Creative Playground A New Innovation At
Downers Grove's Spacious McCollum Park

The "Natureville-style" playground equipment, manufactured by Miracle Recreation Equipment Company, provides creative play opportunities for children and its wide ramps make it easily accessible to the handicapped.

By Lisa L. Kimball

Just a couple of years ago, McCollum Park in Downers Grove was 50 acres of open space. Thanks to the long range planning goals instituted by the board of park commissioners, McCollum Park has since been transformed into one of Illinois' most progressive parks.

The land that is now McCollum Park was acquired in four parcels in 1972, 1973, 1975 and 1977. Board members saw the need for this district-wide community park when the master plan was developed in the early seventies.

Actual park construction began with phase one in September of 1981 with final details of phase two now completed. Each area of the park is outstanding in its own right, but of particular note is the playground section which is visibly larger than other park installations in the area.

Most of the playground equipment installed in the "play core" is manufactured by Miracle Recreation Equipment Company. The Miracle redwood structured component "Natureville-style" play equipment, along with other complementary play equipment, is able to provide combinations of creative play opportunities for all children to enjoy.

The "Natureville-style" play equipment effectively mixes therapeutic play equipment with standard items such as slides and hanging bars. In addition to the "Naturevilles" swings, whirls, animal hops, tire swings, climbing apparatuses and an elevated sand box have been installed for joint use by handicapped and non-handicapped individuals.

Therapeutic areas are also surfaced with elastrocrete^TM pavers instead of the more commonly used concrete or asphalt. The elastocrete^TM is resilient and water permeable; it not only acts as a soft, safety surface, but is not affected by snow, ice or salt which makes the paved area accessible to play year 'round.

The "fort" at the top of the redwood "Natureville-style" equipment provokes the imaginations of local residents Careyann and Billy Robleski.

The equipment has been installed in McCollum Park for less than six months and the district is very pleased with its use and has already received several compliments on the playground area from residents. Besides being one of the largest playgrounds in the area, it is also fully accessible to the handicapped.

The initial master plan was designed by John R. Cook Associates. From this master plan, the park district's registered landscape architect, Grant A. Casleton and landscape architect, Ward Wilson, revised the plan to meet the changing needs of the community. They then designed and developed construction drawings, specifications and contract documents for three year phases of construction. In addition, an electrical engineer consultant developed lighting plans for the area and a consulting civil engineering firm developed water, storm sewer and sanitary plans.

The following list and time table detail the project areas:

Phase One: Design, construction plans and specifications began in Fall of 1980 — completed in summer of 1981. Construction began in September 1981 — completed in August 1982.

Phase One Major Items:

• total site grading.

• installation of storm and sanitary sewer systems.

• construction of water main.

• construction of three football/soccer fields.

• construction of four lighted softball-baseball fields with unique perpendicular arched backstops.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 31 January/February

• one hundred twenty-two car parking lot with lighting.

• construction of a clay sub base for future tennis courts and parking lot with light pole footings installed.

• entire park seeded for grass.

Phase Two: Design, construction plans and specifications began in late 1982 — completed in April 1983. Construction began in June 1982 and is finished.

Phase Two Major Items:

• one hundred forty-six car parking lot with lighting constructed.

• administration and maintenance parking lot and driveways excavated and paved.

• ten tennis courts, two basketball courts and three sand volleyball courts installed with underdrainage, fence and lights.

• playground equipment installed with sitting areas incorporating brick paved areas, benches, concrete planter boxes and planter seats.

• seating areas at playground game areas and shuffle board, four-square, hopscotch and horse shoe courts installed.

• outdoor classroom (consists of three foot high, three tiered seating) installed.

• ball field core area was paved using asphalt and decorative brick pavers; planter seats were incorporated.

• limestone screening surfaced jogging trail 1.2 miles in length with interlooped one-half mile fitness trail, complete with fifteen exercise stations and five additional stations designed for the handicapped installed.

• facility concession building complete with restrooms under construction.

• sidewalks and pedistrian paths installed.

Phase III: divided into two sections; Landscaping and Site Work. Landscape plans began in Summer 1983 — completed in September 1983. November 1983 landscaping commenced — project estimated completion in Spring 1984.

Phase in - Major Landscape Projects:

• areas seeded for grass.

• extensive planting consisting of 473 shade trees, 212 intermediate flowering trees, 437 shrubs, 271 evergreens, ground cover, wild flowers, ferns, day lilies, etc.

• sitting areas with benches along jogging trails.

Site work designs are currently being planned.

Phase III - Major Site Work Projects:

• eighteen hole miniature golf course.

• four batting cages.

• tennis hitting wall.

• pedestrian paths and sitting areas.

• outdoor cafe area (adjacent to concession building).

McCollum Park contributed to the Downer's Grove Park District's winning of the 1983 National Gold Medal Award, (20,000-50,000 population). The Gold Medal Award is sponsored by the Sports Foundation, Inc. in cooperation with the National Sporting Goods Association and the National Recreation and Park Association.

The award is for the most outstanding park and recreation system for designated population distributions.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Kimball is a public relations professional from Palatine, IL.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 32 January/February