Construction began in early September
Bensenville, Ill. (September 11, 2024)— The Bensenville Park District has closed Sunrise Park, located at the intersection of Marion and Memorial Streets, for renovations. The construction is expected to last into summer 2025.
The planned Sunrise Park improvements include redevelopment of the playground, a futsal court, two pickleball courts, half-court basketball, two soccer fields, a new pollinator/butterfly area with interpretive signage, site furnishings, walking paths and turf restoration.
In addition, the proposed accessible play area will provide opportunities for children of all abilities to play in the park. The accessible walking paths and the poured-in-place rubber surfacing will provide equitable access to the recreational amenities available at this location by providing accessible routes to the playground, soccer fields and courts. The master plan was developed by Des Plaines-based JSD, Inc.
In January 2024, the park district announced receipt of a $570,100 grant from the State of Illinois’ Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) program, which will help fund the renovation. The program, which is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, will distribute nearly $55 million in state grants for 111 local park projects throughout Illinois to help communities acquire land and develop recreational opportunities.
The $1.1 million Sunrise Park project is one of many planned as part of the Bensenville Park District 2.0 capital improvement program that contains approximately $5 million in community investment directed at neighborhood parks and facilities that directly benefit the populations of Bensenville and Wood Dale the district serves.
Already, the park district has upgraded its water park with a new swimming pool basin and is updating the decking. New signage was installed at the Deer Grove Leisure Center, which is also receiving new LED lighting in its parking lot. The facility recently had new automatic doors installed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Upgrades to the Wood Street Fitness Center, located inside the DGLC, are planned for 2025.
The district has completed phase two renovations at Arbor Park, which received a new playground in partnership with KABOOM! and Discover Financial, Inc. The renovations included new signage, trees, a fence and new sidewalks.
The White Pines Golf Club recently installed new digital signage, updated water and electrical service and security cameras. Additional projects include demolition of the driving range barn and parking lot improvements for the Pine Room event space. The Halfway House bathrooms were renovated, and a new gaming room was constructed adjacent to the 37 Bar & Grill in 2024.
The Deer Grove Leisure Center (DGLC) will soon receive upgrades to the lighting in its parking lot, as the park district modernizes the light standards and replaces existing lighting with more efficient LED service. The facility recently had new automatic doors installed in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Upgrades to the Wood Street Fitness Center, located inside the DGLC, are planned for 2025.
White Pines projects include infrastructure (electric and water) relocation, asphalt improvements, security cameras and new signage. Additional upcoming projects include demolition of the driving range barn to be replaced at a later date. Parking lot improvements are planned for the Pine Room event space, located on Church Rd., in the northwest corner of the club. The Halfway House also received renovation to its bathrooms at the start of the season, and a new gaming room was constructed adjacent to the 37 Bar & Grill. Continued improvements for the club are planned in 2025.
