Playgrounds sure have changed from when I was young. Today I took my kids back to one of my favorite playgrounds growing up: Belvidere Park in Waukegan. Long gone are the dangerously tall [and scalding hot] metal slide and [vomit-inducing] merry-go-round. Now it is plastic and safe!
This playground is great for families with littles and older children. The structure for younger ones is low to the ground with lots of small stairways. There are fun places to peek out of and slide through and down. Separate, there are also two bouncy riders to play on.
Next to the play structure are two diggers in a sand pit, so be ready to bring home the sand in the shoes as the pit is hard to overlook. And a wonderful addition to the playground…they have a face-to-face swing! (Have you seen these? The parent and baby face each other and swing. I’m a little jealous this came out after my kids were too big.) There are also two sets of regular swings (8 swings in all) and two baby swings. If you have older kids, there is also a basketball court nearby, but you can’t really view it from the playground.
Belvidere Park also has a regular/standard play structure for the older adventurer. It includes a small climbing wall, a [very high] zip line, two slides, a suspension bridge, and monkey bars [my six-year old could just reach it].
Around the playgrounds are benches and some tree shade. As for bathrooms, there are only porta potties. However, if you visit the playground during normal business hours, I was informed you are welcome to go into the rec center to use the bathroom (also open 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays).
We had a lot of fun at Belvidere Park, and think you will, too!
Belvidere Park
412 South Lewis Avenue (Lewis and Belvidere), Waukegan
What do your kids like to do at Belvidere Park?
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