Glen Ellyn safety village gets start; money needed

Maryknoll Park in Glen Ellyn soon will be attracting many more kids and teaching them basic safety rules.

After years of discussion, the Glen Ellyn Park District's proposed safety village is on its way to fruition.

Plans call for the miniature village to be constructed on the east side of the platform tennis courts at Maryknoll. Portions of the safety village will replicate Glen Ellyn structures, including the Lake Ellyn boathouse, police department and library.

The safety village will be used to help teach bicycle safety and basic safety rules to children. A "smoke house" structure will show kids how to get out of a fire.

The whole project will cost about $500,000. Park district officials said they are relying heavily on donations. They already have received a $30,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to fund infrastructure, asphalt and pavement.

The Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn, Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation and Glen Ellyn Park District are assisting efforts to raise the rest of the money for the project.

"Hopefully, it'll be pretty successful," Pakrs Superintendent Dave Scarmardo said. "It's just a great resource for the kids to be able to learn about safety."

The safety village will be built on roughly an acre area. Construction should be completed in four months.

Scarmardo said the park district will start the infrastructure and curbs. As more money is raised, construction will continue. Exact dates have not yet been determined.

Area residents can donate money and buy lights, streets, benches and houses of their choice. In return, they'll be named after the family.

Park district officials are looking forward to the completion of the project.

"It's been in the works for a long time," Scarmardo said, "but we're just really getting started with this."