Park & Facility Improvement Projects

Each year, the Downers Grove Park District allocates capital funds for park and facility improvement projects as part of the annual budgeting process. The following is a list of capital projects budgeted for FY2025.

2026 Projects

McCollum Park – Playground Area Renovation: The existing playground equipment at McCollum Park was installed in 2005. As one of the District’s largest and most heavily-used playgrounds, this existing equipment is nearing the end of its useful life. The District has been awarded a $600,000 OSLAD grant to help fund the playground renovation as well as other needed improvements, such as replacement of the existing fitness equipment, installation of a new picnic shelter adjacent to the playground, and renovation of the existing horseshoe courts that were installed in 1987. The proposed project also includes new game features and shade at the existing bag-toss patio, plus new shade structures at the existing concession patio.

Concord Square Park – Playground Renovation: The existing playground equipment at Concord Square Park was installed in 2001 and has reached the end of its useful life. Staff recommends periodic replacement of play equipment and safety surfacing in an effort to meet current CPSC playground safety guidelines and ADA regulations. As part of the playground renovation, the existing wood mulch playground surfacing will be removed and replaced with new synthetic turf grass safety surfacing.

McCollum Park – Tennis to Pickleball Conversion: The center section of courts at McCollum Park contains three permanent tennis courts, but includes additional lines that allow for eight temporary pickleball courts. During observations recorded by Park District staff for the summer months of 2024 & 2025, overall demand for pickleball and use of these eight temporary courts far outweighed tennis use on the center courts. As a result, the tennis court nets would be removed and replaced with permanent pickleball nets, and the surface re-color coated to provide eight pickleball courts. In addition, the District is investigating options for adding shade structures to the spectator areas adjacent to the tennis and pickleball courts. The project will also include color coating the existing McCollum Park basketball courts.

O’Brien Park – Parking Lot Renovation: The existing parking lot at O’Brien Park was last renovated in 1997. The current asphalt surface was found to be in “poor” condition during the 2024 pavement analysis, with significant cracking and rutting observed. The project will include removing the existing asphalt surfacing, compacting and replacing stone base material as needed, and installing a new asphalt pavement surface.

Fishel Park – Fencing Improvements: The Park District will be removing invasive trees and shrubs along the west property line of Fishel Park and installing a new 4-foot tall fence along the western boundary.

Architectural plans – Recreation Center and Lyman Woods Interpretive Center: The Park District will be hiring an Architect to prepare conceptual plans for expansion of the William F. Sherman Jr. Interpretive Center at Lyman Woods and renovation of the Cathy Mahoney Recreation Center. The resulting plans will allow the Park District to budget for these potential future projects and seek alternative funding sources such as grants.

Belmont Golf Club – Irrigation Replacement: A new irrigation system is currently being installed throughout the 9-hole Belmont Golf Club, including a new pump station and pump house adjacent to the existing irrigation pond. Work began in October 2025 and was anticipated to be complete by late December, but due to cold temperatures and snowfall starting in November, portions of the project were postponed and will now be completed in spring 2026.

ADA Improvements: The FY2026 budget includes funds allocated for accessibility improvements within our existing parks and facilities, as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2026, approximately $100,000 is budgeted for correcting deficiencies at various locations as identified in the District's ADA Transition Plan.