memorial park

	Once known as Rocket Slide Park, Oak Lawn's busy Memorial Park offers the community plenty of recreation opportunities. This large 9.1-acre park at 102nd St. & Major Ave. (adjacent to the Stony Creek Golf Course complex) has space for sports such as basketball, sand volleyball and tennis. Its large pond features a long dock for fishing enthusiasts; its extensive paved path is well-tread by walkers, joggers and bicyclists. At the eastern edge of the park sits Memorial Pool and the interactive Memorial Children's Pool. The children's pool was rebuilt to be a zero-depth play structure with spraying frogs, a tire swing and tube slide in 2002. A vending area is also near the pools. Memorial's large playground and inviting tot lot are perfect for neighborhood kids. The park gets a lot of use in the summer, as it hosts the park district's Memorial Day and Independence Day special events, and it also the site of summer concerts and the traditional back-to-school movie in the park.
	Proposed Plans for Memorial Park (102nd & Major Ave.) 1. Add New Spray Pad to existing water playground; convert existing water playground to zero depth or remove. Remove old security lighting, concrete decking, and fencing. 2. New bike / walking pathways around perimeter of park, connecting recreation amenities, volleyball, playground, and pond - possibly including fitness elements. Provide better connections to apartments on south side. 3. Remove chain link fence around pond. Replace playground side with log rail fence. Create fishing hotspots with limestone outcroppings. Enhance pond plantings and install protection barriers of vegetation or wood fencing. Replace pier with new flotation style. Create overlooks with benches. 4. Remove several old amenities to create more green space and open areas. 5. Replace the family picnic shelter with a larger, better designed layout. Potential for adding additional family picnic shelter towards north. 6. Possibly add smaller shade shelters near playground area for small groups. 7. Potential for skate spots (small scale skating elements) like those being installed in Sullivan. 8. Redesign the playgrounds with adventure play areas. Improve accessibility for all. Bring back 'Rocket Park', by installing themed play equipment reminiscent of the playground located here years ago. Provide rubber surfacing as budgets allow. Add sand / water play area for smaller children. Add natural play features, such as boulders, grass mounds. 9. Save existing swings, tire swing and paint / refinish or relocate as needed. 10. Refurbish, and possibly redesign the tennis and basketball areas. Add sitting / observation areas. 11. Linking the pathway system to a new bikeway being proposed near the railroad. 12. Utilize excavation to add contouring to flat lawn spaces, and enclose activity areas. 13. Introduce new site furniture to unify site. 14. Remove lights on tennis courts and pool area. Keep all 3 as tennis courts. Add new backboard for individual use. 15. Refurbish washroom building attached to pump house for ADA compliance. 16. Add family activities, such as permanent bean bags, horseshoes. 17. Tennis court fencing – paint black; cut down sides to open up viewing areas. 18. New drinking fountain location(s).