McCullom Park Playground Upgrades Should Wrap By Mid-July

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Renovations to the playground at McCollum Park are likely to be finished by July 15, according to an update shared during the most recent Downers Grove Park District board meeting.

The park closed in March as crews removed the old playground equipment, which was donated to Kids Around the World. Two new playgrounds are being added to McCollum Park, one for preschool children and another for school-age children.

As of June, construction had wrapped on a new picnic shelter for the playground area. Two semi-truck loads of synthetic turf were installed in early June.

As of mid-June, crews were finishing up playground structure and fencing and putting in a garden with native plants.

The playground revamp is part of the ongoing multi-million dollar efforts to reinvigorate McCollum Park.

Projects to enhance McCollum Park have been in the works since 2022, when new splash areas and pickleball courts were added.

In 2024, the Downers Grove Park District received a $600,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) to help fund the McCollum Park upgrades.

This marks the first time in 20 years that McCollum Park's playground has undergone significant upgrades. A splash area and mini-golf course called Adventure Falls Sprayground and Mini Golf opened at McCollum Park in 2024.

Crews are expected to begin renovations to the park's basketball and pickleball courts in August, with an estimated completion date of late September.