By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Kids, keep your fingers crossed. A new park and top-notch playground equipment should be ready for use in just a few weeks.
On Monday, work started on a new park, which will be located on the corner of Eighth and Cass streets.
Neil Coulston, public works director for the City of Niles, and Chet Willemstyn of Play Builders in Holland, both said they think the new playground will be a hit.
"We not only had the children in mind, but the adults as well," Willemstyn said.
Not only will two new play areas be constructed, but in the near future, picnic tables, grills and a basketball court will also fill the property, which is owned by the city.
Coulston said funds for the project, which is costing around $90,000, came from the Community Development Block Grant, which comes from federal funds.
"With these grants, you have to spend the money in low- to moderate-income areas. That makes up about two-thirds of the city," Coulston said.
He said the city, along with a committee of citizens which selected the property for the park, thought it would be a great area for the new equipment.
"There's another park only a few blocks away, but it's very small and there are only a few swings and a slide. This new park will be such a hit with kids in this area," Coulston said.
The new equipment will feature one structure for younger children, such as toddlers. Willemstyn said those play sets will be smaller, with shorter slides and steps that will accommodate toddlers.
The other play equipment, for the older children, will feature much taller structures such as tall slides and a rock climbing wall.
"Kids love those rock walls. Not only will this equipment provide hours of fun for children, but it's also great for their upper body strength as there are several areas to climb," he said.
Coulston added that two new sidewalks will also line the park and a few of the larger trees will be taken down to make room for the new area.
He added that a ribbon-cutting will probably be held when the park is complete.
In the meantime, the City and Play Builders are asking that all children stay away from the lot while the equipment is being constructed.
"The last thing we want to see is someone get hurt from trying to play on equipment that is not completely assembled. It's only a couple of weeks and then the children can have all the fun they want," Willemstyn said.
Coulston said the city will keep residents up to date with the progress of the park and when it is ready for use.
Construction on the park is being completed by Sinclair Recreation of Holland and Play Builders, also of Holland.