Dorothy’s Playground at Oz Park

If you live on the North Side and haven’t taken your kids here yet, you’re missing out. The wooden climbing structure is genuinely one of the coolest in the city — multi-level, chunky, and built for kids who want to actually *explore* rather than just go down a slide and call it a day. That said, there are plenty of slides and swings too, so the 2-year-olds aren’t left out. The whole thing is enclosed, which is a lifesaver in an urban park, and the shade trees actually do their job on hot days. Toss in the Wizard of Oz statues scattered around and you’ve got a spot that kids talk about after they leave.