Looking for Chicago: parks

Ahoy,

I can't tell you the exact numbers, but in my explorations it seems like I've found far fewer parks and playgrounds in California then in Chicago or New York. I'm sure people are happy in all of these places, so they must be getting their daily allotment of outside playtime in one form or another.

In my mind, I have found there to be 2 different categories of parks. The ones I find in New York and Chicago are more like urban playgrounds. There is usually a playground, water feature, benches, etc. The bigger ones have baseball, soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts. These are the ones I was accustomed to growing up. 

What I love about these parks is the concentration of energy they have. They become something like the best party thrower in the neighborhood. I love how you can feel the fun that lives in the neighborhood when you see kids running around and getting dirty and parents cheering on their childs' losing little league team, but it's okay because the team gets pizza even if they lose. I love that you can just call your friends up after dinner, before it has even digested, to go play tag at the park. I love how you get to know who the neighbors are by the sport they partake in. It's easy to never see your neighbor and you rarely need to interact unless your shrub is invading their property, but I love that everyone stops at the park. I love that people go outside and make eye contact - even if it is because your ball just interrupted their game. These are your neighbors, this is your neighborhood. 


Much to my surprise, a "park" was something totally different on Berkeley maps. A "park" meant a big forest that was more of a place for people to go hiking (get lost). Chalk it up to local vernacular. Not only are these large areas of woodland, they can be far away and require more effort to get to (ie. LA, which at first glance appears to have a ton of parks, but also require days to get to). The parks of my childhood were always within a stone's throw of people in the neighborhood, but in California it now seemed like an Olympic effort to get to the park. There needs to be a large chunk of your day that is free, and all your friends need to give you their day, and you need a bus or you need a car, and you need to pack food, because city girl that I am - I would not know where to even begin to forage outside of my snack pantry. 


As many differences as there are, I can see how you could appreciate their respective qualities all the same. It's always great to get away from the commotion of a city for an extended period of time - makes me appreciate the wildness of  the city that much more. You never know who you'll cross paths with in the woods - maybe you'll find friends from afar or someone to trade lunches with. Regardless of what is near or far from me, I never want to stop going outside. I never want to stop playing.

aptly amok,
jt