Mary Bartleme Playground

The official Chicago Park website describes the playground like this: “The children’s play area offers ADA accessibility that allows for inventive, non-linear play without traditional play equipment.” Inventive, non-linear, and non-traditional are all great adjectives to describe this playground in the West Loop. The fully enclosed playground uses the rubber surface itself as a play element; there are steep inclines and valleys that invite play. Most of the elements are indeed non-traditional. While there are a few slides, there are no swings or monkey bars in this playground. Instead there is elaborate “jungle gym” structure made of belts of black rubber, a rope climbing structure, and a smaller structure for younger children. The play area is fully enclosed and there are several picnic tables that make this a comfortable playground in a new and beautifully landscaped park.