Hoffman Estates takes pride in parks

Chances are most cherished childhood memories happen outdoors, says Gary Buczkowski of the Hoffman Estates Park District.

That's why outdoor projects like Black Bear Park are important, the district's director of planning and development said, especially with schools offering fewer field trips to students.

"Hands-on opportunities are not as prevalent as they were in the past," Buczkowski said. "The vast majority of students don't even take shop classes today."

Thursday, officials including State Sen. Michael Noland of Elgin and State Rep. Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates helped announce a $325,000 grant for the nearly 30-acre Black Bear Park in western Hoffman Estates, south of Shoe Factory Road in the Devonshire Woods and White Oaks subdivisions.

The grant, from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will pay for half of the total project cost of $650,000. Work will include a playground, basketball court, fishing pier, open-air shelter, exercise trail and walking path. It would be the fourth-largest park in Hoffman Estates and could be ready by summer 2009. Park district officials applied for the grant in May 2007.

Park district Executive Director Dean Bostrom said it was important to strike a balance between building on the site and preserving open space. The area includes woods, wetlands and prairie land. Bostrom also said the basketball court was needed in the area, as was the walking path.

"Everyone loves walking paths. It's always the No. 1 thing requested by residents," he said.

It's a busy time for the park district, as it also gears up for the second phase of the Vogelei Park renovation project. That kicks off May 3 with Vogelei Cares Day, when 130 volunteers will plant about 12,000 perennials around the park near Higgins and Golf roads. The park district is paying $50,000 in seed money for the project In 2004, the state gave the park district a $400,000 grant for Vogelei renovations.

Buczkowski said the new projects are needed, as facilities like an outdoor learning laboratory where kids can observe aquatic life in a pond or look at different plant species are going to gain popularity at park districts all over the state.

The district doesn't need more volunteers for May 3, but Buczkowski said they'll need them on a regular basis to help maintain the park. They've gathered about 30 volunteers already for the yet-to-be named group. Buczkowski said this isn't your grandma's garden club, and it will do more than just plant flowers.

"It deals with pertinent issues of today, whether it's energy conservation, energy awareness, safety issues all in an outdoor setting," Buczkowski said.

For more information on volunteering, call the park district at (847) 885-7500.