One of the values the Park District emphasizes is being Community Focused – at the end of the day, it’s all about the community we serve. Improving the accessibility of our parks and facilities for all community members is an important part of maintaining that focus.

Installed in 2008, the two existing synthetic turf sports fields at Berens Park are popular sites for soccer, football and lacrosse. However, after ten years of use, replacement is necessary to continue to provide a safe and functional surface for play and to meet the high demand for field usage, by both the Park District and affiliate athletic groups.

The Bicentennial Fountain and its surrounding area in Wild Meadows Trace, will receive some improvements in spring 2018, just in time for residents to enjoy the space this coming summer.

Visitors to Berens Park and East End Park will soon have more room to run, play and picnic. Green space will be added to both parks this fall as part of the Park District’s goal to improve and maintain open space for Elmhurst residents.

Two single family properties recently acquired by the Park District, 447 W. Armitage Avenue (located adjacent to Berens Park) and 207 N. Hampshire Avenue (located northeast of East End Park), will be demolished and restored to open space during the week of October 10, 2017.

Work on the redevelopment of Plunket Park playground is moving swiftly. Most of the concrete has been poured, which will allow for the installation of new picnic tables, and equipment installation has begun. The 2-5 years olds structure is going up as well as the swing structure. Nature inspired elements, including a log replica tunnel, are being installed as well. The project is still on track to be completed by October 2017.

With school back in session, the Park District is beginning work on the redevelopment of Plunkett Park playground, which will receive new structures and play surfacing this fall. On August 16, the old playground structures were  removed by Kids Around the World, a non-profit agency that repurposes playgrounds and rebuilds them in developing countries. Elmhurst Park District has worked with them previously to repurpose playground equipment from several parks, including most recently at Butterfield Park. 

The north tennis courts at Berens Park are once again open. The refurbishment of the courts was completed this week, as new nets and posts were installed. 

The Board approved the resurfacing project for the tennis courts, at their February 27 Park Board Meeting at a cost of $121,946.17. The scope of the project included adding a layer of stone on top of the existing surface and overlaying with new asphalt and color coating. The tennis net posts and nets were replaced at a cost of $3,240.