New Park Coming to Prescott Mill Subdivision

Residents of the Prescott Mills subdivision off Wolf’s Crossing Road soon will have a new park to call their own.

The Oswegoland Park District board voted unanimously Thursday night to accept a contract for installation of a playground and amenities to the seven-acre Townsend Park at 418 Devoe Drive.

According to the park district’s website, the park will eventually include “a tot structure, sandbox with diggers and swings. A picnic shelter with two picnic tables on an environmentally friendly, permeable paver patio will accommodate a small picnic.

"An additional permeable paver sitting area will provide a rest area for the playground with a picnic table, benches, bike rack, and drinking fountain.”

Two half-court basketball courts also are planned, and the playground will feature a rubberized play surface, said Grant Casleton, director of Planning and Development.

Casleton said construction will begin in June and the park likely will be ready to open in early fall.

The district initially will pay $223,848 for the park improvements. However, word came late Wednesday that the state of Illinois has released its Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grants and the district will receive about $154,000 for the construction project, said Bill McAdam, the park district's executive director.

The Oswegoland Park District’s conceptual plan for the park is attached to the article as a PDF.

The park district also swore in two new members Thursday night. Roy White and Len Wass were both seated on the board. Bob Mattingly, who retained his seat on the board in the April 5 election, was re-elected by fellow commissioners to another term as board president.

Wass, who ran on a platform of curbing what he sees as overspending at the park district, released a statement after his first meeting.

“Having just being sworn in as a park district commissioner, my top priority is to spend the next several months learning the details of the organization, operations, activities, programs, and financial aspects of the Oswegoland Park District," the statement said.

"That will give the knowledge as to how best to discharge the fiduciary responsibilities I now have. I remain committed to being responsive to our taxpayers, a good steward of the resources they have entrusted in me and seeking ways to make the park district a cost-effective operation.”