preserve…read more As a former Illinois resident I thought the wedding party would be uncomfortable, given this time of year. But I was wrong! Both the weather and surroundings were beautiful; I heard they sprayed for insects beforehand as well. Many picture opportunities. Open enough to enjoy the rest of reserve and share the good vibes with passersby. Some bees came out but only when we were already packing up. Maybe more available parking spaces would've been nice. Other than that, it was a good time.

The sculpture park spans two miles along the west side of the north channel of the Chicago River…read more It's not a playground park, though of course you could play here. There are trails for walking and biking, and dogs are welcome as long as you pick up after them of course. In a few areas of the park there are picnic tables as well, and there are parking lots in a few spots along the park. Currently, in 2023, the southern end of the park is under renovation. You can take tours of the park--they happen monthly. Of course you can embark on a self-guided tour as well, viewing some or all of the approximately 60 sculptures in the park. My favorite has always been the whimsical birthday cake. There's a section that has pieces by students at the local high schools as well which is a pretty cool way to incorporate folks from the community into the fabric of the park.

A few of us recently visited the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park, as it was a gorgeous and warm…read moreSaturday afternoon and we wanted to enjoy the great outdoors in a socially distant manner. The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park stretches between Dempster and Touhy in Skokie alongside the north channel of the Chicago River, so it runs for a significant length. Due to time restraints we did not walk the entire length of the park, but you can appreciate several "sections" of the park and still feel good about it. This park is fine for joggers, bicyclists, or walkers looking to enjoy some nature with some public art mixed in. While there are no Picasso or Calder masterpieces amongst the sixty-plus number of sculptures, there is an eclectic variety in the collection. I liked the use of industrial materials such as steel coils, re-bars, and even parts from airplane wings. The Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park is free and is open every day. There are several free parking lots along the length of the park for visitors.