Current Capital Improvement Projects

Rehm Park Playground Improvements

11/07/2011 Project Update: The entire playground will be closed in early to mid-November for wood chip resurfacing. The northern section of the playground will be reopened shortly after however the rest of the playground will stay closed through the winter and spring 2012. The playground is tentatively scheduled to reopen June 1, 2012.

Project History
Rehm Park, located at 515 Garfield Avenue, features an all-purpose field, three tennis courts, two sand volleyball courts, and a playground with play equipment and a sand play area. It is also home to one of Oak Park's greatest traditions: the Rehm Park Trains. These hand-operated trains cruise along a track inside the playground during the summer months to the enjoyment of many families. Rehm Pool, one of the Park District’s two outdoor swimming pools, is also located in Rehm Park.  

In summer 2008, after a competitive Request for Proposals process, Thompson Dyke & Associates of Chicago, Illinois was hired to provide professional landscape architecture services for the master site planning of Rehm Park and the Conservatory grounds. After staff and focus group input, and four community meetings, the Park Board of Commissioners reviewed the Rehm Park Site Plan final draft recommendation at the Committee of the Whole Meeting on Thursday, December 4, 2008.  At the Regular Park Board Meeting on Thursday, December 18, 2008, the Park Board accepted the Rehm Park Site Plan. 

Thompson Dyke & Associates was contracted to complete the bid documents and Altamanu, Inc. has since been hired to finish construction documents and assist with construction observation.

Project Team
The Working Group for this project is comprised of Josephine Bellalta and Phil Hutchinson of Altamanu, Inc.; and Gary Balling, Michael Grandy, and Neil Adams from the Park District of Oak Park.

Project Summary
This 2011/2012 project for Rehm Park includes replacement of play equipment on a limited basis due to normal wear, plus construction and installation of train storage equipment, play surfacing, and concrete pathways. A concrete base for the play train railway, fencing, site furnishings, and landscaping are also part of the project.

Improvements to the Rehm Park playground will begin the week of September 26th with $250,000 allocated for the project.

Park Availability
Construction fencing will encompass the entire playground area, however, the rest of Rehm Park will remain open to the public during the project. 

Timeline
Project begins mid-November (tentatively)
Project completed by June 1st, 2012