Almost a month into the new school year, the renovation of the playground continues at Glencoe’s South School leading to some frustrations at District 35.
District officials hoped the refurbishment of the South School playground — set to feature a climbing apparatus and gathering areas — would be ready in time for the new school year. Instead, workers are still finishing up the project the project that began in May at District 35’s school for kindergarten through second grade.
Glencoe District 35 Director of Finance and Operations Jason Edelheit wrote in a memo to school board members the delays were related to supplies, equipment, labor and site preparation challenges.
“There were a bunch of little delays that added up at the end of the project and everything couldn’t happen at once,” Edelheit said. “There had to be a sequence.”
Edelheit said there were some issues involving proper flowing of water on the surface led to some delays as the district had to check in with landscape architects Hitchcock Design Group to make sure elevations were correct to allow the water to flow properly before concrete went into place.
“Once you do that (pour concrete), it is too late,” Edelheit said. “So you have to do it right on the front end.”
The contractor for the project is Minooka-based Hacienda Landscaping, Inc., which received an approximate $1.622 million contract in late 2022. Hacienda was the lowest of the four bids the school district received for the project, according to Edelheit.
“We wish they were finished and they are not,” Edelheit said. “It wasn’t all on the contractor, it was a series of minor things. There wasn’t any one big issue.”
Hacienda owner Maria Guzman noted some delays do occasionally occur in these types of plans.
“There were some changes in the construction and we have been working there everyday,” she said. “There has been material that hasn’t been there and we are still waiting for it. We are working with the school and the architect to get it finished.”
Edelheit said this was the first time Hacienda had done a project for Glencoe 35, but they received a reference from Hitchcock as well as the Glencoe Park District where officials say the company has completed five or six playgrounds for them over the past several years.
“They have done an excellent job for us.” Park District Executive Director Lisa Sheppard said.
With the playground closed, South School children have played at recess in other green spaces, according to Principal Kelly Zonghetti.
Edelheit provided an overview of the situation at the Sept. 14 School Board meeting.
“We all want it done right,” Board President Kelly Glauberman said.
Edelheit said the final touches to the surfaces are now being put in place and the hope is now the playground will open in early October.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.