Officials welcome reopening of refurbished park in Tinley
The Tinley Park Park District officially reopened St. Boniface Park, 16301 Oak Park Avenue, after a $1 million renovation project that added amenities including a dedicated basketball court, pickle ball court and walking path. The work also included renovations of the ball field, multipurpose field, a new playground and an expanded parking lot.
The project was completed with the help of an Open Space Land and Acquisition Grant provided by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The Park District received a $400,000 matching grant to renovate the property, which was acquired by the Park District in 2013.
Sunrise shot wins July Forest Preserve photo contest
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A Crete man’s photo of the rising sun peeking through an oak tree’s branches at Hickory Creek Preserve in Mokena won July’s portion of the Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Preserve the Moment photo contest.
The photo was taken by Byron Morgan, who saw the scene in June, but returned in July to get the perfect shot.
“This is a picture taken shortly after sunrise just before the first parking area as you go into the Hickory Creek Preserve at the LaPorte Road access,” he wrote in an email after being notified of his win. “I found this beautiful scene on June 12, but I did not think my pictures that day did it justice. I went back on sunny July 5 to try again, and I’m glad I did. I never think my landscape pics are as good as the scene looks in person, but that doesn’t stop me from trying.”
Morgan said he has loved nature and photography all his life, and also won an honorable mention in July for a photo of a northern flicker flashing its golden wing at Hammel Woods. Other honorable mentions were awarded to Joe Viola of Shorewood, Amy Miller of Joliet, Maura Carlisle of Plainfield and Eileen Capodice of Minooka.
All photo contest entries can be viewed at Flickr.com/WillCoForests. The contest continues through December. Information is at ReconnectWithNature.org.
Active Living Faire offered at Wolf Lake
The 18th annual Active Living Faire at Wolf Lake will feature a fishing clinic for youngsters and the bi-state Labor Day Bike Ride on Sept. 6.
Sponsored by the Association for the Wolf Lake Initiative, the 20-mile ride, with frequent stops along the way, will begin at 8:30 a.m. with a sign-up in the parking lot of Calumet College of St. Joseph, 2400 New York Ave., Whiting, Indiana. The ride includes a side trip to the Big Marsh bike park for lunch and a tour of the park, with the return trek beginning at 2 p.m.
Sign-up for the fishing clinic also begins at 8:30 a.m. and will continue to 11 a.m. at the Visitors Center, William W. Powers State Recreation Area, 12949 S Avenue O, Chicago.
Online registration is required for both events. The fishing clinic is free and there is a $15 registration fee the Labor Day Bike Ride. Registration deadline for both events is Aug. 27 at www.wolflakeinitiative.org.
130th Street closing Aug. 31, McCarthy Road to close Sept. 18
Repairs to the Union Pacific Railroad crossing on 130th Street, west of the Bishop Ford Freeway in Chicago will require a full closure starting at 9 a.m. Aug. 31, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
A posted detour will direct motorists to Indiana Avenue, 142nd Street and the Bishop Ford. The work is expected to be complete by 7 a.m. Sep. 5.
Motorists can expect delays, IDOT said.
McCarthy Road, also known as 123rd Street, will be closed between 96th Avenue (U.S. 45) and 80th Avenue from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 18 for the Palos Park Parade and Chili Cook Off, which will be on the Village Green at 8901 W 123rd St.
Other street closings are planned during that time frame as well for the festival and parade, which stats at 11 a.m., village officials said.
New Lenox offers Disaster Preparedness Training
New Lenox will host a Community Emergency Response Team 20-Hour Basic Course on Tuesdays starting Sept. 7. The course is free and will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the New Lenox Village Hall, culminating in a Final Exercise and Graduation at 9 a.m. Oct. 23.
The CERT Program teaches about hazards and trains in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT members also are encouraged to support emergency response agencies by taking a more active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.
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Registration for the program closes Sept. 3. More information is with Daniel Martin at 815-462-6493 or [email protected].
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