New park, first adult fitness area planned in Elgin
The city of Elgin is planning to build a new park with a playground near the Eastside Recreation Center and install the first adult outdoor fitness equipment at Grolich Park along Souster Avenue.
The projects are among park improvements to be funded by about $740,000 in community development block grant money. Wing Street Park, off Wing Street just west of State Street, and Trillium Park, on Illinois Avenue just north of Villa Street, also will be spruced up.
The city council Wednesday unanimously approved awarding the projects bid to Elanar Construction Inc. of Chicago. All four parks are in low- to moderate-income neighborhoods and need improvements to comply with the Americans with Disability Act, as required by federal grant rules.
The new park, to be called Woodview Park, will be built on vacant land off Woodview Drive just east of the Eastside Recreation Center. It will be a great amenity for the neighborhood, which has plenty of young kids who often play on the sidewalks, said resident Erika Sanchez.
"It makes me worry about their safety," said Sanchez, whose four children are 11 to 22. "Mine are a little older now, but for the younger ones, (the new park) will be something valuable. And I think my kids might use it too."
Resident Cherie Agle said the new fitness equipment coming to Grolich Park is "a great idea." She moved to the neighborhood this summer, mostly because of the park, which is well used by kids and adults, she said.
"There are a few workout areas, but I think updating some of the activities will attract a lot more," she said.
Grolich Park's playground recently was renovated, also with community block development grant funds. New amenities will include paved paths, baggo courts, a baseball backstop and renovation of the existing shelter and the sand volleyball court.
The outdated playground at Wing Street Park, installed in 1989, will be replaced along with new swings, paths, a shelter, benches, a picnic table and more.
Trillium Park will get a paved path, two garden areas, landscape plantings and a boardwalk through the wetlands, which will allow science students from nearby Ellis Middle School to gather water samples from Willow Creek.
Parks and Recreation Director Randy Reopelle said he's looking into whether community block development grant funds can be used for ADA-related improvements at Lords Park and Wing Park, the city's largest parks.
Grant funds are supposed to be for neighborhood improvements, but Lords and Wing parks are considered regional attractions because of their swimming pools. The playgrounds in the parks could be considered neighborhood amenities, Reopelle said.