This hidden gem has newer playground equipment, room to run and a large sidewalk loop perfect for scooters and bikes
Address: 7901 Harlem Rd, Loves Park, IL
Description: Located in Loves Park, IL across from the Harlem Road Rock Cut State Park entrance, Olson Swedish Heritage Park has a medium-sized play structure, several climbing features, and a swing set. There’s a beautiful large Swedish-style pavilion with 15+ picnic tables, two bathrooms, and a drinking fountain nearby.
Best for ages: 4-12
Features:
- Two story play structure with stair and ladder entrances
- 7 ft. tall rock climbing wall
- 8 ft. tall realistic rock to climb on
- Swing set with two normal sized swings and two baby swings
- Two standing PoGo stick features
- Hurricane spinner
- Monkey bars
- Two metal walkie talkies
- Telescope at top of tower
- Standing swing
- Two slides (both enclosed tube slides – one tall, one short)
- Green space for running
- Long sidewalk loop circling playground perfect for scooters, bikes or ride-ons
- Kubb (Swedish lawn game), Bocce ball, and horseshoes pits
- Very large pavilion with 12+ picnic tables, bathrooms, and water fountain
- Garbage cans
- Lime bikes
- Nearby dog park
Sun protection: Playground is in full sun, but there’s a large pavilion nearby
Parking: Large parking lot (20+ spaces)
Playground structure materials: Plastic, metal
Ground/surface materials: Wood chips
Fenced in? N
Slides? Y, two sides (one tall enclosed tube slide, one short enclosed tube slide)
Swings? Y, four swings (2 normal-sized, 2 baby)
Picnic tables, benches or other seating? Y, 4 benches in the playground, 15+ picnic tables in nearby pavilion
Walking path, sidewalk or bike path? Y, large sidewalk loop circling the playground
Stroller accessibility? Y
Bathrooms? Y
Drinking fountain? Y
Food and drink nearby? N
What makes it special or worth visiting?
Olson Swedish Heritage Park is a hidden gem in Loves Park. It has a large grassy area to run around and a long sidewalk loop that’s perfect for riding bikes or scooters. There are even Lime Bikes available for rent! The playground is clean with newer equipment and a realistic-looking plastic rock to climb on. The park is quiet with almost no through traffic. The nearby bathrooms, water fountain, and pavilion make it a great place to pack a picnic lunch and stay awhile.
If you go, you may want to bring:
- A packed lunch – There’s a picnic table where you can eat
- Horseshoes, Bocce balls, or Kubbs – There are pits nearby
- Bikes, scooters, ride-ons, skateboards or roller skates – There’s a large sidewalk loop around the park
