New Playground Equipment Coming This Fall to Two Woodridge Schools

New playground equipment will be coming this fall to Murphy and Edgewood Schools. Woodridge Park District staff collaborated with the District 68 Administrative Team and each school’s principal as well as getting feedback from students and faculty. The final selection of the new playground equipment was determined through an online survey for teachers and students to select their favorite playground design. The Woodridge Park District board of commissioners approved the authorization to purchase equipment and bid site work at the February meeting.

The proposed work includes renovations of the existing playground areas and site improvements consistent with park standards at Murphy and Edgewood Schools. The scope of work includes: the replacement of existing modular playground equipment at both sites, the replacement of swings at Edgewood School, the replacement of existing wood timber borders with poured concrete barrier curbing and seat walls, replacement of engineered wood fiber playground safety surfacing, drainage improvements, the addition of accessible ramps, paving for accessible site amenities (benches and trash receptacles) and landscape plantings for increased shade.

Because of a long-standing intergovernmental partnership between the two agencies, the playground replacement costs will be funded cooperatively by both School District 68 and the Woodridge Park District. The sharing in costs also allows Park District staff to enhance the two playground areas in line with the District’s typical park developments with the addition of site furnishings (benches and trash receptacles) and the planting of shade trees.

Construction is expected to begin in June 2023, with the non-profit organization Kids Around the World removing the existing structures to refurbish and reuse them in an underserved community as part of an international mission project. These playground replacement improvements are targeted to be finished before the 2023-2024 school year begins.