Northbrook Park District - Northbrook, Illinois

Crestwood Park – near Dundee and Waukegan Roads – is going to receive new tennis courts, a practice tennis wall, a new playground, and fitness equipment during the summer of 2013.

The park is expected to close the last week of March and reopen in September
There will be four tennis courts
Neighbors asked for a practice tennis wall, which will be installed
Alternate locations for tennis during construction: West Park (closest), Stonegate Park, Wood Oaks Green Park
Fitness equipment will be added – a chest press, leg press and elliptical trainer
The new playground will contain play features for ages 2-5 and 5-12 years
The playground will have a tennis theme with a climber shaped like a racket and steppers that look like tennis balls (to help kids work on balance)
There will be a large tube slide
ADA access will be improved
The playground will be donated to Kids Around the World, a nonprofit that removes old play materials and installs them in other countries

Click here for the Crestwood Park Playground
Click here to view the Crestwood Park Plan Rendering

Background:
The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive, non-native insect that feeds on and ultimately causes the death of the ash tree. The beetle is a metallic green in color and approximately one half (1/2) inches in length. The EAB was first discovered in the United States in Michigan in 2002 and is believed to have been transported to the United States from China on shipping crates.

Northbrook’s first confirmed case of EAB was found in the western part of the Village in May, 2011. Since then, additional locations have been confirmed.

The Park District has been proactive in its approach to the EAB. The District has been conducting visual inspections in looking for signs of activity and/or symptoms of the EAB. In 2009 the District conducted an extensive tree inventory that also rated the conditions of our trees.

Removals:
The Park District began actively removing Ash trees last fall that were rated poorly or showed suspicious symptoms of EAB. That tree removal process will begin again in late September.

Reforestations:
With assistance of an Urban Reforestation Grant through the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, the Park District has been actively replanting the parks with a wide variety of trees. This year over 80 new trees will be planted.

The Northbrook Park District is planning to build a dog park at Coast Guard Park, 2490 Dundee Road, just west of the Northbrook Post Office, and presented four design concepts to the community at a Public Input Meeting on August 15. Residents discussed possible park amenities, such as separate entrances for small and large dogs, a shared shelter, water fountains, a fenced-in dog walking trail, dog wash area and dog agility course. The District is compiling information and will have further updates about the Dog Park in the near future.

On December 16, 2011, the Park District closed on a six-acre parcel at 180 North Anets Drive. The property has been annexed into the Village and become part of Techny Prairie Park and Fields. The former manufacturing plant on the parcel will be removed. Workers have installed fencing around the building, and the gas and electric service have been disconnected. Demolition is planned for this summer. Many of the materials (brick, steel and concrete) will be reused. No decision has been made about the future of the property.

The Park District is continuing a public process to determine how to use the land and to collect community feedback about recreation options. In 2009, a Community Survey identified residents’ greatest unmet needs as: walking and biking trails, indoor fitness and exercise facilities, outdoor swimming pools/water parks, indoor running/walking track and indoor swimming/leisure pools. Click here to view 2009 Community Survey results.

As a follow-up to the 2009 survey, the Park District commissioned a survey In January and February of 2012 to collect community feedback about recreational options and help determine how to use the six-acre parcel. The survey was conducted by Leisure Vision/ETC Institute, an independent, nationally known consulting firm that specializes in park and recreation surveys. Click here for a summary of the results.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Community Forums to discuss the results of the 2012 Community Survey. The consulting firm that conducted those meetings issued a report with key findings and recommendations. Click here to view the report.

The Northbrook Park District is setting the stage for the next 10-20 years with Master Plans for three of the larger parks. Based on input from the public and from staff, the Hitchcock Design Group has developed Master Plans for each park. “We’re excited to be able to make improvements and enhancements at these parks,” says Jennifer Rooks-Lopez, Park Planner/Project Manager with the Northbrook Park District. “We want to improve the experience for the people who use the facilities.”

Just east of downtown, Meadowhill Park could receive a new playground between the Chalet and the main parking lot. Park planners also have suggested adding picnic shelters, improving the Chalet and creating access to the Chicago River. According to Rooks-Lopez, “even some of the residents don’t know there is a connection between the two parks.”

At Wood Oaks Green Park, on the west side, the concept plans show additional trails, more picnic shelters and enhanced landscaping. The Park District is considering enhancing the fishing area, water quality and shoreline treatment at Lake Shermerville. Plans also continue about lighting the tennis courts and a softball field at this premier facility.

Near central Northbrook, West Park could gain an expansion of the walking trail, to make a continuous loop. Plans call for improved storm water management to keep the baseball fields dry. The plan would also reconstruct the driveway to relieve traffic congestion around the Northbrook Sports Center.

At all three sites, the Park District wants to update park amenities and infrastructure and incorporate results of the Community Interest and Opinion Survey. The District will consider bringing in sustainable elements at each location, such as low-maintenance turf areas and more efficient lighting.

Final Master Plan Concepts
Meadowhill Park	West Park	Wood Oaks Green Park
Master Plan	Master Plan	Master Plan