Fenced-In and Fun!
We think we’ve found all of the fenced-in playgrounds in Kankakee County—but if you know of any others, we’d love to hear from you. These kinds of spaces can make a big difference for local families, and we want this list to be as helpful and complete as possible.
We were inspired to put this together after seeing a local parent in Bradley ask on social media if there were any fenced-in playgrounds nearby. For many parents and caregivers—especially those raising kids with autism—knowing that a playground is safely enclosed can be the difference between going out or staying home. In the context of autism, “eloping” refers to when a child wanders or runs away from a safe area, often without warning.
Kankakee With Kids caught up with Rachel LaGesse, Director of Outpatient Behavioral Health at Riverside Healthcare, and here is what she had to say - "Fenced-in playgrounds offer a crucial layer of safety for children with autism, who may be prone to wandering. They provide peace of mind for parents and create a secure, inclusive space where children can explore, play, and connect with others. A fully fenced-in park can ease that worry, making playtime more enjoyable and less stressful."
While we didn’t find any parks that are entirely enclosed with a single gated entry, the following parks in Bourbonnais, Bradley, and Manteno are the only parks in Kankakee County that come pretty close.
Bourbonnais Parks
The Village of Bourbonnais is by far the farthest ahead in Kankakee County when it comes to parks that are (mostly) surrounded by fencing. We found three parks managed by the Village of Bourbonnais that we feel belong on this list.
Northfield Park
850 Robert Dr, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Not to be confused with Northfield Park in Bradley, Northfield Park in Bourbonnais is fully fenced in, other than the three open entrances on three sides of the park. It has a nice pavilion, an open field, and playground equipment. There is a separate playset for children under 5, lots of slides, and swings.
Slater Field and Park
894 Gettysburg Dr, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Slater Park is home to three Bradley-Bourbonnais Little League baseball fields, as well as an adjoining (mostly) fenced in park. There is one entrance leading out to the road and a second entrance leading to the Little League stands. Next to the playground is a wide open field that is mostly fenced in, but the fence eventually just ends, due to needing room for crowds to go to and from the baseball fields.
The Village of Bourbonnais does a great job taking care of the park, and there’s a lot of up to date play equipment, along with some older stuff as well. Slater Park has a climbing wall, plenty of swings and slides, and lots of room to run. There’s an added bonus, where if you go during baseball season, you can stop by the concession stand for a nice treat after playing at the park.
Jordan Park
59 Jordan Dr, Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Directly across the street from Slater Park is a small neighborhood park called Jordan Park. It is a long and narrow park that is surrounded on three sides by a chain-link fence. One narrow side does not have a fence, which leads out to a neighborhood road that does not see a ton of traffic. There’s also a dozen raised flower beds between the playground and the fence opening, so the opening in the fence is essentially made more narrow.
Bradley Parks
The Village of Bradley has two entries in our list as well, one of which is the only splash pad in the county surrounded by fencing.
Lil's Park Splash Pad
1201 E North St, Bradley IL 60915
Lil's Park Splash Pad opened in the summer of 2025, and has been a big hit. They have family changing rooms, working bathrooms, and an employee is there during splash pad hours. There is a fence surrounding the splash pad, with an entrance on each end.
Just a heads-up — the playground at Lil's Park is designed to be accessible, with a long ramp that makes it easy for wheelchair users to get onto the play equipment.
Lion’s Park
179 Herman Pl, Bradley IL 60915
Lion’s Park is another long, narrow park, that is surrounded entirely by a fence, other than a section that is about 30 feet long. There is one entrance on Kennedy Drive, and a few entrances on the sides of the park. The park is a few hundred feet long, and home to a playground, a pavilion, and picnic tables. It would be a really nice place to gather a group for a picnic.
Manteno Parks
The Village of Manteno has just one entry in our list, which is the very popular jumping pillow at The Square on Second.
The Jumping Pillow at the Square on Second
98-2 W 2nd St, Manteno, IL 60950
Manteno's jumping pillow is an incredibly popular attraction that brings in families from all over Kankakee County. All ages are welcome to use the jumping pillow, and although it is not a playground, it is a really fun place to be that is fully enclosed with a fence. There is also playground equipment in the area, and it is partially fenced in, with a parking lot on the sides that are not fenced. This is all in the heart of downtown Manteno, so can get pretty busy down there, especially on a weekend. Be sure to walk over to PJ's Ice Cream while you are in the area!
Help Us Keep This List Growing
Every family has different needs when it comes to outdoor play, and sometimes a bit of fencing can make all the difference. While no park we found is fully gated on all sides, the ones listed above offer a good degree of enclosure and can provide some peace of mind. If you know of a playground we missed—or if a new one is built—please reach out so we can keep this guide up to date and continue making Kankakee County more accessible and fun for everyone.
