Looking for Some Outdoor Fun this Spring? Try These Chicago-Area Parks This Weekend

1. Looking for Some Outdoor Fun this Spring? Try These Chicago-Area Parks This Weekend With the weather finally starting to warm up and spring knocking at the door, many families are looking for fun, free (or cheap), and safe activities to do with their kids on weekends. The following parks and nature centers in and around the Chicago area offer great opportunities for families with kids of all ages to enjoy the scenery and get some exercise. Some may be a bit of a trip, but they’re well worth it. Sunset Woods in Highland Park Wooden parks have lost their appeal over the last few decades, but Sunset Woods is making an awesome attempt at breathing new life into wooden equipment. It offers a two-level Petrified Park that is perfect for young paleontologists who have an inherent love for dinosaurs, and it offers a huge play structure that looks just like a huge prehistoric creature. Aside from this, kids can also participate in Jurassic Sand Diggers where they will dig “dinosaur bones” out of a large sandbox. Friends Park in Glencoe If you have a train lover in your family, then Friends Park in Glencoe is a can’t-miss. It’s based on a pretend trip on a train that stops at the downtown area (a huge climbing structure) but ventures past a boat and even a net-climbing “mountain”. It’s a popular place for families with small children, and you’ll really love the spongy safe surface that’s been created to resemble sand, water, train tracks, and more. Skokie Water Playground While it may not be quite warm enough for a day at the water park just yet, you should put Skokie Water Playground on your list of things to do when it is. A huge dump bucket that fills with water and tips when full is the highlight of the playground, but there are plenty of other attractions that spray, splash, and otherwise get your family wet. Restrooms, showers, locker rooms, and even concessions are available, so don’t hesitate to make a full day of it. Noah’s Playground in Evanston Though there are several parks in Chicagoland build to accommodate kids with special needs, only Noah’s Playground truly accommodates all these children, whether their limitations are physical, developmental, or sensory in nature. There’s a sandbox that accommodates kids in wheelchairs and allows them to play right alongside everyone else, and there’s also a variety of noisemakers that can help kids learn how their actions can affect the environment around them. Penny Park in Evanston This is yet another wood park, but it’s old-timey environment is unlike the rest. Though city officials have discussed a revamp, there are plenty of people who love Penny Park just the way it is. A wooden car with real tires is a huge attraction, and the numerous towers and ramps are the perfect environment for kids who want to pretend they are royalty in a castle. There are dozens of different parks in the Chicago area, but these are tried-and-true family favorites. No matter what your kids and your family enjoys – and no matter their physical capabilities – these parks each offer something different and unique to enjoy throughout the warmer months. If you’re a parent looking for a Chicago area private elementary school stop East Lake Academy to learn more.