Friday, October 22, 2010

Splash Parks For Some Crystal Lake Parks

Splash parks offered a hot topic for discussion at Thursday evening's Crystal Lake Park Board meeting. Parks are being reviewed for upgrades and in some a splash pad is recommended for installation. Veterans Acres Park on Walkup Avenue is one of the parks planned for installation of a splash pad.

Commissioner Michael Walkup told his fellow Commissioners he did not think a splash pad was a good fit for this park as he views it as more of a passive use park with such as walking trails, fishing in the pond and viewing the prairie. "A splash pad includes screaming and squealing kids," Walkup noted. Other comments were made that the splash pad would be open only four months of the year, while other uses of the park are available year around.

Commissioner Angel Collins also noted that it is an added amenity to the park and is a specialty play area as previously discussed in planning for park upgrades.
The plan was approved by the three of the five present commissioners, Collins, Zellman, and Sexton. Walkup and Eric Anderson voted against the idea.

Another park upgrade was approved, this for Fetzner Park Playground. Bids were recently opened for the work which includes demolition of the existing playground area and the construction of a new modern and contemporary playground to replace it. Eight bids were received ranging from a low of $139,840 to a high of $210,110. Following a review of the bids received, the lowest bid as offered by Elanar Construction was accepted. Design Perspectives, Inc. the design firm retained by the Park District reported they have worked with this Company on a project for the City of Aurora and found the company to be satisfactory to work with.

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