This page is intended to provide the public with updated information on construction projects taking place within the Buffalo Grove Park District.
Parkchester Park
Park Renovation
October 22, 2024
The turn lane has been completed. The playground is nearly fully assembled with only some touch-up work remaining. Delays have occurred due to material sourcing and weather conditions. With the warm temperatures this week, the contractor is hopeful of finishing the color surfacing on the basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts. This installation is temperature-dependent; the overnight temperatures were too low earlier in the month during a cold spell preventing completion. Additionally, the concrete path at the north end of the pond which leads to the stone outcropping was found to be non-compliant with ADA standards. The contractor is currently scheduling the demolition and repouring of that section. The additional stones needed for both outcropping locations are expected to arrive this week. Once the stones are on site and installed it will complete the remaining concrete and asphalt work, including the parking lot.
July 19, 2024
The playground equipment has been installed as well as a large section of the new concrete pathways. There has been a small delay with delivery of the stones for the fish outcropping areas. Once those outcroppings are installed, work on the asphalt trails and remaining concrete curb work will continue.
June 12, 2024
Almost all of the earthwork and grading has been completed, and concrete sidewalks and asphalt trails will go in soon. The playground equipment is scheduled to be delivered at the end of the month for installation.
April 18, 2024
The park will be closed for construction starting Monday, April 22, as construction crews will start setting up fencing and tree protection. Sitework will begin the week of April 29. If you are traveling past the park along Weiland Road, please be prepared for some construction-related traffic throughout the summer.
January 3, 2024
The park is scheduled to be redeveloped in spring; however, due to the mild conditions so far this winter, we are able to get a start on things by removing the existing fencing around the baseball field and tennis courts.
Mike Rylko Community Park
Skate Park
October 22, 2024
The new skate park structures have been installed and are ready for use. The pump track construction will begin in Spring 2025.
September 25, 2024
Installation of the new ramps has begun and should be complete in the next 2 weeks.
July 19, 2024
Demolition of the existing skate park structures will begin on July 22. Installation of the new structures is scheduled for late September.
June 12, 2024
The skate park will be closed starting July 8. We will be replacing the existing structures at the skate park with new ones. Later this year a pump track will be added next to the skate park.
Wooded Area
We are continuously working within the wooded areas of Mike Rylko Community Park to remove invasive species that are harmful to the natural habitat. It may appear as though healthy trees are being taken down; however, that is not the case. The buckthorn trees, as well as other invasive species are extremely harmful; and, they keep plant species that are native to the area from thriving.
Managing the natural areas by controlling invasive plant species and promoting native plant species will have ecological, recreational and aesthetic benefits. Ecological benefits are gained by removing invasive plant species, which can out-compete native plant species. Controlling invasive species will help maintain diversity within the natural areas, which in turn provides more suitable habitat for wildlife. In general, invasive plant species are less useful to native wildlife to provide habitat needs. By promoting native plants, wildlife diversity may increase, providing greater ecological benefit from pollinating insects, such as bees and butterflies, and from wildlife, such as migratory songbirds. Additional recreational uses of Mike Rylko Community Park may also be gained from wildlife observers, birdwatchers and other nature enthusiasts who are attracted to the enhanced natural areas.
Removal of dense thickets of buckthorn will open the understory of the woodlands, and allow spring and summer wildflowers to grow. Improving the aesthetic look of the natural areas will entice users of the park. Additional benefits to the community may be gained by providing educational opportunities for science classes to study ecology, biology or other natural sciences in the park natural areas.
Targets for invasive species control and increasing native species diversity
For the woodlands:
- Reduce boxelder and nonnative canopy trees by at least 25%.
- Remove and control 90% of buckthorn and other invasive shrubs.
- Control 90% of invasive, nonnative herbaceous species.
- Total native herbaceous vegetative cover of 75%, with at least 15 native species present.
- Increase tree and shrub species diversity by 25%.
For the prairies:
- Control 90% of nonnative, invasive herbaceous species.
- Remove and control 90% of all tree and shrub species.
- Total native herbaceous vegetative cover of 90%, with at least 20 native species present.
For the wetland areas:
- Control 90% of purple loosestrife and phragmites.
- Remove and control 90% of all non-native and invasive trees and shrubs.
