Lake Bluff Playground Improvements to Wrap Up Before School Starts, Despite Unique Issue

Some unmarked underground electric lines found during playground renovations at over the summer might cause some extra work, but are not enough to miss the completion deadline, one school official said Wednesday.

Neither the village nor Diggers Hotline, a company which tracks underground lines, knew there were underground electric lines for nearby streetlights running down the middle of the field at Lake Bluff and officials said they need to be moved. School Board President Paul Zovic said the lines were put in so long ago, they weren't on anyone's radar.

Superintendent Blane McCann said he'd like to avoid having to dig up the field after $500,000 in improvements, should the village need to get to the lines. Zovic added all signs are contractors will have the fields finished by Sept. 1, when school starts.

Relocating the lines will add $18,500 to the $493,000 project and the Village Board on Monday agreed to split the cost with the school district, contributing $9,250.

, with the district paying the remaining balance using funds set aside from its 2008 referendum.

Since the district elected for a seeded field instead of sod, the fields won’t be usable until next year. The fields will also have a drainage system that allows them to be used shortly after heavy rains. The district didn't elect for additional fencing, which would have added more than $30,000 to the project.