Journal & Topics Media Group

Park District Moves Forward With Lake Arlington Improvements


With work slated to begin this week enhancing the visitor experience at the Arlington Heights Park District’s most visited outdoor recreation facility, crews have already begun pre-construction work at Lake Arlington.

This project has been in the works for a couple of years, and the park board recently gave its approval to move forward due to favorable bid results. The project vision and goals call for the installation of a new sensory garden, new exercise stations, improved wayfinding and interpretive signage, replacement of the existing playground, installation of a new multi-generational area with game tables, and enhancement to the multi-use pathway to improve circulation for all users — wheeled and non-wheeled.

The estimated $1.4 million project will be funded, in part, with $400,000 from an Illinois Dept. of Natural Resource (IDNR) Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant. The park district’s capital improvement budget will fund the balance. This will be Lake Arlington’s first major renovation since it opened in 1995.

Improved accessibility: ADA compliant boardwalk will connect expanded boating dock and new fishing pier. A new sensory garden will feature natural plantings and decorative fountain.

New fitness and fun features: New playgrounds for ages 2-5 and ages 5-12; new exercise stations area will be added.

Additional site work: A new multi-generational area will feature a shade shelter and game tables; addition of passing zones along the multi-use path to help relieve congestion

The new facility is scheduled to reopen in September. Until then, daily operations will remain the same at The Boathouse. Concessions, rentals, and restrooms will all be available. All outdoor amenities will remain open with temporary closures to occur. All programming including camps at the lake will run as scheduled.

There will be some noise, but construction will avoid evening and weekend hours, the park district says. The sand area will be transformed into a native plantings area. Parking may be limited due to construction traffic at times. There may be times when the entrance from the parking lot may be blocked.

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