This week, we had the pleasure of visiting Oak Park, part of Niles Park District. My daughter was really excited to visit "the park with the train" since she loves trains. I do have to say that we started out this visit with a hiccup, due to Google Maps. I pulled up Google Maps and was looking at all the playground pictures to help us decide where to go. Well, all of the pictures of Oak Park come up under Oakton Manor Park (along with the pictures of Oakton Manor Park). So we first drove to Oakton Manor Park looking for the "train park" that my daughter wanted to visit, before realizing that we were in the wrong place altogether. After we figured that out, we headed over to Oak Park and had a great visit.
Let's talk about the playground. First and foremost, they have a train. It was my daughter's favorite thing there, and she loved pretending with us, making requests for us to drive the train, ride in the train and take the train to the beach. Unlike many of the other parks we have visited, there was only one main play structure, but it had elements for both younger and older kids. There were shorter slides and taller slides, multiple ladders and climbing elements, multiple bridges and a track zip line. And it was large enough to have quite a few kids playing on it without being too crowded. My two year old daughter was confident enough to go from one area to the next on the play structure, despite there not being a lot of elements for smaller kids. Parts of the play structure can be shaded at times by the large trees nearby, but most of it is in the sun. So make sure to use sunscreen on sunny days.
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There are a few picnic tables next to the playground (two of which are under a covered shelter) making it easy for parents to sit and watch their kids or for kids to take a break and have a snack. There is also a drinking fountain. However, the only bathroom is a port-a-potty. It's not optimal, but definitely better than nothing. So pack some hand sanitizer in your snack bag if you plan on staying for more than a little bit.
Oak Park itself has a lot of other perks too. The first thing I noticed when we drove up was how aesthetically pleasing it is. It is in a quite neighborhood making it seem peaceful and relaxing. There are garden beds, big oak trees, and benches to sit on throughout the park. It is well kept and inviting.
The park also has two tennis courts, a basketball court (although not full size), a softball/baseball field, and outdoor workout equipment! I have never seen outdoor workout equipment at a park, but I love it. They have equipment to work your arms, legs, balance and more. Many of them have a knob to adjust the resistance level (and therefore the intensity of your workout) as opposed to using weights. Although I didn't go to workout, it was definitely an unexpected perk.
Oak Park also hosts a Concerts in the Park series throughout the summer. They have a small stage area and a grassy lawn for guests to relax and enjoy a free Friday night concert.
Park Details:
- Oak Park is located at Lee St and Ottawa Ave in Niles.
- There is parking available along Ottawa Ave and there is a small lot near the tennis and basketball courts off of Main St.
- The PACE bus # 410 also runs along Main St, and stops within a block of the park.
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