Eight Homes Win Awards in Annual House Decorating Contest

Eight winners were chosen this year in the fourth annual free Halloween House Decorating Contest sponsored by Friends of the Parks. The announcement was made November 1 by a committee of judges from the Friends of the Parks, the Des Plaines Park District, Alden Nursing Home, the Frisbie Senior Center, and Oakton Place. Prizes were awarded to the Cook/Tobin families at 1326 and 1336 Whitcomb Avenue for the “Scariest Half Acre”; Sharon Nowak at 265 Kinkaid Court for the “Best Graveyard”; Mary Bartusiak at 1668 East Algonquin Road for the “Best Zombie Graveyard”; Kristin Michalak at 1784 Everett Avenue for the “Best Haunted Graveyard”; Tara Barrows at 1380 Henry Avenue for her “House of Horror”; Dylan Schimka at 2211 Westview Drive for his “House of Hearse”; James Wozny at 100 Oakwood Avenue for the “Most Kid Friendly House”; and Amy Thier at 317 West Warrington Road for the “Best Enclosed Walk-Through Haunted House.”

“The competition gets more creative and creepier every year,” said Noreen Newton, President of Friends of the Parks, a volunteer organization that supports the Des Plaines Park District. “We saw serial killers, ghouls, and vampires roaming graveyards filled with spiders, scarecrows, and skeletons. Choosing winners was difficult.  All of the houses were truly alive with the spirit of Halloween” said Newton. “We congratulate the winners and we thank everyone who participated in the contest,” she continued.

Eighteen homes entered the competition this year and all were photographed courtesy of the Des Plaines Camera Club. To see a complete photo gallery of this year’s winners, visit www.DPParks.org