DONATIONS NEEDED TO BUILD ALL-INCLUSIVE PLAYGROUND IN MUNDELEIN

Mundelein Park & Recreation District has officially launched efforts to fund the construction of an all-inclusive playground at Kracklauer Park (100 N. Seymour Ave.). The park will focus on healthy living and inclusivity for all people, emphasizing accessibility to individuals with disabilities and their families.

An all-inclusive playground is an open safe space carefully designed to promote play among children of differing abilities, ages, and communities. It gives children with and without disabilities the same platform to play while breaking down physical and social barriers. It is an intergenerational initiative that impacts many people in the community, such as people with disabilities, veterans, seniors, families, and more. Not your typical playground; an all-inclusive playground has specific design structures to allow people in wheelchairs or with other mobility devices to access features.

Kracklauer Park All-Inclusive Playground Concept

Kracklauer Park All-Inclusive Playground Concept view 2

Conceptual drawings of the all-inclusive playground at Kracklauer Park in Mundelein

Kracklauer Park is in the Village’s center, two blocks from the Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County (SRACLC). It eliminates the need to drive to another town and allows our Mundelein community to “all play together.” Active living and creating a healthier and safer environment are positive drivers for a community, and the playground’s unique features are fun for everyone.

“We have raised over 70% of the funding necessary to build the park and are seeking another $365,000 through the Mundelein Parks Foundation,” said Ron Salski, Executive Director of Mundelein Park & Recreation District. “Construction will not begin until the project is fully funded. Kracklauer Park is the first park developed in our park system, which makes it extra special. We are excited to be able to bring this amenity to our community.”

The project has received $300,000 from the Park District, $150,000 from the Village of Mundelein (https://www.mundelein.org/) through ARPA funds, and Senator Adriane Johnson (https://www.senatoradrianejohnson.com/) helped secure $350,000 in GRF grant funding. Rust-Oleum (https://www.rustoleum.com/) has also donated $10,000, Medline Industries (https://www.medline.com/) has donated $10,000 through a grant from the Medline Foundation Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation, Special Recreation Association of Central Lake County (SRACLC)( https://sraclc.org/) has donated $7,500, Mundelein Parks Foundation (https://www.mundeleinparks.org/about-the-park-district/mundelein-parks-foundation/) has committed to donating $5,000, and Northwestern Medicine (https://www.nm.org/) has donated $750.

“With the total cost of the playground estimated at $1.2 million, we are excited to have over $835,000 committed to the project,” said Janine Walsh, Treasurer of the Mundelein Parks Foundation. “We’ve started to seek out additional funding. Every dollar spent will impact hundreds of children and adults annually.”

Mundelein Parks Foundation is a vital partner in helping make the project a reality. Donations for the all-inclusive playground can be made to the Foundation through the website at mundeleinparks.org. Contributors are encouraged to see if their place of employment has a matching donation program. Mundelein Parks Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) organization. All donations are 100% tax-deductible to the extent of the law.

Learn more about the All-Inclusive Playground Concept

Sign Up for Our E-Newsletter

Install Mundelein Park & Recreation District