Bits and pieces from the Southtownstar article.
A new playground is being installed at McKiernan Park, 10714 S. Sawer Ave.
The new playgrounds will be completed in about six weeks. Thanks to a donation from Team Reil, a playground company based in northwest suburban Union. The company is also installing artificial turf beneath the playground, eliminating muddy shoes or those messy woodchips one often finds in parks.
The value of the project has been placed at $500,000 by a grateful Chicago Park District, spokeswoman Michele Jones said.
The new playground could lead to more of the same around the city. At least that's the hope of John Cederlund, the president of Team Reil, which represents Missouri-based Miracle Recreation. Miracle makes the playground equipment being installed while Team Reil specializes in fake grass.
Two years ago, Cederlund approached park district officials with the offer of a free playground. Eventually, word got to Ald. Ginger Rugai (19th), who liked the idea.
Cederlund knows that the gesture is appreciated, and hopes it translates to more business for his company. If not, that's OK, too, he said.
"Chicago is too big an account to not try to get back. A lot of influential people live there," Cederlund said of the politically-connected 19th Ward. "All in all, it's great for the kids. This will be nice for them, and we're happy about it. Everybody is happy about it," Cederlund said.
The park district is certainly happy because it's getting a new playground for free.
McKiernan will be the first park in the city to have artificial grass, she said. Cederlund said the product is durable and, perhaps best of all, needs no watering.
Rugai provided $80,000 in city funds to pay for the demolition and a sub-surface drainage system that had to be installed before construction, Jones said. The old playground equipment "was fairly dated," Jones said.
There will be two separate playground structures, Jones said. One is for children ages 5 and younger. The other is for children ages 5 to 12.
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11 comments:
Which school will the old playground equipment be donated to?
Which school will the old playground equipment be donated to?
April 28, 2009 9:04 AM
I love it! Even after all the crap, we still have our sense of humor in tact!
Maybe Esmond could contact this guy and his company too? CPS is a big account too!
This is GREAT news for the forgotten ones out west, us in MtG.
This is great for Mrs. Bush too — she will make sure the park is used to its fullest extent and that it does not get destroyed.
Parents - time for you to make sure your kids, the teenagers, are not there hanging out destroying stuff. Get involved!
"This is GREAT news for the forgotten ones out west, us in MtG."
I know that thinking makes you unite and I like it, but I live in beverly and my park is a hot stinky pile of dog crap!!! We too have been "forgotten" although it has Pod cameras at 35,000 each....sick
They rebuilt Hurley playlot at 100th & Longwood last year.
Funny how Ginger coughed up money for this park. The people trying to get new equipment for Mt. Greenwood Park had to do the fundraising themselves.
And please keep your dogs off of the playground, I don't care if they don't bite. Some kids are allergic.
Beverly Park had to come up with the money through a private fundraiser too.
I hate to even say it..but Ginger did contribute $ for MTG park as well as fundraising. I don't care for her much either but will give credit when it is due.Things are off balance as far as which attention is given to what neighborhood. We need schools built here, Central Park is back to pothole hell and the neighborhood kids are back at causing trouble. The police have picked up and are doing something about these kids. Business District is a joke. It is mid spring now......found waldo but where is Walgreen's.
And many children are afraid of the dog. Playgrounds are for kids, not dogs
Artificial turfs are the choice of modern way of gardening for
indoor and outdoor turfs available.
Artificial turfs are very safe and very protective for kids and pets too. This synthetic grass is actually better than real grass.
This
artificial turf is really soft and shiny. Those who have invested in artificial grass
testify that their kids love it.
It saves them water, time, mowing and trimming. Not only that, even the pets love it.
They don't require fertilizers and pesticides and saves a lot of water and energy too.
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