Playtime should become a lot more fun this year for kids in the Sauk Valley. Several recreational projects for children in Dixon and Sterling will be in various stages of construction in 2019.

In Sterling, a Kids Gym opened April 1 as part of a multiphase $1.25 million renovation project at Westwood Fitness & Sports Center. The remodeled space, for ages 3 months to 12 years, has a large playground, interactive fitness equipment and a climbing wall. Parents can focus on their workouts, knowing that the kids are staying active while being entertained.

In Dixon, the park district is working on a list of impressive offerings for young people. The showstopper will be the Water Wonderland splash pad in Meadows Park. Estimated to cost $500,000, the project will boast 23 water features, two separate areas for different age groups, a decorative waterfall, pavilion and restrooms.

A collaborative effort, the city and park district each committed $100,000 to the project after receiving $200,000 from an anonymous donor. Last week, the City Council approved the use of $100,000 from the Rita Crundwell recovery funds. The park district has started a capital campaign to raise $100,000 from the community.

The city will supply the water while the park district is responsible for maintenance at Water Wonderland, which is expected to open in late June.

Lowell Park is scheduled to get a new playground this fall – but not just any playground – one with a 75-foot zip line. Complementing the zip line will be slides, a swing set and merry-go-round, bringing the price tag to about $110,000. A grant from the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association and the playground company will take care of about half of the cost.

Dixon also has winter covered, as the park district plans to bring an ice rink to Page Park. Instead of flooding and freezing the basketball courts, a $6,000 kit will be used to make the rink level and easier to maintain. The park district is looking for volunteers to assist with taking care of the ice rink.

These projects are important to the area for several reasons. The most obvious benefit is giving kids of all ages something safe and healthy to do – but there is much more to these additions than meets the eye.

Recreational amenities add to the quality of life in our small towns. These are the types of improvements that help us retain our residents and make the area desirable to others. They also help cities hook new businesses and the employees needed to continually replenish our workforce.

It isn’t easy to come up with the funds to make these projects happen, but improving the quality of life in the Sauk Valley is always money well-spent.