Forest Glen Playlot Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Forest Glen Playlot Park is a small park located in the Forest Glen neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois.


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Summary

The park is popular for its playground, which includes a spray pool, sandbox, swings, and climbing structures. It also has a small basketball court and a small field for picnics and playing.

One of the main attractions of the park is the historic firehouse that sits adjacent to it. The firehouse was built in 1916 and served as a working fire station until the 1990s. It has since been converted into a residential building, but its exterior remains intact, making it an interesting piece of history to see.

Another point of interest in the area is the nearby Forest Preserve, which offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and fishing opportunities. The park is also located near the North Branch of the Chicago River, which is a great spot for kayaking and canoeing.

The best time to visit Forest Glen Playlot Park is during the summer months, when the spray pool is open and the weather is warm enough for outdoor activities. However, the park can be enjoyed year-round for picnics and walks.

Overall, Forest Glen Playlot Park is a great destination for families with young children, history buffs, and nature enthusiasts.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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