Current
Capital Improvement Projects
Longfellow Park Renovation Project
A Longfellow
Park Pre-Construction Information Meeting was held on April 22, 2008 at 7pm at the Hedges Administrative
Center, 218 Madison, Oak Park. At this meeting project details
and the expected construction timeline were reviewed.
Handout 1 - Longfellow Park Master Plan
Handout 2 - Longfellow Park Creative Play Area
Longfellow Center Elevator Drawings
A site master plan was developed for Longfellow Park in fall 2006 and winter 2007 outlining future park improvements. (Site Plan development information) Beginning
in August, as part of the site plan implementation, Longfellow Park
will undergo major renovation to improve and expand recreation
facilities at the park. An art and music-themed accessible
creative play area will be constructed for ages 2 to 5
and an accessible creative play area will also be installed
for ages 5 to 12. These play areas will feature a synthetic,
resilient, slip-resistant surface for improved accessibility.
Adjacent to the playground will be a universally accessible
water play area which will include the relocated seal spray
feature and expanded recreational water play components.
Unique elements in the creative play areas will include
drums, bells and a sign language panel to stimulate the
senses and fuel the imaginations of all users.
The sunken
area north of Longfellow Center,
where the current basketball court is located, will be
elevated to bring it back to grade making this area fully
accessible. A new full-court basketball court will be constructed
in this area along with spectator seating, an entry plaza,
landscaping and a drinking fountain. An elevator and lobby
area will be a welcomed addition on the north end of the
Recreation Center and the restrooms on
the east side of the building will become ADA accessible.
A hard-surface interior
pathway system will be added to allow park patrons to traverse the park from
north to south. At the south end of the park, the ballfield/soccer field area
will be redeveloped and a brick plaza with seating and bike racks will be added
in the southeast corner.
A
significant percentage of this project is being funded through
grant funds. The Park District received a $235,000
grant from the Good Heart Work Smart Foundation of which
$200,000 will be used towards the installation cost of the
Longfellow Center elevator and lobby area and the balance
has already been used to plan
more accessible features for the playground areas. The Park
District, in partnership with the Oak Park River Forest Community
Foundation, secured a $220,000 Access
to Recreation grant sponsored by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Over $100,000 of these grant monies will be used for the Longfellow
Park Renovation Project.
The Park District was notified on April 25, 2008 that an Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space and Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) matching grant in the amount of $400,000 has been awarded for this park renovation project. The Park District was eligible for this grant program due to the successful passing of the “Renew Our Parks” referendum by Oak Park voters in April 2005. The local matching amount of $400,000.00 will be funded out of the Park District of Oak Parks Capital Improvement Fund.The project is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2008. .
Longfellow Park
is expected to be closed from early August to late November. |
