CENTRAL PARK

In 1931 a 10-acre nursery on the north end of Skokie was purchased for $65,000. Eventual development resulted in a beautiful park site with a picnic shelter and tables, ball fields, a playground and a spray pool for relief from the summer heat. After many years of use the spray pool was demolished in 1990. In 1991 the park was redeveloped as part of a series of major park renovations. Redevelopment included drainage improvements and regarding, water service replacements, new playground, new picnic tables, benches, trash receptacles, drinking fountains, new walks including a perimeter loop, new and relocated basketball courts, four reconstructed tennis courts including fencing and drainage, and landscape improvements including trees, shrubs, sodding. The total cost of this redevelopment was $566,000. As part of a cooperative effort with the Village of Skokie, underground storm water storage vaults were constructed near the playground area in 1993. In 1995 the park shelter was replaced at a cost of $188,000.