Glen Ellyn playground project also will help others

Glen Ellyn Park District is on the verge of giving children a chance to play not only here, but abroad.

The district is scheduled to begin work Sept. 8 to install a new playground at its Danby Park.

But instead of discarding the old playground equipment, the district already has donated it to an organization called Kids Around the World. The group provides equipment - both new and used - for use by children in other countries who otherwise might not have playgrounds.

The organization also gives new equipment for kids in the United States.

This is the second time the park district has donated used playground equipment to Kids Around the World. The first donation resulted in equipment from Glen Ellyn Manor Park going to India.

The Rockford-based nonprofit organization has built more than 300 playgrounds since 1994, according to its website.

Tim Clauson, the group's playground director, said Kids Around the World already has taken the old Danby Park playground equipment, but still needs to refurbish it.

He does not yet know where it will be sent.

The Danby Park playground was 23 years old, according to Dan Hopkins, the district's superintendent of parks and planning.

"Playgrounds should be replaced roughly every 15 to 20 years, so it's beyond it's life span," Hopkins said. "Playgrounds get to a point where either you can't find parts for them anymore" or they can become hazardous.

The Danby Park playground equipment showed signs of rust, he said.

With the new playground in Danby Park, kids will get new swings, higher slides and elements for youngsters of different ages. Kids also will get a wobble sphere, where they can sit in a ball that wobbles and spins, Hopkins said.