United Way of Lake County wins national prize for playground project

The United Way of Lake County is receiving national acclaim for teaming with the Chicago Bears and other organizations to build a handicapped-accessible playground at a Waukegan elementary school.

Dubbed the “Chicago Bears Fitness Zone,” the play space at Clearview Elementary School features special swings, wheelchair ramps and hand games that encourage participation from all of the school’s students.

The playground was constructed last October as part of the annual Make a Difference Day promotion, which was created by USA Weekend Magazine, a supplement distributed every Sunday by the Daily Herald.

The effort has earned the United Way one of 11 national Make a Difference Day awards from the magazine. The group will be featured in a special April 15 edition of the magazine that coincides with National Volunteer Week.

“We’re just ecstatic,” United Way spokeswoman Valerie Petersen said of the award, which comes with a $10,000 prize from Newman’s Own. “We’re so thankful that all of the volunteers who made the project possible were so passionate about (it).”

The local United Way group received help from Bears rookies, the Gurnee Community Church, a Wadsworth construction company called Campanella and Sons, Zion-based Camosy Construction and community volunteers.

The construction companies prepared the space ahead of the actual Make a Difference Day gathering, Petersen said. The Bears showed up a few days early, too, to play with students, she said.

Clearview Elementary was chosen for the project because it has the largest number of disabled students in Waukegan Unit District 60, Petersen said.

The existing playground was built at the bottom of a hill, she said, which prevented many students from using the equipment.

Some kids had to stay inside and play checkers or do other activities while classmates enjoyed recess, Petersen said.

“There weren’t enough staffers to assist those (who) needed to access the playground,” she said.

The new playground covers about 6,320 square feet, including a trail to the older play area, Petersen said. The equipment and labor was valued at $67,000.

Representatives of the United Way and the Bears will accept the award and the $10,000 donation on April 19 at an event in Washington, D.C.