Gurnee Park District to unveil two new playgrounds; three more planned
The Gurnee Park District will officially open recently renovated playgrounds at University Park and Westgate Park, and plans are in the works for new facilities at three other parks this year.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies are planned for May 28 at University and May 30 at Westgate. The work on the playgrounds is done, but Beckie Korzyniewski, Gurnee Park District's manager of recreation and facility services, said the ribbon-cutting events will be an opportunity to get neighborhood residents out and enjoying the new spaces together.
"I strongly believe in the joy of play," Korzyniewski said. "Parks and playgrounds to me are essential to bringing together neighbors and help create a sense of connectivity,"
District employees will dole out grilled hot dogs and chips to those who come hungry and lend games and balls to children who want to play. Korzyniewski said there will be rock painting and that the park district's parachute will likely make an appearance at both events. There will also be a scavenger hunt that will send children and their parents around to each piece of new playground equipment.
Jeff Reinhard, the director of parks and planning for the district, described the new playgrounds as top of the line. Reinhard said district officials took designs provided by vendors to neighbors to solicit feedback.
Both playgrounds were originally built in the 1990s and were in need of replacing. Reinhard said equipment at Westgate likely aged faster than usual because of the salt spray from the nearby tollway.
"We continuously replace our playgrounds," Reinhard said. "We have around 25 playgrounds and we have a plan mapped out for the next 20 years. We're never in the situation where we make an emergency replacement."
Reinhard said the district is doing three more playground replacements this year at Chittenden Park, South Park and Providence Oaks Park. Chittenden will get a new structure for older children, and South Park will get an entire new playground. The plan for Providence Oaks will be worked out with the help of the community in the next month or so, Reinhard said.
As for the ribbon cuttings at University Park and Westgate Park, Korzyniewski said the only thing left is hoping for good weather.
"I'm going to put in a special phone call to Mother Nature, we'll see if she answers," Korzyniewski joked.
The ribbon cutting events will run from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. University Park is at the intersection of University Avenue and Estes Street and Westgate Park is at the intersection of Lawson Boulevard and Hancock Lane.