Explore This Playground
A new playground at Wood Oaks Green Park in Northbrook, Illinois is taking area kids to new heights, thanks to some soaring structures from Little Tikes Commercial.
"Whenever we renovate playgrounds, we ask for public input. When we started seeking input for the Wood Oaks playground, we got many comments that kids like to climb and be high off the ground," says Kris Scharp, CPRP, CPSI, ARM-P, risk manager for the Northbrook Park District. "Based on those comments, we were looking for a safe, high structure."
Landscape architects at Brusseau Design Group solicited design boards from a variety of equipment manufacturers, and all designs were presented to the Northbrook public. The high-flying Little Tikes Commercial playground, designed by Parkreation, won their vote.
The playground includes two separate play areas, one for kids ages 2 to 5, and one for children from 5 to 12 years old. Younger children are treated to a low-rise play structure, complete with play panels, climbing nets and a slide. Across a sandbox, older children can climb to new heights on a soaring SkyBuilder structure, then slide down through twisting, turning tube slides. An Infinity climber, ring challenge and Nectar Spring Seat add to the fun.
Rubber surfacing to the transfer stations and inclusive swing seats allow children of all abilities to be a part of the action.
With such a variety of components and activities, Northbrook-area kids can look forward to years of fun play. "People were initially hesitant when we told them we were replacing the existing playground," says Scharp. "But since we've had the new one, we haven't heard any complaints. The kids really like playing on the structure, and we’re very happy with it."