Seminary Park, Lake Geneva

This is a great little park with a limited view of Lake Geneva. There are nice shade trees as well as a shelter with picnic tables. Most of the nearby parking spots are metered so bring a couple of quarters unless you want to walk a bit. There is a nice big play area that is probably best suited for the 4 and over kid group as the littlest will have a hard time climbing the various sections. There are swings (no baby swings) and those rocking horse type animals. There are a few slides a short tunnel to crawl through. It is usually pretty quiet here, especially in the morning. McDonalds is nearby so when the kids are tired of playing, lunch is a short trip. There are also public bathrooms.

Bathrooms: yes
Baby swings:no
Place for mom to sit: yes
Swings: yes




Bab

Bennet Park, Richmond Illinois

Unfortunately for the quaint little town of Richmond, their parks are not the most appealing.
Bennet park has nicely groomed baseball fields, large soccer fields and a concession building with bathrooms. The play equipment is small and faded and the mulch needs refilling...at least the day we were there. There are regular swings and baby swings, two big slides and a smaller one for the littler kids. There are covered tables if you are looking for a picnic area and although I didn't see a sign, I saw people walking dogs. The kids were bored pretty quickly and wanted to go to a different park. I think they might be developing park snobbery!

Veterans Park in Genoa City, Wisconsin

Keep all the kids busy in this park, just off of Highway H. Yes, this park is named "Veteran's Park", just  to keep it confusing. For the younger set, there are two different "mini play equipment" with smaller slides and little stairs. There are baby swings, diggers and those ever popular rocking-horse-type animals. For the older kids, there is a small skateboard park (a couple of ramps), baseball diamonds, tennis courts and basketball hoops. There is also your regular sized play equipment, some interesting climbing equipment and a tire swing. The equipment is older and doesn't have that safety feel of some of the newer play equipment. For mom, there are bathrooms and a covered shelter with park benches. The flooring is sand, so bring those tennis shoes unless you like that sand-between-the-toes-feeling.


Bathrooms: Yes
Place to sit and watch: Yes
Little Kid Swings: Yes
Big Kid Swings: Yes
Flooring: Sand

Cobb Park, Lake Geneva

Cobb Park is nestled between huge trees off of McDonald Avenue on the west side of Lake Geneva. It is a completely lovely drive with huge trees and beautiful homes. You definitely feel like you have left the hustle and bustle that is downtown Lake Geneva and have entered the woods. If you blink, you will miss the entrance for Cobb Park, just as I must have. After a safely executed turn-around, we drove into Cobb Park, scanning for the promised play equipment. Unfortunately, only one sad slide and two swings appeared. There was a nice shelter with picnic tables and fireplace, lots of beautiful trees and serenity.  Lake Geneva advertises 5 acres of walking trails connected to this park and it would be a beautiful place to hike.

The kids weren't allowed out of the car, as this appeared more to me as a camping area than a park in our sense of the word. The drive was the best part of our drive to this park.

Restrooms: Yes
Dogs allowed: Yes

Westgate Tot Lot, Lake Geneva

If you don't live in the neighborhood, you need your GPS to find this one. This tiny park is nestled in a nice residential area, literally tucked between two houses. I couldn't quite escape the feeling that I was invading someone's back yard. The park has one slide, swings (including a baby swing) and some climbing equipment...although it was a bit rusty. There was a rocking horse teeter totter as well. Unfortunately, the park hasn't been well cared for and the weeds are starting to take over the mulch. There aren't any benches for mom to rest, but you can bring your doggy...as long as doggy doesn't feel like he's intruding someone else's territory, it should be fine.

Central-Denison Elementary

One of the favorites for the kids of Lake Geneva must be Central-Denison Elementary's playground. The map locator tells me this is called "Maple Park" but as it is located next to the elementary, I would assume that that this is what the school kids use during the school year. This is one of the best school playgrounds I've ever seen. It is located just a few blocks from Lake Geneva and parking can be an issue (although I generally park in the school's parking lot off the street). 

No baby swings or tiny play equipment. There are tennis courts and benches...some open running areas
with soccer nets. The one negative of this park is the flooring....tiny rocks. These annoying rocks get in any kind of sandal or croc so a word to the wise: tennis shoes. Our kids love this park and it's usually hard to get them to head to the car when it's time  to go. What more could you want for a park?






Ground: rocks

Regular swings: Lots!
Baby swings: none
Benches for mom: yes
Bathrooms: No
Others: tennis courts, soccer fields, low balance beam

Veterans Park, McHenry

Veteran's Park seems to be a popular name in the McHenry County/Walworth County area. This Veteran's Park is located in McHenry, just blocks from the well used Highways 120 and 31. It has a nice modern look with lots of play area and trees. However, most of the park equipment itself is exposed to the sun. Although the park itself is a square block (or two?), it is nestled nicely in a residential area.  Surrounding the playground equipment is plenty of grassy area that is nicely manicured and include shelters with picnic tables. This is a great park for the littlest and the big kids with baby swings and mini slides as well as larger play equipment. Nothing to do for the teen crowd unless they bring a frisbee or baseball.
The play area is mulched. This one is a favorite for the 4 year old and has enough to keep the 9 year old crowd entertained. There are frequently children at this park, which makes making friends an added benefit!

Place for mom to sit and watch: yep!
Floor Covering: mulch
Baby swings: yes
Regular swings: yes
*Little Kid Play Area: yes
Big Kid Play Area: yes
Bathrooms: yes
Baseball fields: no

Fort McHenry, McHenry

Where can you find a wooden play set that pays tribute to Fort McHenry, Baltimore, an important part of the War of 1812? If it weren't for Fort McHenry, we wouldn't have the Star Spangled Banner and we'd likely be drinking tea and eating crumpets more often. This little gem just off of Highway 120 is a kids paradise. Slides, climbing, tires and stairs that sway! There are certainly moments that you will lose sight of your little ones, but don't worry..there is only one entrance/exit to the Fort.  You can park yourself there and wait for them to run themselves out of energy! Ahhh, naptime!

Place for mom to sit and watch: yep!
Floor Covering: mulch
Baby swings: yes
Regular swings: yes
Sandbox: Yes
Big Kid Play Area: yes
Bathrooms: not that I saw....
Baseball fields: no

Day One: Veteran's Park in Lake Geneva

This idea of "reviewing" parks this summer seems to be destined. First, the idea a few weeks ago to go to every park in the two counties we "live" in. Then, an article in a family magazine about creating a scrapbook of parks. Seems we are destined.

So, we start with an easy one that we are well familiar with. It is located on the southeastern edge of Lake Geneva. We often refer to it as "helicopter park" as there is a large green helicopter at the entrance and a memorial to veterans. It has lots and lots of room to run, including soccer fields, baseball fields and basketball hoops if you have teenagers too. All the typical park stuff....monkey bars, slides, a tunnel, climbing wall but also has a seperate area for the littler folk, with baby swings, mini slide, and those rocking horse type apparatus. You can ride an alligator, space shuttle, duck or horse. I really like how the little kid stuff is separated by a nice wide sidewalk  It has a nice large parking lot and is nestled in among some local businesses. It's also a short drive to Dairy Queen, in case the park goers need a snack after all that playing!
It's a playdate!

Place for mom to sit and watch: yep!
Floor Covering: mulch
Baby swings: yes
Regular swings: yes
*Little Kid Play Area: yes
Big Kid Play Area: yes
Bathrooms: yes
Baseball fields:yes
Other "amenities: basketball courts, soccer fields
Dogs allowed: No

*Little Kids - under 4