Exciting improvements are coming to Lincoln Park! In 2023, Lincoln Park’s tot lot playground was originally scheduled for replacement along with an update to the park’s path and recoloring of the basketball court. Though, through engagement efforts, the Park District heard concerns over the loss of Lincoln School’s recreational amenities, primarily the elementary playground.
In response, the Park District developed a conceptual plan to address the concerns of the community and applied for grant funding to support the project. The Park District was awarded $528,500 through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program for improvements to Lincoln Park. With the OSLAD grant funding, the Park District will be able to adjust the park layout to accommodate an elementary playground, increase basketball court space, and address critical updates to Lincoln Park’s existing amenities.
The playground fence was installed.
Remaining seed and blanket were spread.
Additional playground equipment pieces were installed, including adding swings to the swing posts.
Last week, the installation of the asphalt paths, basketball court, and parking lot was completed.
Crews have been working on grading the path and preparing for installation of the asphalt, which is expected to begin on Friday.
Installation of the playground surfacing has been completed. Up next is the installation of the playground fence.
The Lincoln School columns have been installed at the entry of the playground. Up next is the installation of the benches and other site amenities.
Both layers of the poured-in place playground surfacing have been installed.
Shelter: Installation of the shelter roof has been completed and this week the concrete pad was poured.
Field: This week, progress has also been made in the field, crews spread the infield mix for the ball fields and the grass continues to grow.
Parking Lot: The old parking lot curb was removed and the new curb has been poured. Up next, crews will grade the parking lot and surrounding path, then the installation of the parking lot asphalt and path will begin.
Playground: The woodchip playground surfacing has been installed and the base for the poured-in-place has been spread out. Up next, crews will install the poured-in-place surfacing.
Play Area: 
All of the playground equipment has been installed, and crews compacted the base layer for the playground surfacing.
Construction of the playground fence started this week and the fence posts have been installed.
Crews also prepared the base for installation of the columns from Lincoln School that will frame the playground entrance.
Shelter: 
This week the shelter posts were installed and work began on installation of the roof.
Parking Lot:
Demolition of the parking lot has been completed.
Next Up: The poured-in-place surfacing is expected to be installed next week, and the woodchips will be installed once the poured-in-place is all set. Crews will also wrap up installation of the playground fence. Grading for the park paths is expected to begin next week as well as the base for the basketball court to prepare the site to install asphalt at the court, parking lot, and for the paths in the next few weeks.
This week, crews installed the drainage under the playground, and began the prep work for installing the playground surfacing.
The framing for the dugouts concrete surfacing was also completed this week.
In the fields, the new grass is starting to grow.
Up Next: Grading work will begin for the park paths, basketball court, and the parking lot. Crews will also be wrapping up any remaining concrete work, and will start installation of the playground surfacing.
Installation of the backstops and ballfield fencing has been completed.
Progress continues in both the tot and elementary play areas.
Up Next: Crews will be finishing the installation of the playground equipment, begin installation of the shelter, and work to wrap up concrete work at the dugouts and new shelter.
The playground swing posts have been installed.
The backstop fencing has been installed, as well as the dugout fencing.
Progress has been made on the playground installation.
Installation of the ballfield backstops has started.
The ballfield dugouts are starting to take shape.
Up Next: The fence will be installed on the fence posts and playground installation work will continue.
Installation of the playground equipment has started.
Seed blanket has been installed in the field.
Grading work and site drainage installations are wrapping up. Crews will be on site today to spread topsoil and start seeding.
Over the last few weeks, crews have been working on grading the site and making drainage improvements.
Crews have also started installation of the clay infield for the ballfields.
Today, concrete work started in the playground area.
The new playground entry walk and gathering space is starting to take shape.
The new playground footprint is starting to take shape!
Last week, crews began framing the layout for both the tot and elementary play areas. Once complete, they will begin pouring the concrete curbs.
Work has also started to prepare the ballfields by removing the clay.
Demolition work is wrapping up this week and then crews will start laying out the playground and begin work on the ball diamonds.
Crews were hard at work on demolition at Lincoln Park this week!
Most of the path has been removed, as well as many of the site amenities.
Demolition work will likely continue for the next week or so, to prepare the site for improvements.
Tree protection fencing has been installed and demolition work has started.
The construction fence has been installed and Lincoln Park will now be closed for construction. The sidewalk along Green Bay Road will remain open, but the park paths will be closed. Check back here throughout the construction process for updates!
Crews are on site today, starting installation of the silt and tree protection fences.
Construction is expected to begin the week of July 28.
Once the construction fence goes up, the park will be closed, and will remain closed until construction is complete.
The sidewalk along Green Bay Road will remain open, but the park paths will be closed.
Thank you to everyone who provided playground equipment feedback at the open house and through the online survey.
The Park District heard from more than 80 people, and a playground design was selected.
See the results here.
On Tuesday, September 17, the Park District hosted a Community Open House to share refined playground concept designs and collect feedback. Thank you to everyone who attended last night’s meeting!
If you couldn’t make it but would still like to provide feedback, please take the online survey before it closes on Wednesday, September 25.
Thank you to everyone who provided playground equipment feedback through the online survey and visits to the park.
Through this effort, the Park District heard from more than 60 people at the park and 69 survey respondents. Your feedback will be used to refine the playground design options.
In September, the refined options will be shared, and the community will have the opportunity to select their favorite playground design.
See the survey results here.
The Planning and Projects team was at Lincoln Park on the following dates to share playground equipment options and collect feedback:
• Thursday, June 6, from 3:30-5:30pm
• Monday, June 10, from 9-11am
• Tuesday, June 18, from 5-7pm
Thank you to everyone who visited the park to share your feedback on the playground equipment! Your feedback will be used to refine the playground design options.
If you didn’t get a chance to stop by the park, or have more to say, please take the online survey before it closes on July 8.
The Park District of Highland Park was awarded $528,500 through the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant program administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for improvements to Lincoln Park. The OSLAD grant is a state-funded program providing up to 50% of the project costs for public park and recreation projects.
Design will begin this summer and the community will have various opportunities to participate in the design process. Construction is expected to begin in summer of 2025.
The Park District of Highland Park submitted an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant for improvements to Lincoln Park.
Support from the OSLAD grant program would enable the Park District to adjust the layout of Lincoln Park to accommodate an elementary playground, increase basketball court space and address critical updates to Lincoln Park’s existing amenities. Updates include a new tot lot and improvements to the walking path, diamond fields and soccer field. The proposed concept for Lincoln Park was presented as Concept 2 in the August 15 Community Meeting.
Thank you to everyone who attended the August 15 community meeting. Your feedback will be used to guide the concept design to submit in the Park District’s grant application.
Click here to see the presentation.
The Park District of Highland Park will be hosting a community meeting on August 15, 2023 at 6pm at West Ridge Center (636 Ridge Road) to collect feedback for Lincoln Park.
The Park District of Highland Park heard the neighborhood’s interest in a new elementary playground due to the approved agreement to sell Lincoln School. Two design options have been developed that reconsider Lincoln Park with the addition of an elementary playground.
Feedback collected at this meeting will be used to assist in securing grant funding and to support adding an elementary playground at the park, which is currently unfunded.
If you cannot attend this meeting and would like to provide feedback, the presentation from the August 15th meeting will be posted to the project page on August 16th for those who are unable to make the meeting and would still like to provide feedback.
The Park District heard the neighborhood’s concerns over losing an elementary playground due to the sale of Lincoln School. As such, the Park District of Highland Park is going back to the drawing board to develop plans for Lincoln Park that consider the inclusion of an elementary play space. The comments and data collected through the survey will be integrated into the plans for the improved tot lot playground. There will be other opportunities to get involved in design as the Park District proceeds with planning. While the Park District will continue with the planning effort, the addition of an elementary playground is not currently budgeted in the Park District’s capital plan.
This change of direction will impact improvements scheduled for 2023. The tot lot, repaving of the path, and the patch/color of the basketball court planned for 2023 will be deferred to a future year and incorporated into the new plan.
The Park District will continue to follow the School District’s plans to coordinate efforts. Project updates will be posted to this web page.
Please direct questions and comments to [email protected].
The Park District of Highland Park is hosting listening sessions at Lincoln Park to collect feedback for the playground replacement.
Please stop by during one of the following times to share your thoughts!
• Friday, April 28 from 9:30-11am
• Wednesday, May 3 from 10-11:30am
• Tuesday, May 9 from 4:30-6pm
• Friday, May 12 from 2:30-4pm
