Greene Field Park to get a makeover

Baby boomers and little tykes alike should find Aurora's Greene Field Park more appealing once it's made over, Fox Valley Park District leaders say.

The west-side park, at Illinois and Russell avenues, will see big improvements before next summer, including a new picnic shelter, restrooms and playground.

Baseball fields at the 8-acre site will be upgraded, and new fencing, lighting and asphalt paths added. Half-court basketball areas also will be built.

The park's about 50 years old, leaders say.

"The shelter and playground have reached the end of their life cycles," said Jeff Palmquist, district director of planning, development and grants.

Leaders hope to re-create a classic city park feel within the site.

Greene Field's a heavily used community park on a smaller site, with a more formal layout to accommodate all its elements, Palmquist said. By contrast, community parks today often are larger, with more natural areas and space between amenities.

The new playground will feature a modern version of a rocket ship climbing structure many baby boomers know well from their own park days, Palmquist said.

Park district trustees recently approved an $860,000 contract with R.C. Wegman Construction Co. of Aurora to do the work.

They also signed a $214,000 contract with Adlite Electric Co. of Des Plaines to install energy-efficient lights on the ball field.

The district has been awarded a $349,200 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the project.