Playground Opens in York Commons Park

On the first warm Sunday in spring, the place to be in Elmhurst, IL was York Commons Park. The brand new and not-quite-finished playground was packed with kids and parents enjoying the sun and new equipment. The newly rebuilt and relocated playground features play equipment not at other local parks. The focus, and the kids' attention, was on flexible play structures that move and wiggle.

The largest play structure is a "new school" jungle gym that incorporates a 6- to 7- foot tall net ladder for climbing, platforms that jiggle as kids' weight shifts, "mushrooms" (stepping stones that sway as kids walk across them), and large rubber rings to climb through. The kids dubbed the most popular attraction the "wave runner," a flexible metal and plastic snake to climb on. When an adult or child lifted up or moved one end of the snake, the kids sitting along the entire structure bounced up and down.

Kids lined up to try an edge-less slide that they straddled. They dangled their legs in the air during the descent. For traditionalists, a teeter-totter was available.

A new swing set held a tire swing, two standard swings, and two infant swings for the very young. Also popular with younger kids: animals and airplanes on springs for toddlers and preschoolers to sit on and bounce in, and a large sand pit area surrounded by boulders. A more standard-style climber has yet to open.

A covered shelter or picnic area also is not quite complete.

A sign posted outside the playground warns that it is for children aged 5 to 12, and that parents should supervise their kids at all times. A rubberized surface covers the entire play area and softens landings without requiring wood chips. Several benches provide seating for parents, and a split-rail fence encloses the entire playground.

Nearby in York Commons Park are ball fields for games, a skateboard park, and Smalley Pool, which will reopen in the summer. Although parking is ample for now, the lot does fill completely on hot summer days after the pool opens. The skate park attracts older children and teenagers on mountain bikes, roller blades, and skateboards.

According to the Elmhurst Park District, the land on which York Commons Park sits was purchased in 1966 from the former Dramm Greenhouse. The purchase price was $394,000. York Commons is named for nearby York Street, with "Commons" added as a reference to shared or community property. A major renovation of the park in 1999-2000 created Smalley Pool, which has a water slide and spray ground. The pool and the skateboard park opened in May, 2000. In all, the park covers a little more than 11 acres.www.epd.org