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Rebuild of playground at Sunflower Park in Yorkville begins with new all-inclusive equipment · Kendall County News - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: Rebuild of playground at Sunflower Park in Yorkville begins with
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  Speaker 1: new all-inclusive equipment. Written by Joey Weslow. This article is
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  Speaker 1: being read by an automated voice brought to you by Everlit.
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  Speaker 1: Sunflower Park is undergoing a $ 110, 000 rebuild by the City
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  Speaker 1: of Yorkville to make way for all new equipment designed
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  Speaker 1: to help kids of all abilities thrive. The playground is
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  Speaker 1: being completely dismantled and removed by the nonprofit Kids Around
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  Speaker 1: the World. Tim Evans, director of the Yorkville Parks and
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  Speaker 1: Recreation Department, said installation of the new playground will begin
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  Speaker 1: after the Yorkville Hometown Days Festival this weekend. Kids Around
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  Speaker 1: the World is a Rockford-based nonprofit that has partnered with
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  Speaker 1: the city on several playgrounds before. The nonprofit refurbishes the
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  Speaker 1: older equipment and installs the playgrounds in underprivileged global areas
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  Speaker 1: of the Dominican Republic. City staff has traveled to participate
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  Speaker 1: with the nonprofit before. Sunflower Park, located at 1765 Walsh Drive,
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  Speaker 1: was notable for its farm-themed playground. On-site is a basketball court,
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  Speaker 1: swing set, picnic area, shelter, and green space play area.
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  Speaker 1: Only the playground is currently being overhauled. The Parks and
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  Speaker 1: Recreation Department said the new playground should debut later this fall.
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  Speaker 1: The playground area will be closed during construction. The new
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  Speaker 1: playground will bring an inclusive, accessible play experience to the park,
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  Speaker 1: with several firsts for Yorkville, including a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round, called
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  Speaker 1: an inclusive whirl, and a roller slide, Parks staff posted.
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  Speaker 1: We're excited to see this new playground take shape and
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  Speaker 1: look forward to welcoming families to the new and improved
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  Speaker 1: Sunflower Park, the post said. Evans previously said the current
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  Speaker 1: Sunflower Park equipment was around 20 years old and in
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  Speaker 1: need of replacement. Evans described the new equipment as supporting
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  Speaker 1: whole child development, including physical, social, emotional, sensory, cognitive, and communication.
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  Speaker 1: The playground will feature a ton of fun things to
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  Speaker 1: climb on and play with, ranging from vertical and horizontal climbers,
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  Speaker 1: a new slide, fun interactive panels, gizmos, and some electronic
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  Speaker 1: sensory gadgets. Away from the main playground will be a
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  Speaker 1: standalone game panel and therapeutic rings. City staff said several
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  Speaker 1: existing playground elements, including the tractor seats and spinning pirouette,
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  Speaker 1: will also be repurposed as part of the new play space.
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  Speaker 1: Superintendent of Park Scott Sleazer previously said the focus on
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  Speaker 1: horizontal spaces and multiple entryways to the play equipment is
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  Speaker 1: designed to encourage children to interact and play with each other.
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  Speaker 1: Parents and grandparents can also participate in the fun because
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  Speaker 1: the design enables them to get up close to their
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  Speaker 1: children while they are playing on the equipment. Our neighbors
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  Speaker 1: are all of different abilities, and we want to make
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  Speaker 1: sure that we're being inclusive to all of them, whether
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  Speaker 1: that is somebody in a wheelchair or even adults who
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  Speaker 1: might require greater accessibility. Sleazer previously said, we want to
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  Speaker 1: make sure that we're providing the best space for allowing
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  Speaker 1: kids and parents to play side by side. The city
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  Speaker 1: previously approved a $ 100, 578 contract with GameTime Playground Manufacturer, including
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  Speaker 1: installation costs. The new playground is totaling $ 110, 000. The park
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  Speaker 1: will join the likes of Rotary Park, which recently earned
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  Speaker 1: park staff the 2025 Outstanding Park Award from the Illinois
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  Speaker 1: Park and Recreation Association for its groundbreaking inclusive playground layout.
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  Speaker 1: Rotary Park's design was said to champion fun play and
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  Speaker 1: participation by both children and adults, with or without a disability,
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  Speaker 1: with additional features for children sensitive to high stimulated environments.