May 15, 2025
Local News | Kane County Chronicle
Local News

'It's nice to have universal access': New surface at playground at South Mill Creek Community Park

New surface installed at playground at South Mill Creek Community Park

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Marklund at Mill Creek activity aid Cecilia Prater pushes client Mac S. in his wheelchair over the new pour-in-place playground safety surface at South Mill Creek Community Park in Blackberry Township. Marklund does not reveal the last names of its clients. The park is run by the Batavia Park District. (Sandy Bressner)

GENEVA – A rubber safety surface recently installed at the playground at South Mill Creek Community Park has made the playground accessible to those with a mobility challenge.

Representatives from the Batavia Park District, Marklund and the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association held a media preview Tuesday at the playground. The Batavia Park District operates the park, which is near Marklund, a nonprofit agency serving adults and children with severe developmental disabilities.

Dawn Lassiter-Brueske, director of marketing for Marklund, noted that the majority of Marklund clients use wheelchairs or walkers. She said the new surface will allow them to use the playground.

"It fits in with our vision of making everyday life possible for individuals with profound disabilities," she said.

According to Batavia Park District officials, the $113,000 surface is able to withstand heavy use and weather conditions better than the typical playground surface. Jim Eby, capital projects manager for the Batavia Park District, said the district first intended to install the rubber safety surface when the South Mill Creek Community Park opened in 2007.

"Funding didn't allow us to do it until this year," Eby said.

The Batavia Park District built up reserves in its special recreation funds to pay for the project. Eby said the rubber safety surface is designed to reduce the chance of injury to a child.

Carolyn Nagle, executive director for the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, said the association plans to use the playground more now that the rubber safety surface has been installed. The association serves several area park districts, including the Batavia Park District.

"Now it opens it up to everybody," Nagle said. "It's nice to have universal access."

The playground has been a hit with the surrounding neighborhood. Kids from Bright Beginnings preschool, located in Faith Baptist Mill Creek church, were at the playground Tuesday.

Kim Jacobsen, director of Bright Beginnings, was happy to see the new rubber surface.

"The kids don't end up with sand or wood chips in their shoes," she said. "It makes for a great surface for them to run and play on equipment."

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