CL Park District to Renovate Woodscreek Park; Should Leathers Playground be Replaced?

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday announced a $15.3 million investment in local park projects throughout Illinois, and one Crystal Lake park stands to receive a piece of that allottment.

Crystal Lake Park District will receive a $400,000 state grant and plans to use the money toward renovating and expanding 1420 Willow Tree Dr., according to Jenny Leech, public information coordinator for the park district.

Woodscreek Park is a popular, well-used park located on the southwest corner of Golf Course and Ackman roads on the city's southside.

The Crystal Lake park grant proposal and presentation was prepared by CL Park District Planner Ann Viger, the release said.

Improvement plans call for:

• Replace, or renovate Leathers "Crystal Castle" playground
• Adding a splash park
• Expanding the parking lot
• Building a second tennis court
• Building a second fishing pier,
• Relocating the existing sand volley ball pit
• Adding bocce and baggo courts
• Adding benches, paths and landscaping
• The shoreline of the existing pond will be renovated by removing invasive species and planting native wetland grasses.

Residents living near Woodscreek Park - informally called "Crystal Castle" by many users because of its castle-style Leathers playground - will have opportunity to discuss the park renovations.

The Leathers playground was built 20 years ago community volunteers, and Viger, who worked for a different park district then, was co-coordinator of the project.

Some residents don't like the structure, which has enclosed bridges and crawling tunnels, because it's difficult to see children playing.

Playground concepts have changed over the years, Viger said, moving toward open, "safer" features that make it easier to see children. If residents express an interest in removing the structure in the summer meeting, the Leathers playground could be replaced all together.

"It will be determined by what people want," Viger said. "It will either be renovated or replaced. There's a lot of attachment there for some. It was built 20 years ago by volunteers."

Park district officials will hold a neighborhood meeting this summer to discuss specific plans for the playground. Neighbors will be notified via U.S. mail, and the meeting time and date also will be announced on Crystal Lake Park District Facebook page.

The Illinois parks improvements are funded through the state's Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Program.