Grant Will Help Fund New All-Inclusive Playground

MUNDELEIN, IL —The Mundelein Park & Recreation District received a matching grant award of $600,000 for Kracklauer Park from the Illinois Department of Natural Resource’s Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development program.

The grant application will help pay for construction of the all-inclusive playground plus additional accessible amenities, including boccia courts, a fishing station, and a pollinator garden, as well as renovating the tennis court, including adding pickleball lines, according to a news realize from the park district.

“These funds, combined with the funds raised before the OSLAD grant, will allow us to serve more in the community and develop an all-inclusive space at Kracklauer Park, not just a playground,” said Ron Salski, Executive Director of Mundelein Park & Recreation District. “We thank Governor Pritzker, the General Assembly, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for an opportunity to make a significant difference in Mundelein. Funding this project has been a team effort within the community, organizations, the Village of Mundelein, various foundations, non-profits, Legislators, and individuals. We would also like to thank the Mundelein Parks Foundation for its vital role in making this project a reality. This grant and project will be a game-changing asset for the community. We were thrilled with the public support to make it happen,” said Salski. “The District will now be able to produce the construction documents and go out to bid earlier than anticipated, with the goal of completion of the park in 2024.”

An all-inclusive playground is meant to be an open, safe space designed to promote play among children of differing abilities, ages, and communities. It gives children with and without disabilities the same platform to play while breaking down physical and social barriers.

It is an intergenerational initiative that impacts many people in the community, such as people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, families, and more. Unlike your typical playground, an all-inclusive playground has specific design structures to allow people in wheelchairs or with other mobility devices to access features, according to a news release.