Carol Stream unveils newest park

Instead of jungle gyms, slides and swings that attract the strength and energy of restless children, many of the amenities at Carol Stream's newest park are designed with grown-ups in mind, too.

On Monday, Oct. 27, the Carol Stream Park District will officials open Slepicka Homestead Park - a 4.5-acre area that features walking and bike trails, workout stations, two bocce courts, a beanbags area and picnic pavilion.

"Five-hundred people per year are turning 50 in Carol Stream," said Arnie Biondo, director of the Carol Stream Park District. "We saw the demographic shift and we wanted to be prepared."

Slepicka park is not only multigenerational, but it aims to replicate the feel of an arboretum. The park was purchased from the Frank Slepicka Family in 2006 using grant dollars from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Since the 1940s, the Slepickas planted dozens of trees and the park district preserved as many as possible; To replace trees that succumbed to dying branches or rot, the park district planted four dozen new ones.

Foliage and trees were also planted along a trail leading to nearby Jirsa park, after nearby residents worried the foot traffic might be disruptive to their households.

"They were satisfied we were willing to do that and we haven't heard any negative feedback since then," Biondo said.

Ultimately, though, all the features at Slepicka park were created in response to resident demand, Biondo said. The park district surveyed Carol Stream locals four years ago, and the majority asked for walking trails, small neighborhood parks and natural areas.

"Three things were ranked very highly: parks with natural areas, parks with pathways for walking and biking and passive parks, which have no scheduled activities like soccer games on fields," Biondo said. "So this was just a really great opportunity for us to acquire an area that had mature trees and create what residents were asking for."

Most Slepicka Park attractions are also accessible to - or were designed specifically for - people with disabilities.

Residents can rent gardening plots, many which are raised for people in wheelchairs or people with ailments like arthritis that have difficulty bending. The workout stations are also designed for senior access, the park includes a fountain and a sensory garden that features plants with strong aromas and different textures.

Even the park's silo (which is a historic artifact from the original Slepicka family farm) will be turned into an accessible display for old farm artifacts. The silo restoration should be complete by next year, Biondo said.

Slepicka Homestead Park opening

When: 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 27

Where: 1301 Lily Lane, Carol Stream

Details: (630) 784-6100 or csparks.org