Plans For Sensory Playground In Plainfield Unveiled By Park District

PLAINFIELD, IL — The Plainfield Park District unveiled plans Monday to build a sensory playground at Van Horn Woods.

The playground will be on the east side of Frontage Road near I-55, which has parking, a dog park, a fishing pond and a restroom.

The sensory play area is made possible by a $400,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant administered in July 2022 by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for the redevelopment of Van Horn Woods.

The playground will feature a main structure with elements including places spaces under-deck on the ground level, a sphere for sensory interaction, a spinner, a rocking order, and a sensory dome with various small spaces and interactive elements. It features a communication board designed in collaboration with the Northern Will County Special Recreation Association.

RELATED: Plainfield Park District Receives $400K Grant To Redevelop Van Horn Woods

Kids will also be able to play on a swing set that contains musical elements. It will be on engineered wood fiber surfacing. The main space will have turf surfacing.

In between play areas, there will be seating with benches, a picnic table and a trash can. The entire park will be under existing mature trees, and some additional trees will be planted, officials said.