Grant to fund Elk Grove park project

The Elk Grove Park District has been awarded an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant of $343,000 to redevelop the 7.8-acre Fountain Square Park on Gibson Drive in Elk Grove Village.

The grant will fund a picnic shelter, a multigenerational family area with boccie and bags courts, seating areas and game tables, sand play area with seating, splash playground with 11 spray features, a nature station with interpretive signage, a fitness path with three fitness stations and a sensory garden.

Fountain Square Park was originally built in 1993. It was considered a state-of-the-art park featuring the first splash play equipment in the area. The district has made basic improvements to Fountain Square Park over the years, but in order to completely renovate and install new water features, the district needed the grant. Residents of the neighborhood provided input on new features and improvements. The district submitted the grant application in June 2010.

Renovation will start later this summer. The existing playground will be usable during construction and the renovated park will open in the summer of 2012. For information, contact Project Manager Valerie Lemme at (847) 228-3513.