This has been a long time coming but Clarendon Hills residence and homeowners will enjoy this park for years to come. See Pioneer Press story below.
October 18, 2010
A dedication to mark the opening of Clarendon Hills’ first park south of 55th Street was held Saturday by the Clarendon Hills Park District at the new Kruml Park, 5624 S. Western Ave.
The dedication of the park district’s eighth park included a ribbon cutting and small celebration with park district staff, board members and community members.
The 2.4-acre park includes a soccer field, playground, drinking fountain, benches and parking lot in the completed Phase I, for which work was started in April and cost about $350,000.
“Phase I has gone really well,” said Donald Scheltens, executive director.
For years, the park district wanted to provide green space to its residents south of 55th Street. In 2008, the district was able to purchase the park land from Jerry and Bessie Kruml with the help of a $550,000 grant from the state’s Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Fund.
Scheltens said the total cost of the land was $1.1 million — the park district received a 20-year loan to pay for the other half.
Park district officials had hoped to use grant money to pay for as much of the park’s construction and equipment as possible. However, because of a lack of available grant money, the park is completed in two phases. Grant money is still being sought for Phase II work, which includes a gazebo, an extended pathway through the park and a split-rail fence, Scheltens said.
Lola Kraus (from left) Marilyn Kruml and Lee Kraus cut the ribbon to officially open Kruml Park in Clarendon Hills Saturday afternoon. (Kevin Tanaka~for Sun-Times Media)
Susan Costello of Clarendon Hills, left, assists her son Tommy down the pole at Kruml Park in Clarendon Hills following Saturday’s dedication. | Kevin Tanaka~for Sun-Times Media)
Naith Badwan of Westmont, gets a push from his father, Kal, on the new swings at Kruml Park in Clarendon Hills. (Kevin Tanaka~for Sun-Times Media)
Fabian Estrada of Bolingbrook drinks from the new fountain at Kruml Park in Clarendon Hills Saturday.| Kevin Tanaka~for Sun-Times Media)
Rory Andrlik of Clarendon Hills enjoys her cotton candy during the opening of Kruml Park Saturday. | Kevin Tanaka~for Sun-Times Media)