JEFFERSON PARK — Work started this week on the renovation of three Northwest Side playgrounds.
All three won new equipment through the Chicago Plays! Playground Renovation program.
It will take six to eight weeks to build the all-new playgrounds at Roberts Square Park, 5200 W. Argyle St., Grandparents Playlot Park, 5445 N. Chester St., and Thuis Playlot, 4759 N. Lavergne Ave.
The park district's Chicago Plays! program, which is administered by Friends of the Parks, plans to renovate 300 playgrounds throughout the city during the next five years.
In addition to swings and a tire swing, the renovated Roberts Square Park in Jefferson Park will include a Saddle Spinner to allow kids to whirl themselves around on a single seat, as well as a Double Bobble Rider, which resembles a very small see-saw.
The main play structure will include four slides, a bridge, ladders and activity centers. A free-standing Mobius climbing wall will give budding daredevils a chance to defy gravity.
Thuis Playlot, which is also in Jefferson Park, honors Grace Zwiefka Thuis, who was a 60-year employee of the park district. The park, which is just one-third of an acre along Lawrence Avenue, features a play structure and a sandbox.
Owen Brugh, chief of staff to Ald. John Arena (45th), said the children of Jefferson Park would benefit from having two brand-new playgrounds near their homes.
Grandparents Playlot Park, in the O'Hare community, is one of several playgrounds in the 41st Ward that will be renovated by the end of 2016, according to Ald. Mary O'Connor (41st).
The 1.5-acre park has a gazebo and a playground, and got its name from its most frequent visitors — grandparents and their visiting grandchildren.
Once work is completed at the park, volunteers will be needed to help to spread the wood-based soft Fibar surface on the new playground, officials said.
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