Despite the heat, a festive crowd gathered last Sunday afternoon for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Pioneer Park’s new playground. A short ceremony was held by Board Commissioners and Park District staff before attendees headed to the playground to explore the new equipment. Located at 517 Mitchell Avenue, along the Prairie Path, the park features a playground, basketball court, safety surfacing and new site furnishings.
Unique features at the playground include a cozy, cubed imaginative play structure for 2-5 year olds. For older kids, the Tidal Wave will provide plenty of climbing challenges for years to come.
To redevelop the park, a Master Plan was formed in July 2023. This plan was formed after gathering feedback from the community through a Party in the Park Input Meeting and an online survey.
The park’s history is tied to the last time the Park District went to referendum, in 1971. At that time, voters approved a $3.9 million bond referendum for land acquisition and development. The majority of the Park District’s present land was purchased during this time, including Pioneer Park’s.
A naming contest in August 1974 led to the selection of ‘Pioneer’ for the park’s name, which honored both the area’s early settlers and recognized the first steam engine to operate in Elmhurst, the Pioneer.
