Lawn Manor Park in Oak Lawn set for major upgrade
Some big changes are coming to Lawn Manor Park in Oak Lawn, including a mini splash pad, a musical and butterfly garden, a green roof with plants atop a picnic shelter and more.
The additions, which recently got a boost from a $4,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant, have everyone at nearby Lawn Manor School psyched.
“My goodness, we use the park every day,” said Principal Heather Wills. “The changes will benefit the kids … there will bemore interactive equipment, more swings and also from occupational therapists who take kids to the park, there will be ‘push-and-pull’ equipment.”
Wills said she and other school staff were also grateful the Oak Lawn Park District came to them for input on the changes, holding several meetings with teachers, occupational therapists and the community
Maddie Kelly, executive director of the Oak Lawn Park District, said other additions included a standalone pickleball court, fitness court, outdoor body weight training center and musically oriented playground pieces. There will also be new benches, drinking fountains, awalking path and new security lighting.
“It’s a really heavily utilized park and it’s such a community neighborhood park, people ride their bikes and walk to the park,” said Kelly. “It’s in a heavily populated area, right smack dab in the middle of the neighborhood.”
Kelly said the 8-acre park had typical playground equipment purchased about 25 years ago.
“We took suggestions from residents and made some changes and additions and listened to what they had to say,” said Kelly. “They took some of the playground equipment examples back to the kids and had the kids take a look at it and decide what they really liked.”
Though Kelly could not give a timeline for the work, she said she thought construction could start once theweather “breaks,” which might be sometime between March and May.
Janice Neumann is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.