This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

Friday Deadline For Forest Hills Park Fundraiser

Brick pavers, benches, and even trees are still available for donations to help renovate Forest Hills Park.

The PTA is still $4,000 short in helping fund a redesigned park playground and has until this Friday, May 18 to get the rest of the money in. 

With a $60,000 budget, the Western Springs Park District will be forced to go with scaled down equipment in a redesign of , which is near the school on Central Avenue. The PTA jumped in and contributed $10,000 and set a goal to match that amount from the community with donations to the Learning and Teaching Garden. 

“We’re adding commemorative items to the garden like benches and a seating area for kids while teachers present lessons,” fundraiser chair Jeanne Padgett, said. “Around the stools will be a brick paver patio so people can have their name engraved on a brick.”

Find out what's happening in Western Springswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Engraved brick pavers are $100 and 16”x16” stepping stones are $500. There also are 4-foot and 8-foot benches and dwarf trees that can be obtained through donations. Padgett said Prairie Path Pavers 

The Western Springs Park District was forced to drop a toddler-oriented playground and replace it with a recreational structure designed for both toddlers and older elementary aged kids as part of planned renovations to the playground.

Find out what's happening in Western Springswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Padgett said the local Kiwanis Club is expected to contribute about $1,800. She said 50 bricks have already been sold and all 32 of the mushroom-shaped stools for students are gone at $250 each. 

the new playground design will include Phase I, the Park District’s design and Phase II will include the PTA’s add-on. Phase II includes higher structures and five slides, suitable for kids in the 5 to 12 age group. The swing set and associated equipment will stay, but swings will meet new code requirements and be raised from 12 to eight feet. 

“It’s a very heartwarming thing to be involved in, to see how people care about the park,” Padgett said. “This is the only park west of Wolf Road, so for our neighborhood this is the park [kids go to|.” 

Padgett said there will be a community day later in the year where community members can come help build the new playground. 

The Park District is putting in the order for the playground equipment this Friday. Anyone wishing to make a donation for engraved items for the Garden to help the PTA meet its goal can drop them off at 4805 Woodland Ave., Western Springs. Call Jeanne Padgett at (708) 784-6030 for more information.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Western Springs