North Lake Park Grand Opening Set for Saturday

Years of planning and development will culminate in a celebration of Des Plaines’ newest park on Saturday morning. Park district officials, community leaders and residents will gather for , the park district announced on Patch.

In addition to a large open space for field activities such as soccer, T-ball and flying kites, the north portion of Lake Park also has a water spray for children, two bags courts and a bocce ball court.

John Hecker, executive director of the , stated in the announcement that the development of the north side of Lake Park included plenty of open space for families to enjoy games, picnicking and relaxing.

“Lake Park has always been a favorite in the community,” Hecker stated. “And now it has even more to enjoy.”

Earlier:

The park district expanded Lake Park after purchasing approximately three acres at Lee Street and Howard Avenue from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in 2007, according to the announcement.

On Fifth Ward Alderman James Brookman’s website, Hecker stated that, at the time, the church was considering a much higher offer from a private developer that wanted to build townhomes on the property.

“When they sold the property to the Park District, the congregation made a significant contribution to the green space available to the residents of Des Plaines,” Hecker stated in the announcement on Patch.

Design and construction of amenities at Lake Park began in 2010. A large fishing pier, picnic shelter, gazebo, interpretive signage, extended walking path with benches, sensory garden, and native trees including red maples, Ohio buckeyes, sugar maples were among the additions.

Lake Park was purchased in the 1950s from a developer that used it for clay to build the nearby tollway, TribLocal reported.

Here’s , and here are .

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