Renovation of Des Plaines' West Park begins in September

The Des Plaines Park District will begin a major renovation next month on West Park, 651 S. Wolf Road at Greenview Avenue.

Originally built in 1958, when the work at West Park is finished in fall 2010, it will have new conveniences and improvements.

A large, handicap accessible playground, with ramps and shade canopies, si the first of its kind across the 59 parks and facilities owned or maintained by the Des Plaines Park District.

West Park also will have a nearoly quarter-mile, 8-foot wide asphalt walking/biking path all around the park. Two new covered shelters will be added, a 20' x 10' near the new playground and a 30' x 40' picnic shelter near the Wolf Road parking lot. The picnic shelter will be available for rent, as is the one at Lake Park, which was donated by the Optimist Club.

Two new parking lots will have 112 spaces total, an increase of 18 spaces and four handicap spaces over the present lots.

West Park will have a new lighted, hard-surface tennis court, new, lighted basketball courts -- one full court and one half court - a bocce ball court, and a new, illuminated area designated for ice skating.

The park will still have plenty of open play area.

The park district will install two new ball fields, one with 80-foot base paths and one with 70-foot base paths. Money will be saved by reducing the height of the home run fences from six feet to four.

The new West Park will have more opportunities for installing memorial benches and planting memorial trees. Benches can be installed in the spring of 2010, and memorial trees in the fall of 2010.

"We are excited to bring these improvements and conveniences to the public," said Paul Cathey, superintendent of parks. "West Park has always been a favorite in the community and will now become a destination for families."

The field house will remain open during construction for the fall sessions of martial arts classes.

For more information, contact Cathey, (847) 391-5700.