West Cook News

Construction is underway at Hawthorne Park in Cicero, where workers are transforming the old play area into a new community space. This change is part of a wider plan to modernize the parks across the town, led by Clyde Park's Recreation Director, Mark Kraft.

“Basically, we were doing this to all parks. It’s not just this one,” Kraft explained. He emphasized the importance of upgrading efficiently and within budget to provide quality facilities. At Hawthorne Park, the outdated playground equipment needed replacement. “It came to a point where we just had to upgrade everything,” commented Kraft. The upgrades will feature new, safety-certified, fully accessible equipment designed for children of all ages.

“This is all brand-new, to-code equipment—handicapped accessible, with the latest features,” stated Kraft, highlighting the community-wide benefits.

Though the project started two years ago, progress has increased recently due to favorable conditions. Kraft is optimistic about the park's completion soon, aligning with summer activities. “This is a slower time of year, so hopefully we can get the companies to come in and finish installation soon,” he said.

As final preparations are made, the park prepares to welcome families and children for summer, fostering fun and community connections.