Seneca Playlot Park

Well maintained playlot across from Prentice and the children’s hospital and right next to a firehouse. Play equipment is split into sections that are separated by a small walkway. Both play areas are fenced. The equipment is all over wood chips. Equipment itself is on par with Lake Shore Park playlot up the street, but Seneca is located on a much quieter street.

URBAN KID PLAY
This is a great place to take the kids during downtown shopping fun. I have been coming here for a while but I’ve never thought about reviewing it. Probably because I wanted this secret kiddie Mecca to remain all mine. So today I am sharing with all of you.
There are two very large play areas for the kids to run around in. The north side is for younger children and the south side is for older children. It is kind of nice to have the play areas broken up so little kids do not get run over.
If you have children then they will love it here. They can run, climb and slide plus they can make new friends. The park is very convenient to the Michigan Avenue shopping district. It is also across the street from the Water tower shopping center and Ritz Carlton Hotel.
On a side note: there is a fire station next door and you can always bring the kids over to see the fire truck as long as the crew is not on a call.
Downtown Chicago has so many things to offer and this is one of the things it can offer to children for free. So when the children need to blow off some steam this is the best place to let them run in between your long shopping day.

What a sweet little park just shy of Michigan Ave. Located near a few choice hotels, not far from eateries, directly next to a fire house and a museum — this location rocks.
The little kid area is perfect. From the age appropriate swings to the perfectly short playscape, the playground is totally little one AND parent friendly.
We stayed at a hotel on Delaware and were close enough to come by more than once with our 21+ month old.
If you are in the area and have a little one this is the perfect place to stop to encourage them to let out some wiggles and for you to gaze at guests of the Ritz, watch passersby and oh — watch that kid!

This park is a gem!!! Hidden right in front of the MCA and behind Chicago Water Tower between MACY’s and Lurie Children’s Hospital, this park was quite a surprise for me and my daughter (and I thought I knew ALL playgrounds in Chicago Down Town).

Five stars for being just a few blocks from Michigan Avenue, which can become quite a respite for your kid (s) while/​after you shop. During the summer this place was jam packed with what seemed like hundreds of kids, but during the winter time my son and I are alone most of the time, but that is fine with us since it leaves the entire area all to us. The only real drawback of this place is the smaller kid play area, which could use some updating, but in general it’s still one heck of a place to do some chilaxing while the tyke spends some of that everlasting energy…
Enjoy Suckas’!!!

I often find myself making this deal with the little one…
If you help me run some shopping errands on Michigan Avenue then we can go to the park after! She always nods enthusiastically, although considering her new favorite accessory to carry around the house is a Neiman Marcus bag I think she may like shopping more than the park.
On our most recent visit I had to maneuver my stroller around the homeless people sleeping near the entrance of the park (oh, city living). My very considerate 1 ½ year old turned to me, placed her finger to her lips and said «shhhh.»
Once you get past the sleeping peeps there are 2 sides to choose from. One side is perfect for babies and toddlers, where we can be found. And then another side for «big kids” — I haven’t had the pleasure of venturing over there yet. Our side has 4 baby swings, a few different climbing stations (including a «choo choo» train), lots of slides with bumps on them so the little ones don’t go down too fast and a sand box filled with dirt! I’ve been trying to avoid the dirt box for months now, but the little one found it this past weekend… and we both came home filthy. However, she had a blast in there!
One of my favorite things about Seneca Park is that it’s very shady so it’s the perfect spot for those scorching hot summer days. If it’s not above 85 degrees outside I’d suggest a light sweater since it can get a little chilly in the shade.
Due to the two sides you don’t have to worry about your little ones being run over by older kids. However, on our most recent visit my daughter couldn’t get enough of a group of 5 year old girls hanging off the monkey bars of the «choo choo» train. One of them turned to my daughter and said «If you want to be big and strong like us you need to eat healthy: lots of spinach, macaroni and cheese and cheese sandwiches.» Perhaps if we stick to that diet we’ll get to venture to the other side of Seneca Park in no time!

Park
Within
A short walk
Of the hustle
and bustle of Michigan Ave for kids.

I love this park for many reasons.
I like that there are a variety of play spaces for all ages. There is a toddlers play ground, a kids playground and wide open spaces for imaginative play. All of these spaces are encircled by a fence so it is easy to keep all the kids together and safe. The kids can also watch the firetrucks come and go from the kids playground, so I find that we spend a lot of time here with all the different opportunities for excitement.
When I am without the kids I nanny for, I love reading on the boulevard of benches.
This park is also very beautiful. The trees provide comforting shade and are decorated with white lights in the winter. There is a sense of calm and relaxation here despite being next door to the bustling Watertower Mall.
The most important reason I love this park is that my soon– to– be husband proposed to me in this park on a beautiful winter night.
This is a great multipurpose public space.

I was out and about with the kids today and thought I’d search online on Chicago Park District for a park in the area we’d be running errands in. Lo and behold we found this little gem right next to the Water Tower. How did I live in the city for 12 years and never notice this park? Wait… because it was irrelevant when I didn’t have kids… lol…
The park was nice and gated, however, like the review below there were a few homeless people sitting on the benches in the perimeter. I wasn’t too excited about this but we’re in the city, what do you expect? Plus today there was a lot of traffic so we didn’t get pestered.
They have two side by side gated parks, one for kids 5 and older and another for the younger kids. This option was quite nice so it keeps my little ones away from the equipment that they’re not ready for. Nonetheless you still really gotta watch them as the design of the equipment tricks the eyes to miss small steps. It doesn’t help that my youngest is fearless and clumsy.
Overall a great little park in the midst of the shopping area. A great way to bribe your kid to behave while you steal a few minutes of shopping before you take them to the park.

I always wind up here to eat some bao’s or come down from a high either before or after a trip to the MCA. It’s a pleasant enough area, plenty of green, but Christ, this place is bum central. It seems a picnic cannot take place without having to get past three or four intrusions from various street people with various hustles. Add that to the fact that on several occasions the park has been checkerboarded by dog shit, and I don’t know how I can give Seneca more than 2 stars. Would you people please pick up your dog crap?