Carol Stream opening new 'pocket park'
The Carol Stream Park District will celebrate the grand opening of Carolshire Park later this month along with some pieces of playground equipment that are new to the district.
The ceremony is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the park, 840 N Gary Ave.
The "pocket park" in the Carolshire/Klein Creek neighborhood is funded through a Community Development Block Grant.
The new park is home to the Twist - an arched ladder apparatus that changes angles in different directions - and the Weevos, a structure designed to meet the physical, cognitive and social needs of young children, sparking their imaginations as they explore.
A swing set has two belt swings, one bucket swing and a molded ADA swing. The playground sports a transportation theme with a trike track, street signs and gas and electric panels.
The idea for a pocket park started in 2013 when the district acquired the land. Officials asked residents to brainstorm ideas for what amenities they wanted.
At the time, and until recently, children were playing in a parking lot. The district applied for a Community Development Block Grant through DuPage County to obtain funding to develop the park and received $200,000 in the fall of 2017. The district matched funds.
A groundbreaking took place in May and work progressed throughout the summer.
For information, visit www.csparks.org.