Accessible playground debuts in Bloomingdale

A playground that’s fully accessible for children of all abilities has opened in Bloomingdale.

Bloomingdale Park District officials were joined Saturday by other local and state dignitaries to celebrate the grand opening of Sunnyside Accessible Park at Sunnyside Park, 291 Glen Ellyn Road.

Carrie Fullerton, the district’s executive director, said park board members and district staff are “ecstatic” about the new playground.

“Resident children with physical and sensory special needs will be able to have fun right here in their own community,” Fullerton said in a written statement.

Sunnyside Park is located at the intersection of Glen Ellyn Road and Byron Avenue. As part of a project that began several months ago, the park’s playground structure was renovated to become fully accessible for children of all abilities ages 2 to 12, officials said.

The district, which oversaw the renovation, received a $43,404 grant from Little Tikes to assist in building the playground structures.

Among those who attended Saturday’s grand opening were: U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth, state Sen. Tom Cullerton, state Rep. Michelle Mussman, Bloomingdale Mayor Franco Coladipietro and park board President Buzz Puccio.