A Perfect Day at Mary Richardson Jones Park

Looking for a downtown green space where your little one can explore and play safely? Mary Richardson Jones Park in Chicago's South Loop is a gem for families with preschoolers, offering shaded areas, engaging equipment, and plenty of room to run around.

What You'll Need

• Snacks and water bottles
• A blanket or small picnic mat
• Sunscreen
• A change of clothes (optional, for messy play)
• Your camera or phone for memories

How to Do It

1. Pack a simple picnic. Gather some favorite snacks and drinks for your child. The park has lovely grassy spots perfect for spreading out a blanket and enjoying a meal together under the trees.

2. Arrive during off-peak hours. Visit on a weekday morning or early afternoon when the park is quieter, giving your preschooler more space to explore and play at their own pace.

3. Start at the playground. Head straight to the colorful equipment designed specifically for younger children. The cushioned surface underneath provides excellent safety, so you can relax while your child climbs, slides, and discovers.

4. Explore the interactive play structures. Your preschooler will be thrilled by the imaginative equipment that encourages pretend play and active movement. Encourage them to climb, slide, and navigate the various features.

5. Take a walking tour of the grounds. Walk around the park to discover shaded trees, open spaces, and different vantage points. Point out birds, insects, and plants you encounter along the way.

6. Have free playtime. Let your child lead the adventure—whether that's rolling down a grassy hill, chasing bubbles, or playing chase with you. Unstructured play is where real learning happens.

7. Wind down with quiet time. Before leaving, sit together in a shaded spot and watch the world go by. This calm transition helps your child process all the fun they've had.

🎓 Skills Your Child Will Develop

Gross Motor Skills — Climbing, sliding, and running on the playground equipment strengthens your child's muscles and coordination.

Social Awareness — Playing alongside other children helps your preschooler practice sharing space and observing social interactions.

Imaginative Play — The varied equipment encourages creative scenarios and pretend adventures.

Nature Connection — Exploring the park's trees and outdoor elements builds curiosity about the natural world.

Confidence — Successfully navigating challenges on the equipment boosts your child's sense of accomplishment.

Tips & Variations

• For younger preschoolers (ages 2–3): Stick to the softer, lower equipment and keep sessions shorter to avoid overstimulation.
• Make it seasonal: Visit in different seasons to show your child how the park changes—spring blooms, summer shade, fall leaves, and winter branches.
• Combine it with a neighborhood walk: After playing, take a short stroll around the nearby residential streets to explore the community.

My Two Cents

This park is a wonderful escape from the concrete jungle, and I love how it brings families together without requiring advance planning or expensive admission. Your preschooler will burn energy, your stress will melt away under those trees, and you'll both leave with happy hearts.

Questions to Ask Your Child

Use these open-ended prompts to extend the learning during or after the activity:

• "What was your favorite part, and what made it special?"
• "What would you do differently next time?"
• "Can you teach me how to do the part you liked best?"
• "What did you notice while we were doing this?"
• "What does this remind you of from somewhere else in your life?"
• "If you could change one thing about this, what would it be?"

There are no right or wrong answers to any of these questions. The goal is to keep the conversation going, model curious thinking, and give your child practice putting their experience into words.

Making It a Learning Moment

Every activity you do with your preschooler — no matter how simple — is building something invisible but permanent: the child's sense of themselves as capable, curious, and loved. Research on early childhood development consistently shows that the quality of adult-child interaction during play matters far more than the type of activity. Being present, narrating what you observe, asking genuine questions, and celebrating effort over outcome are the practices that create lasting developmental gains.

Adapting for Different Ages

Ages 2–3: Keep it simple. Use fewer materials, shorter sessions (10–15 minutes), and more adult scaffolding. The goal is exploration and enjoyment, not mastery.

Ages 4–5: Add complexity and choice. Let the child make more decisions, introduce mild challenge, and encourage them to evaluate what worked and what they'd change next time.

Mixed ages: Pair older and younger children intentionally. Older children build confidence and reinforce their own learning by helping; younger children get engagement and language modeling from a near-peer.