It was time for a trade-in at Stone Park in La Grange.
That was accomplished Nov. 6 as officials cut the ribbon on renovations and new equipment at one of the Park District of La Grange’s smaller “pocket parks.”
“This is fantastic,” park board President Brian Opyd said before the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “We’ve brought something new here. We had an old playground, it really needed to be upgraded, and we needed to make this happen for the local community. This park is walkable and made for the residents right here.”
Opyd stressed that some of the “equipment was really old, that we had trouble finding parts for.”
The upgrades to the park at 10 N. Stone Ave. cost the district $176,000 and will be paid for out of operating funds, adding no debt to the budget, officials said.
District Commissioner Stephanie Posey cut the ribbon at 4 p.m., assisted by area children, after which visitors could make use of the new equipment.
The upgrade includes a new playground, which replaces the original structure from 1995. The new equipment was designed so children of all ages and abilities can use it. There’s also a new basketball court and hoop replacing one from 1985 and new benches and concrete curbs and sidewalks to make the park more accessible. A rain garden will be planted this spring, which officials said will help with stormwater management.
“This is amazing,” said Jenny Bechtold, the Park District’s executive director. “We’re happy that we can update our parks. Obviously the community supports improvements in our parks and recreation programming with the referendum, so we’re very excited.”
Bechtold pointed to the playground’s equipment that made it more accessible, “so everybody can play.”
Commissioner Stephanie Posey was happy with the new park.
“I’m a big lover of parks, especially small parks,” she said. “It’s the first time the kids really learn how to play, and it’s a beautiful thing to see, kids running around our neighborhood in a nice, safe place.”
Rebecca Bartlett Bartlett lives in the neighborhood and brought her daughter to the grand opening.
“I think it looks really great,” she said. “I used to bring her when she was little to the other park before it was torn down. This is just a nice location because she goes to Ogden School.”
Bartlett said the park was “absolutely” money well spent, “and it’s a definite improvement over the previous structure.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.