Bixler Park

"Yes we can!"  Located in the heart of Obama territory, Bixler Park is a Hyde Park destination beloved by locals.  Just steps from The Medici Coffee Shop and 57th Street Books, Bixler Park is a great destination for a venture into Chicago's South Side- an easy place to spend a morning (or afternoon).  

The Park has a small area where locals are usually seen playing ball with their dogs, sitting on a bench or playing chess (on one of those old school park district cement chess tables).  You'll catch University students chatting about politics and philosophy over a great cup of coffee and the park's playground attracts families from every street of Hyde Park.  It's one of those playgrounds where people leave their ride-on cars, trikes, bikes, diggers, trucks, sand toys, play kitchens, etc.  So, in addition to a seasonal splash pad area, giant sand pit, and the 2 climbing structures, this park is FULL of things to do. 

The younger kid's structure is near the sand area and away from the big kid structure- which is a nice feature because olders aren't crashing into youngers.  There's a fairly new, certainly well taken care of main structure here with climbing spots, slides, shaded houses a train and 3 infant swings.  The big kid structure is west of this, in an adjacent play space.  It's larger and has tons to explore.  There are also 3 swings and a therapeutic chair swing here.  The park is a combination of woodchips (so it can be muddy and dirty on wet days) and padding (under the splash pad area).  The park's biggest concern is the sand- there are reminders to bring the water to the sand not the sand to the water (mostly a concern in the warmer weather when the splash pad area is on).