New slides, swings, and climbing features were offered on Saturday, November 1, at Forest Park Beach, providing new adventures.
The City of Lake Forest celebrated the opening of the new playground at Forest Park Beach with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with more than 100 people in the crowd.
Mayor Stanford “Randy” Tack, along with City Council members Nancy Novit, Eileen Looby Weber, Nick Bothfeld, and Alice LeVert, attended alongside Lake Forest Parks and Recreation staff, and area families with children ready to be the first explorers of the upgraded play space.
Tack, formerly an orthopedic surgeon, said the playground invites families to spend more time at the beach in a safe and inclusive playground space.
“The new construction provides disability access and uses materials to ensure a softer landing, making it a blessing for our community to have access to this new safe play park,” he said.
Looby Weber said she is excited that the new playground design had such great input from the Lake Forest community, who gave their feedback throughout the process to create the best design.
In summer 2024, city officials turned to the community for input on the park design, which included the selection of playground equipment, and residents voted on two playground concepts via an online survey.
Director of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Michael Wick said this flagship park gives the community something to rally around.
“A nautical-themed state-of-the-art playground for all residents, young and old, with fish and ship-inspired climbing bars, new slides, and swings, and a lookout tower with a play telescope that looks out to sea,” Wick said.
According to Wick, the park spotlights enhanced accessibility and universal access for children and adults, expanded sensory play that includes cozy spaces like the fish climber and sensory elements like bongos and chimes, increased roofs that add shade and sun protection, and the installation of a poured-in-place (PIP) rubber surface for easy access and a cushioned landing.
Sarah Femal of Lake Forest attended Saturday.
“We love that this park offers play for all ages – my kids are 1, 3, and 4, which means not only does it satisfy their range of interests now, but it can offer each of them a lifetime of play as they grow,” Femal said.
Kim Weiss of Lake Forest says it made a big impact at Forest Park Beach when the beach walkway allowed direct access to the water.
“Now with park access, I am excited that my daughter in a wheelchair can access new park features up close, rather than trying to wheel over the sand, allowing her to have access to the park and play areas more often,” Weiss said.
Wick said the previous playground was originally built in 2004 and that, despite careful maintenance, it had reached the end of its 15-to 20-year lifespan.
“It was time for a modern, safer, and more engaging space,” Wick said.
As part of the city’s commitment to sustainability, Lake Forest partnered with Kids Around the World, a Rockford-based nonprofit that repurposes playground equipment for communities in need. Two major components from the older playground structure were removed and will be refurbished and reinstalled in an underserved community, bringing joy to kids who may not otherwise have access to play spaces.
Lake Forest’s Colby Lowell also attended.
“I grew up here in Lake Forest, and Forest Park Beach has always been a community gathering spot — today we come to celebrate this beautiful weather and all that the new playground has to offer,” he said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
