NORWOOD PARK — With temperatures set to hover around 40 degrees this weekend, Norwood Park kids will have a chance to explore two renovated playgrounds at Oriole Park before the winter chill returns.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Ald. Mary O'Connor (41st) and Chicago Park District officials on Sunday celebrated the opening of the Oriole Park playgrounds, which were renovated through the Chicago Park District's Chicago Plays! program.
Emanuel, who is running for re-election, said in a statement that the playground renovation showed his administration was "investing in the future" of Chicago's children.
O'Connor, who will face two challengers in her bid for re-election, said the new playgrounds would complement the annex that is under construction at Oriole Park Elementary School, which is adjacent to the park at 5430 N. Olcott Ave.
The north playground, designed for children ages 2-5, features a Saddle Spinner, which allows kids to use their weight to spin themselves around, and a see-saw built for five known as a We-Saw in colors of blue and orange. The original swing set at the playground, which is also known as Pirate Park, got new seats.
The south playground, designed for children ages 5-12, will feature a green and yellow main play structure with slides, a bridge, ladders and activity centers. In addition, kids can scale the Hemisphere Climber, a giant web.
Both designs were picked by members of the Oriole Park Community Club.
Chicago Plays!, which is a program administered by Friends of the Parks, plans to renovate 325 playgrounds throughout the city over the next five years.
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