Hudson Crossing Park 'Devastated' by Flood

Hudson Crossing Park did not fare well with the flooding of April 18.

Between Waubonsie Creek and the Fox River, the park "took a devastating hit," said Rich Zielke, Executive Director of the Oswegoland Park District. 

Piles of gravel, silt, mud and other debris cover the park from where the waterways overflowed and dragged their contents on land.

Zielke said in addition to the debris, there are about four inches of mud that was dumped on the safety surface of the playground that will need to be removed before the park can re-open.

"Walkways and pedestrian bridges need to be repaired and in some cases rebuilt," he said. "There is significant restoration and cleanup that will need to happen before this wonderful park is back open for public use."

Zielke said cleanup started not long after the rain stopped, but because the park remained underwater for several days the ground is very saturated and limits the types of equipment that can be brought in to do the necessary repairs. 

Due to the severity of the damage, Ziekle said there is not an exact date of when the park is expected to re-open. He also did not have an estimated dollar amount in damages.