Apache Park Has a New Playground

The Des Plaines Park District will celebrate the grand opening of Apache Park, 2100 Pine Street, with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00am on August 18. The park has a new ADA compliant playground that was funded by a $93,800 HUD grant through the City of Des Plaines Community Development Block Grant Program. The Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is a flexible, federally funded program of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of development needs, especially for renovations in low income, high population density areas. According to Chan Yu, Associate Planner, Community and Economic Development for the City, the “public improvements may include facilities that are owned by a nonprofit and operated so as to be open to the general public such as parks and playgrounds.”

’s playground includes a play structure for two to five year olds and a separate structure for five to twelve year olds, both with age appropriate slides, climbers, bridges, and towers on engineered wood-fiber safety surfaces. “They are built to ensure minimal maintenance and replacement, while providing kids with strength and aerobic workouts,” said Paul Cathey, Superintendent of Parks and Planning. The park is also outfitted with new benches, a picnic table, a swing set that includes two belt, one bucket and one ADA swing, litter receptacles, and concrete connecting access walkways through the playground area. “Apache Park has a large open space area that kids and families use for impromptu field games, a basketball half court with two hoops, and a backstop and field for baseball or softball games,” said Cathey. “The new playground makes a beautiful new addition to this destination that the neighborhood can take great pride in.”

The original playground equipment was dismantled in April by volunteers from Kids Around the World. KATW is a faith-based 501c3 non-profit organization, headquartered in Rockford, Illinois, that is dedicated to helping children and families who have been affected by war, poverty, illness, and natural disasters. One of the ways they fulfill their mission is to refurbish and install playgrounds around the world. Since 1994, KATW has installed 203 playgrounds in 27 countries including Ecuador, Bosnia, Haiti, Mexico, and Guatemala to name just a few. Dave Bodrie from KATW was introduced to Chan Yu while Yu was having dinner in Rockford, with his parents, at the Stockholm Inn. Shortly afterwards, Bodrie contacted John Hecker, Executive Director for the Des Plaines Park District. “This was a great opportunity for us to help kids in a community thousands of miles away,” said Hecker. “KATW is simply an amazing organization, and we look forward to working with them whenever possible.”

For more information about Des Plaines Park District parks, programs and events, and to see pictures of the new playground, visit www.DPParks.org