More than 100 La Grange Park residents showed up on June 14 for the Grand Reopening of Beach Oak Park.
The Park is the only “passive” park in the Village, with no athletic courts or fields, and sits adjacent to the Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad tracks.
“Beach Oak Park has a rich rail history and we’re very excited to honor and preserve that history through this project,” Jessica Canaday, park district executive director, said before the ribbon cutting.
Instead of having an official or two cut the opening ribbon, ribbons were set up all over the park, and neighborhood children participated in cutting them.
The festivities included face painting, music, and free pizza for visitors.
The refurbished park includes open spaces where fitness classes will be held and a playground for 2 to 12-year-olds with a railroad theme — complete with a train track for tricycle shelters. A walking path with a “history short walk,” and various exercise equipment.
One area stood out, with a basketball court for a game called “Bankshot,” where the baskets were at different levels to accommodate players of different ages.
The Community Park District of La Grange Park set aside $694,240 for the project, $600,000 from non-referendum bonds, and the rest from operating reserves.
Cannaday indicated that the project came in under budget at $624,809, leaving significant funds in the budget for contingencies.
Those contingencies included the Village stormwater requirements, tree removal, and electrical work, bringing the total cost to $645,000.
Cannaday also said that the Park District was able to save on the cost of playground equipment — about $119,000 — by cutting out the middleman and purchasing the equipment through the district’s joint purchasing program.
“This is phenomenal, and a great event for the community,” Village President James Discipio said. “To have a new park like this with new amenities, and I’ve never seen anything like the basketball courts. This is really great for our community that the park district is investing in restoring this park, which is the only park on the northeast side of our Village.”
Park District Commissioner Alexandria Zuck, the Board Secretary, spoke about Beach Oak Park’s place in the Village’s history.
“It’s a themed park, focusing on the Village’s history and its close ties to the railroad,” she said. “I’m really excited for the story walk to come in from the trolley dodgers. We worked really hard to make sure to keep the playground and the small trains that everyone’s used to seeing when they come to this park for the kids, and then theming everything around trains. It think it’s going to be a really fun experience.”
Zuck explained the concept of the “Bankshot” basketball court.
“This isn’t basketball, it’s a game called Bankshot, a completely accessible game so that people of all different skill levels and ability levels can play a game of hoops.”
Visitors were impressed with the refurbished park.
“I think it’s really awesome that they redid the park and were very creative for the community, and just in time for summer,” La Grange Park resident Veronica Garcia said.
Max and Miranda Boeh walked around the park with their new seven-month-old son, Jack, living nearby, they were excited about the park’s opening.
“We did come here a few times before they renovated it,” Max said. “Now we’ve got a little one, and it’s really nice with the new improvements.”
Miranda echoed her husband’s sentiments.
“I’m very excited, I’m glad to have something so close and Jack’s going to grow up down here. We’ll make a lot of memories.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
