The Glencoe Park District board has signed off on renovations to three village parks, albeit with some last minute tweaks.
Commissioners unanimously approved refurbishments on Jan. 16 to Old Elm Park, Woodlawn Park and the unnamed park at Vernon and Jefferson avenues.
Altamanu Inc., a Chicago-based landscape architecture firm, presented renovation proposals for the parks last year, and have since received feedback from comissioners and the public.
The plan approved on Jan. 16 included some changes from a proposal presented to the park board’s Special Projects and Facilities Committee a week earlier, after some residents asked for modifications.
Some neighbors of Old Elm Park asked for changes in how the park was organized, and Altamanu’s adjusted plan reflected that wish, according to Park District Executive Director Lisa Sheppard.
“The neighbors indicated they would like more open space,” she said at the Jan. 16 meeting.
A set of swings that would have been at the southeastern end will be moved to the northern portion of the park, spokeswoman Erin Maassen said after the regular board meeting.
Park board members supported the move.
“I think this is going to be a great park. I think it is going to look nice,” Commissioner Stefanie Boron said.
At Vernon and Jefferson, Altamanu added a rotating spinner for 2- to 5-year-olds, which may be included if it fits in the budget, Maassen said.
The total budget for the renovations at all three parks remains at $950,000, she said.
At Woodlawn, plans now call for a different type of child-friendly spinning machine to be installed than originally planned, Maassen said. Also, $10,000 would be set aside from the budget to restore tall grasses that park district officials hope will act as a shield from traffic on nearby Green Bay Road, Maassen said.
Maassen said construction is expected to begin in late spring.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
