03/20/2024
Grateful to be involved in this wonderful project for our community!
Chesterton Park Department seeking READI grant for inclusive playground at Chesterton Park
The Chesterton Park voted unanimously at a special meeting Tuesday, March 19, to authorize Superintendent Tyler McLead to seek a READI 2.0 grant for the construction of an inclusive playground at Chesterton Park.
The 10,000-square foot, state-of-the-art inclusive playground would occupy only a little more space than the existing playground’s 8,000-square footprint, and would be the centerpiece of what McLead is calling the Chesterton Park North Campus Project, including an accessible picnic area, outdoor classrooms, accessible parking, and pathways for greater connectivity.
“Inclusive playgrounds,” as McLead told the Park Board at Tuesday’s special meeting, “are comfortable, accessible play areas that accommodate people with differing physical, mental, and learning abilities.” The inclusive playground as envisioned by McLead and consultant John Ruble of Planned Environment Associates would tentatively include all or some of the following features:
*Accessible routes to all play equipment.
*Collaborative play features.
*Swings for people of all abilities and ages.
*Accessible slides for all users.
*Inclusive climbing features to encourage social interaction.
*Interactive music elements for sensory play.
*Interactive sensory panels providing texture, sight, and auditory engagement.
*Unitary surfacing within the play components’ use zones.
*A perimeter fence for safety.
*Seating areas and quiet zones.
*Accessible picnic area.
*Drinking fountain and bike racks.
*Outdoor “classrooms” for experiential learning.
*Accessible pathways to the restrooms, splash pad, and park shelter.
“The project will complement and achieve continuity between the park and the adjacent Healthy Living Campus featuring the Duneland YMCA and their collocated partners, including Jacob’s Ladder, the Duneland School Corporation, NorthShore Health, the Dunes Learning Center, and the United Way of Northwest Indiana,” McLead told the Park Board.
“The inclusive park would be the feature of the project,” McLead added. “But it really is an improvement to the entire north site. So we’re calling it the Chesterton Park North Campus.”
McLead then discussed a couple of project details.
EXISTING PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
As much of the existing playground equipment at Chesterton Park would be salvaged as is possible or practical, McLead noted.
“We do have inclusive pieces in our existing park inventory but nothing we could call an all-out inclusive playground,” he said. “This project area would replace our existing playground, which we would look to relocate at some of the other parks that need newer equipment. And this inclusive playground would ensure that anyone can enjoy the park experience.”
ACCESSIBLE PARKING LOT
Also tentatively proposed for the Chesterton Park North Campus: An accessible parking lot with 21 regular spaces and four handicapped, at the extreme northeast corner of Chesterton Park, with access from both West Morgan Ave. and South Fifth Street.
“Parking will be much needed for Chesterton Park once the Healthy Learning Campus is fully operational,” McLead told the Park Board. “The busiest time to use Chesterton Park is when school is out, when a lot of our users are parking in those spaces. With (the Healthy Living Campus) essentially being a 365-day operation, going forward, parking’s going to be limited for the park amenities. We hate to take up green space there on the north side but we feel that’s the best location to do it.”
“There are a few (trees) in that corner, spruces that are in pretty rough condition,” Ruble acknowledged. “Those will come out. But we’re using the existing footprint of the playground for the existing playground. It really should be very limited tree removal. For every tree I anticipate removing, I should see three to four new trees added.”
DISCUSSION
“I definitely like the idea of the parking area being off to the side like that,” Member Bob Cohn said. “It supports safety, certainly for people who might be in wheelchairs versus having them have to go through the lane as we have right now. Do you see lighting in the parking area?”
“Certainly longterm, that’s something that should be addressed,” Ruble replied. “Even for the days when we start getting dusk at 5:30, 6 p.m., just to add little bit of safety and security to the parking lot.”
What kind of equipment is being proposed for the inclusive playground? Cohn asked.
“We can work with the budget available and select the right pieces,” Ruble said, then added that two pieces of inclusive playground equipment occupying the same footprint could still vary wildly in price.
Member Wendy Marciniak was curious about the outdoor classrooms.
Those would be quite simple, Ruble remarked. “Seating for kids and a small stage for the teacher,” he said. “A kind of classroom but very informal. A rubber surface with custom statues that kids can sit on like little stools.”
As part of the unanimous vote authorizing McLead to proceed with the grant application, the Park Board also approved an agreement with Ruble under which he will provide “on-call professional services” related to that application.
READI 2.0
In September 2023, Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IDEC) announced a second round—2.0—of the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) program, with $500 million available in 50/50 grants.
Those grants will be focused chiefly on population growth and quality-of-life investments, as aligned—in The Region—with the Northwest Indiana Forum’s “Big Five Ideas,” including multi-partner opportunity campuses” and “sustainable destination development.”
McLead said that matching funds for a READI 2.0 grant—were the Park Department to be awarded one—could be revenues from park impact fees or from a park bond which the Park Board has contemplated issuing in 2025.
McLead also emphasized that the project as proposed to the Park Board on Tuesday is tentative and its components subject to revision based on input from the public and other stakeholders.
