ROCHELLE — In a 6-0 vote on Monday night, Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District commissioners approved to spend up to $454,000 to replace KidsGround at Cooper Park next summer.
Play By Design was chosen by the board as the design and construction firm to handle the project, which will include a community build aspect of organizing volunteer residents to help with much of the labor.
“We looked at five different proposals and Play By Design was our top choice,” said park superintendent Don Elliott. “They incorporated a lot of key elements of the community in their design and also are very experienced at doing community build projects.”
Elliott said the project will likely be slated for next June and the goal is to have it completed by July 4, 2019.
Park director Jackee Ohlinger said the staff has looked at various design options, and wants to make sure the playground area is the same or even bigger than the original KidsGround facility.
“One of the most expensive elements of these projects is the poured in rubber surface base, so we may look at not installing that throughout the entire footprint and only as a walkway between features,” Ohlinger explained. “I’d rather scale back on the poured in flooring in order to get more playground space and features.”
Elliott said the district plans to use staff and volunteers to take down the current KidsGround equipment and the area will be fenced off to the public during the demolition phase. New construction calls for about three weekends of work with volunteers.

“I’m excited about this project and it is definitely needed,” Elliott said. “It will be a fluid process and Play By Design will work with us on the design and lead the community build.”
Ohlinger said that Play By Design will be going into the schools to get input from the local children about what they would like to see at the playground, and eventually an artist’s rendering and public presentation will be held leading up to the start of the project.
Spring Lake news
Ohlinger announced Monday night that Spring Lake pool manager Michelle Antolik resigned her position, but that previous long-time manager Marianne Swanson has agreed to return to take over the pool operation again in 2019.
In addition, Ohlinger also informed the board that the OSLAD matching grant application for improvements at the Spring Lake pool, marina and lake grounds has been submitted to the state.
“We are just in a waiting period for now, but hopefully we will be chosen to give a presentation in Springfield in January, which could lead to grant dollars,” Ohlinger added.
Other items
Ohlinger stated that the city and park district are making a change to the Fairways Golf Course management agreement. Going forward, Fairways manager Mitch Hamilton will report directly to city manager Jeff Fiegenschuh. Hamilton was already on the city’s payroll, but reported to the park district.
Both parties will continue to make joint decisions on the Fairways operation, but the change will simplify and streamline the management and reporting process.
Finally, the park board approved the purchase of a brush chipper at a cost not to exceed $24,500. Elliott told the board the equipment is needed to improve the tree management and clean up at Skare Park and at other district locations.