Russ Park, Machesney Park

A giant playground with tons of climbing, spinning, rocking and swinging options for school-aged kids

Address: 6300 Harvest Lane, Machesney Park, IL

Description: Located in the Timberlyne Hollow neighborhood in Machesney Park, Russ Park has a large play structure with climbing walls, numerous slides, a swing set, and other unusual features.

Best for ages: 5-12

Features:

• Multi-level play structure with several climbing entrances and stairs
• 30 ft. tower with enclosed twisty slide
• Seven slides of varying heights and designs
• Two tire teeter-totters
• Four-seater rocking horse
• Two-seater rocking alligator
• Several climbing structures including rock climbing wall
• Wheel features for pretend driving
• Several sets of monkey bars
• Two spinning wheels
• Two spinning posts
• Chain balancing course
• Swing set with two normal size swings and four baby swings
• Braille teaching signs and Solar System spinning blocks
• Several benches throughout the playground
• Two picnic tables underneath a pavilion
• Garbage cans

Sun protection: Direct sunlight with no shaded areas except pavilion

Parking: On street around the perimeter of the park, no parking lot

Playground structure materials:  Plastic, metal, and wood

Ground/surface materials: Wood chips

Fenced in? Y, decorative wooden fence

Slides? Y, seven slides including a three person side-by-side slide, very steep enclosed twisty slide, a small slide for toddlers, and other slides of various heights

Swings? Y, two normal size swings and four baby swings

Picnic tables, benches or other seating? Y, several benches throughout playground and two picnic tables in a pavilion

Walking path, sidewalk or bike path? Y, sidewalk around most of the playground

Stroller accessibility? Y

Bathrooms? N

Drinking fountain? N

Food and drink nearby? N

What makes it special or worth visiting?

Russ Park is a large playground with many unique features. The playground has an obstacle course feel. It has seven different kinds of slides, interesting climbing structures, and grassy space around the playground to run. The playground also includes unique park equipment like spinning posts, spinning wheels, chain balancing course, and tire teeter-totters that older kids would enjoy.

If you go, you may want to bring:

• Sunscreen and hats – Most of the playground is in direct sun
• Water – There are no drinking fountains nearby
• A packed lunch – There are picnic tables in the playground and a pavilion nearby

Note: When we visited the park at 11:00 am on an 80℉ day, most of the equipment was hot to the touch. The swing set area was a bit overgrown and there were bees climbing into the rocking horse structure.