The Round Lake Area Park District has allocated capital funds for several park and facility improvement projects. Updates regarding the status of projects will be posted here as improvements progress.

Current Projects

Silver Leaf Glen Park: The playground at Silver Leaf Glen Park will be removed July 25, 2024 and donated to  Kids Around the World, an agency that removes existing playground parts and refurbishes them for use in other countries. Construction of the new playground will then begin and is expected to take about a month to complete.

Hero Park: Construction has begun on Hero Park and is expected to be completed in October of 2024.  In preparation for this new, all-inclusive park, the current playground at North Shore Park, 2041 N. Orchard Lane, Round Lake Beach, was taken down and donated to  Kids Around the World, an agency that removes existing playground parts and refurbishes them for use in other countries. 

Recently Completed Projects

Ellis Park - Playground Replacement : In summer of 2023, Ellis Park received a new Burke Playground designed for children 5 to 12 years old, benches and complete replacement of playground safety surfacing.

Hart's Woods - New Exercise Equipment: In fall of 2022, the new Fitness in the Hart exercise area outside the Robert W. Rolek Community Center was installed.

Sports Center Park: This project completed in Fall 2021 provides new recreational facilities outside the Sports Center, 2004 Municipal Way, Round Lake Beach. Sports Center Park improvements include a new, accessible splash pad, sand volleyball court, pickle ball/tennis courts, bocce ball courts, and a relocated full- size soccer field with natural grass surface. The Park District received a $400,000 matching grant for the renovation of Sports Center Park, part of the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant Program which provides matching dollars for outdoor recreation space projects throughout Illinois. The Park District matched that amount, as required by grant guidelines, with funds from the capital development budget. Input for park improvements was gathered through a community input process in 2019/2020.

New Skate Park at North Shore Park: The Round Lake Area Park District installed a new Skate Park and BMX track at North Shore Park, 2041 N. Orchard Lane, Round Lake Beach in Fall 2021. The new Skate Park replaced the existing Skate Park.

Kristina Park - New Playground: The Round Lake Area Park District installed a new playground in Fall 2021 at Kristina Park, 501 W. Kristina Lane, Round Lake.

Aquatics Center Pool: A new pool liner and gutter tiles were installed along with new starting blocks in 2020 at the Aquatic Center pool.

Huebner Shores Park - New Garage: The Park District built a new 2-car garage at Huebner Shores Park in November 2020. The garage will be used for the district's kayak/canoe/fishing programs.

Viking Park - Playground Replacement: New playground equipment was installed at Viking Park, 764 W. Nippersink Road, Round Lake, in November/December 2020. This park was identified through the Park District's replacement program as needing all new equipment and safety surfacing. The District created an equipment replacement schedule to ensure all components meet today's safety and accessibility standards.

Gateway Park - New Exercise Equipment: The Park District installed four new pieces of exercise equipment at Gateway Park, 704 E. Clarendon Drive, Round Lake Beach, in November, 2020.

Robert W. Rolek Community Center - New Pavilions: The park district built two new pavilions by the Community Center, 814 Hart Road, Round Lake, in July 2020. One pavilion was built just north of the playground. The second pavilion was built south of the main parking lot and east of the walking path that goes from the parking lot to Hart Road.

Cranberry Lake Park - Playground Replacement: New playground equipment was installed at Cranberry Lake Park, 115 Forest Glen Drive, Hainesville, in June 2020. The old playground equipment was donated to Kids Around the World. This park was identified through the Park District's replacement program as needing all new equipment and safety surfacing. The District created an equipment replacement schedule to ensure all components meet today's safety and accessibility standards. The new playground replaced playground equipment installed in 2004. The standard useful life of a playground is approximately 15 years.

Fox Chase Park - Equipment Repair: The circular slide on the 5-12 year old play structure had been damaged in June 2019. Since then, a replacement part was installed and the playground is functional again.

Chesapeake Park - Playground Expansion: While play equipment already existed for ages 5-12, a need was identified for younger children. As such, age-appropriate play equipment for 2- to 5-year-olds was installed and is open for public use.

Sports Center Renovations: Meeting Rooms A & B have been converted into new preschool classrooms which are ready for fall 2019.

Oak Tree Park - Equipment Repair: The 2- to 5-year-old play component had a damaged deck pad and was closed for repair. A new part was installed and the park has been reopened.

Greenview Park - Playground Renovation: As part of the District's playground replacement program, Greenview Park has recently received all new play equipment and the asphalt pathway has been resurfaced. This replacement program ensures all equipment meets today's standards in terms of active and imaginative play, safety, and accessibility. The original playground was built in 2004.

Robert W. Rolek Community Center Renovations: In June 2018, renovations were completed on the lobby and registration areas. Most recently, the Child Development Center received new paint, flooring and hallway lockers.

 

Kids Around the World: When possible, the Park District collaborates with Kids Around the World, an agency that removes existing playground parts and refurbishes them for use in other countries. Learn more at https://www.katw.net/.

  • Parts from old Meadowview Park have been installed at a site in Ambato Ecuador
  • Parts from old Jean Hain Park have been installed at a church that houses Syrian refugees
  • Parts from old Orchard Park have been installed at a children's home in Chang Mai, Thailand

 

Asphalt Projects

The Park District maintains approximately 1.3 million square feet of asphalt pavement throughout the District and budgets annually for replacement and seal coating. Each year pavement is assessed and a priority list is created for replacement projects. Seal coating is completed as per scheduled with main building parking lots on a 3-year rotation and other parking lots and trails on a 4- or 5-year rotation depending on usage.

Prescribed Burns

From Big Bluestem, Blackeyed Susan, Indian Grass, Switch Grass, and much more the Round Lake Area Park District continues to restore natural habitats. Prescribed burns can decrease competition from weeds, reduce the buildup of vegetative fuel, and increase plant vigor.