Lake County is seeing a burst of inclusive playgrounds this summer, with last week’s ribbon-cutting for Mundelein’s new inclusive space at Kracklauer Park and this weekend’s grand opening event for Hero Park in Round Lake Park.
The playgrounds feature various accessibility improvements from typical playgrounds, including ramps and pour-in-place surfacing that are friendlier for those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
In Mundelein, Kracklauer Park’s new inclusive space cost about $1.37 million to construct, primarily funded by a $1.15 million Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant according to Ron Salski, executive director of the Mundelein Park and Recreation District. The Village of Mundelein and area businesses also made donations.
He said that two community families whose children use wheelchairs had been advocating for creating more inclusive spaces, and the district evaluated where to best locate the project, identifying a playground that was planned to be replaced and was centrally located in the community.
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“So the stars aligned for us,” Salski said.
Inclusive, or “universal,” playgrounds have become more popular in communities across the country, Salski said. He recalled a 2022 national conference where he attended a seminar about the growing trend.
However, such playgrounds are more expensive to build, Salski said. Theirs was made possible by the IDNR Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant, and he advocated for “every community” in Illinois to have at least one.
To that end, Salski said he is working with legislators to help incentivize similar projects by adding extra points to the OSLAD application process for inclusive playgrounds.
The results speak for themselves, Salski said.
“What you see now is grandparents and parents engaging with their kids, because they can actually get onto the playground,” Salski said. “So it’s created a different interaction for the community.”
Beyond the accessible playground, the space also includes an outdoor, handicap accessible bathroom, pickleball courts, a fishing station, and boccia ball, a game similar to bocce but modified to be friendlier for people with disabilities.
Round Lake Park’s new inclusive playground, called “Hero Park,” was hosting its grand opening over the weekend with a special event Saturday morning. It marks the end of a roughly five-year journey, said Ane Olivares, superintendent of parks for the Round Lake Area Park District.
The primary challenge was finding funding, and ultimately the $2.9 million project was funded primarily through the park district.
According to a news release, plans for Hero Park were first announced in 2022. The site had previously had a preschool, which was removed in 2020, and playground, which was removed in 2023 and donated to Kids Around the World. Construction on the new park began in 2024.
The playground features a splash pad, accessible bathrooms, pour in place surface, a small cove for relaxation, and nearby access to the skate park, BMX track, sports center and other local amenities.
“It’s completely inclusive,” Olivares said. “Whatever your disability may be, we’ve got the answer for you to be able to play side by side with everyone and anyone.”