The hill on the west side of Irwin Park is torn up as workers prepare for a handicapped accessible ramp. The work is one part of the major improvements coming to the park in 2026.

Construction crews have poured parts of the ramp but work is expected to continue for the next four weeks with the structure and reseeding the area, said Patrick McAneney, superintendent of parks and planning. Access from Gottschalk Avenue to the playground was a set of stairs, but those weren’t Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant.

The park district worked with Upland Design to revamp the current playground at Irwin Park and plan new amenities. 

“We want to do it right. We’re not going to do it for another 20-some years,” said Doug Boehm, park district executive director at the Aug. 5 park board meeting. “We’re bringing a park into current standards,” noted Brent Bachus, park board president.

In fall 2024, the park district was awarded a $600,000 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) matching grant for improvements at Irwin Park. Staff had been discussing the need for playground updates since 2023.

The last major updates to the park in 2008 were the addition of the gazebo, an additional parking lot, benches and amphitheater.

This latest plan for Irwin Park improvements calls for playground equipment that is geared for kids ages 2 to 5 and 5 to 12. One of the highlights is a zipline. The area will include four swings with one that is ADA compliant. The play area will get a shade structure.

The park district board also agreed to renovate the space on the southwest end of the park, including removal of the one ballfield. The plan calls for a new game area with a shade structure, a game table and game-disc connect. The area also will get a rain garden with a pergola, a swing bench and a stationary bench. 

Boehm said the park district will solicit bids for the new equipment in October or November.