$850K Eaton Preserve Improvements Progressing into Phase 2
Work continues on an $850,000 summer overhaul of Eaton Preserve, a nature preserve owned and maintained by the Plainfield Park District.
The 75-acre parcel along the DuPage River in the northeast quadrant of the Park District, received $400,000 in funding from the State of Illinois Open Space Land Acquisition & Development (OSLAD) Grant program for the improvements to the park site in late 2020.
Planned work at the site includes replacement of the existing playground and volleyball courts, installation of a picnic activities area and improved site and shelter access.
A gathering plaza will be added near the foundation of a razed barn and an existing silo.
A pergola leading to the farm out-buildings will highlight the history of the property.
Other features include a gathering area for outdoor programming, a deck outlook along the DuPage River, and improvements to the pathways and canoe launch.
Norman Greenway, Olde Renwick Trail Projects Moving Ahead in July
Other summer park and playground upgrades moving ahead this summer include plans for new playgrounds at Norman Greenway and Olde Renwick Trail Parks.
For the Norman Greenway update, residents selected a design for the new playground with a request for slides to be added.
The new design will include a school age structure, a tot structure, and swings along with an ADA swing, a combo tot/parent swing, and slides on each structure as well as net/rock/climbing features with a nature theme to reflect the natural character of the site.
The new playground at Olde Renwick Trail will include a school-age structure, a tot structure, and swings along with an ADA swing, net and rock climbers, and a musical play element.
Both projects have gone out to bid and contracts could be awarded at the Board of Commissioners meeting in July with construction set to begin in July or August.
