The Wildwood Park District is committed to continuous improvement and aspires to exceed the needs of our community through a collaborative, innovative, and sustainable approach. As part of this commitment, capital projects and planning are key elements to the future success of the Wildwood Park District. Our plan has been developed with the Wildwood Park District’s mission, vision, and core values on the forefront, along with community input through our Community Needs Assessment Survey and focus groups, which helps serve as our road map to define priorities and projects. It’s important to note that the Wildwood Park District’s plan may be modified throughout the year due to unforeseen circumstances, demand changes, and/or the reallocation of resources. Capital Projects include improvements to the park system such as:
The Wildwood Park District is proud to employ an in-house maintenance team, made up of year-round as well as seasonal staff (May through September). Our maintenance facilities are located at Twin Lakes Park (17900 W. Fairfield Rd.) and are comprised of a heated maintenance shop and office where our parks maintenance team works, as well as a pole-barn style vehicle and equipment garage, equipped with:
Our maintenance team is responsible for the following park care and maintenance:
All parks will be inventoried on an annual and ongoing basis for trimming, fertilization, mulching, pest control, removal needs and stump grinding. Major focuses for the Park District with annual tree pruning includes eliminating dead wood hazards over playgrounds, facilities, walking paths, and public open space. Safety tree pruning is contracted out and typically takes place in the winter months of December-March. Beaches at Pebble, Willow Point, Sunset, and Valley South are inspected, cleaned, and raked on a daily basis in season (Memorial Day weekend-Labor Day weekend) and when weather permits. Mason beach sand is added every 2-3 years to the beaches to refresh sand levels and filter a clean surface. New beach sand was added to all beaches Summer 2022. Boat Ramps at Pebble Beach and Sunset Parks are raked of seaweed and debris on a continual basis throughout the week and weekend. Park Safety and Maintenance Staff rotate seaweed removal at the Boat Ramps on weekends. As part of changing of the seasons, our Parks Maintenance Team is tasked with Fall Cleanup. Fall Cleanup can be understood as the scheduled maintenance and removal of deadwood, brush, dead floral debris, loose mulch, and the abundance of leaves that fall on our parks from trees. As part of this process, our Maintenance Team uses a leaf collection system on our zero-turn mowers to collect all leaves in the parks and neatly deposit them at the sides of the road for Warren Township Highway Department pickup. The Park District maintains floral beds at Rule Park, Willow Point Park, Sunset Park, Twin Lakes Park, and Boulder Park. Floral beds are checked weekly, watered on a daily basis, and weeded. Mulching done annually or as needed. Tulip seeds are planted on an annual basis throughout the Parks along with pansies, begonias, salvias, and mums. The volunteer Wildwood Garden Club is instrumental is assisting the Park District with flower selection, planting, maintenance, and care for our floral beds. If you are interested in joining the Garden Club, please click on the following link to our Garden Club web page where the Garden Club volunteer application can be found: https://www.wildwoodparkdistrict.com/about-us/garden-club/. Garbage/Recycle and Refuse removal will be performed in the parks 5 days a week and more if needed. Please use the appropriately labeled and blue-colored recycling containers when applicable. Maintenance and Park Safety Staff rotate garbage and refuse removal (along with re-stocking port-o-lets) at pavilions on weekends. The Park District has four (4) licensed beaches by way of the Lake County Health Department. These beaches are located at Pebble Beach, Willow Point Beach, Sunset Beach, and Valley South Beach. Between Memorial Day-Labor Day, the Health Department visits our beaches on a bi-weekly basis (or more frequently depending on conditions), to test the water in the beach swimming areas for bacteria such as E.coli. If conditions in the water are adverse, please refer to the “Beach Closed” signage at the beach and refer to our website home page “Current Field and Beach Conditions” and Facebook account for updates on the water quality. The Gages Lake Conservation Committee (GLCC) in conjunction with the Park District treats Gages Lake to reduce aquatic weeds and invasive underwater plantings on a yearly basis. This treatment is typically done before Memorial Day and may again occur in the early Fall. Swimming in Gages Lake after this treatment is safe – but please adhere to applicable signage at the beaches if you are unsure. The Park District Maintenance Team and the GLCC also work together to tackle lily pad buildup in the shallower parts of the lake that affect Boat Launches and common areas. For more information on the GLCC, please refer to the following link: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069400369211. Includes mowing, pest control, aerification, top dressing, fertilizing, irrigation, drainage, over-seeding and sodding. Using good quality cultural practices, the turf will look good and be safe for all users. The Wildwood Park District is proud to execute all lawn mowing, weed whipping, and grass/turf maintenance in-house with our Maintenance Team for our 11 parks. The Park District maintains 7 piers (2 temporary) throughout the year. Permanent wooden piers can be found at Pebble Beach Park and Willow Point Park. Valley Lake North Park has one permanent Atlas style fishing pier. Sunset Park has 2 temporary removable piers that are left in between April-October. These temporary piers are removed each Fall due to wave and ice action from Gages Lake that would affect permanent wooden piers at Sunset Park. Piers are inspected on a weekly basis. Maintenance Staff will apply any coating, finish, replacement parts, and fix capped posts as needed. Sunset Park also has one permanent skid-resistant marine-grade plywood-built platform adhered to the Boat Launch for tying up boats and accessing the shore from the water. Will be checked weekly and formally inspected monthly at all parks. Surfacing will be replaced on an annual basis or more if needed. Weeding done weekly in playground mulch beds. The Park District Maintenance Team will work in-house and with the appropriate playground manufacturers to correct any defects in the equipment if they arise. On a seasonal basis (and as needed) the Parks Maintenance Team will power wash all playground equipment and swings to remove dirt, grime, mud, graffiti, and scuff marks that accumulate throughout the year. Certified Playground Mulch (Engineered Wood Fiber) will be added on a seasonal or yearly basis to keep safe surfacing levels as required through in-house inspections and ASTM industry standards (American Society of Testing and Materials). The Park District is always looking forward to finding solutions that control erosion, receding shorelines around our parks on Gages Lake, and protection of natural plantings and barriers between land and water. This is a top priority for the Park District and their community partners. Future plans for shoreline stabilization initiatives can be found on our “Planning and Projects” web page. The Parks Maintenance Team cleans park grills on a weekly basis and replaces/resets damaged or worn grills seasonally as needed. The Team also is in the midst of a multi-season process of restoring, refinishing, and repainting our Park picnic benches and regular sitting benches throughout the Park District to ensure stronger resistance to adverse weather and degradation from the Sun. Park District Maintenance Team is tasked with snow control, ice removal, and application of ice melt for the Rule Park parking lot, driveway, and applicable building entrances and decking. Responsible for snow control and ice removal of the Maintenance and Scout Garages at Twin Lakes Park. Paved walking paths at Rule Park, Pebble Beach Park, and Willow Point Park will be plowed and salted during each significant snowfall. The Park District contracts out herbicide application treatments on a seasonal basis every year for Valley Lake. Treatments occur between the months of May-September bi-weekly and occasionally beginning in April depending on lake and weather conditions. All treatments are applied with EPA compliant herbicides by licensed professionals. Application(s) of PREVENTATIVE Swimmer’s Itch product is incorporated into the treatment schedule 1-2 times per season typically taking place near the end of June and after the beginning of August. The Park District Maintenance Team also applies over-the-counter Beneficial Bacteria to Valley Lake around the beach, pier, and swimming areas to counteract muck buildup on the lake bottom. Swimming in Valley Lake is safe after treatment – however please refer to the Park District Home Page “Parks and Fields Conditions” and signage at the beach for any public announcements. Valley Lake also has two aeration bubbler systems that function between April-November.
Annual Tree Pruning and Care
Beach and Boat Ramp Maintenance
Fall Cleanup
Floral Management
Garbage and Litter Control
Lake Water Quality and Testing
Mowing and Trimming of Park Turf
Piers and Platforms
Playgrounds Management
Shoreline Stabilization
Site Amenities (Benches, Grills, Picnic Tables)
Snow and Ice Removal
Valley Lake Treatment and Aeration
We take pride in our community and are always hard at work improving, maintaining, and beautifying our parks and amenities. Please select a park or lake below to see current, future, and recent projects and planning.
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What is the Old Plank Park Improvements and Playground Replacement Project?
In early 2024, the Wildwood Park District conducted a general Community Needs Assessment Survey as well as a pointed Willow Point Park and Old Plank Park Playground Equipment Needs Assessment Survey to receive feedback on necessary renovations and upgrades. Survey results determined that residents favored Old Plank Park to receive the renovations due to decades of wear and tear, lack of playground equipment, and desire for accessibility and inclusivity. Survey results also showed that residents most sought playground equipment that can accommodate all ages and all abilities with age-specific areas, climbing components, interactive and sensory equipment, slides, swings, and additional seating for adults. The project will include four new sitting benches, a paved accessible walking path, and new multi-age playground equipment and swings replacing the previous equipment onsite. For more information or questions, please reach out to Wildwood Park District Executive Director Brandon Magnini, via phone at 847.223.7275 or via email at bmagnini@wildwoodparkdistrict.com.
September 12, 2024
The Wildwood Park District will host a community meeting on Thursday, September 12 at 6:00pm at the Wildwood Park District office building (Oak Room) located at 33325 N. Sears Blvd., Wildwood, IL 60030. The purpose of this meeting is for Wildwood residents to review concepts developed from resident feedback, playground design experts, and input from the Gagewood Lions Club (who is a generous monetary contributor and has funded and executed many Wildwood and Gages Lake area playground builds) regarding amenity enhancements and playground equipment replacement at Old Plank Park.
Help us make Old Plank Park bigger, better, safer, accessible, and inclusive! Wildwood residents of all ages are invited and highly encouraged to attend the September 12 meeting to view design concepts, vote on color scheme, provide feedback, and ask questions. Light refreshments will be provided. This is a great opportunity for your voice to be heard and to make a positive impact within your own community!
Tuesday, September 17th
The Wildwood Park District is happy to present final design renderings for the upcoming Old Plank Park playground equipment replacement project and walking path addition. The project will include four new sitting benches, a paved accessible walking path, and new multi-age playground equipment and swings replacing the previous equipment onsite. We would like to thank the Gagewood Lions Club, who has generously donated $20,000 to this project and has funded and executed many Wildwood and Gages Lake area playground builds. The Lions Club will be instrumental in helping remove the existing equipment and sharing it with the local neighborhoods who may be in need of play equipment.
October 21, 2024
Beginning Monday, October 21st, 2024, Old Plank Park will be closed off for current use due to the scheduled removal of the existing equipment. We anticipate the new equipment and construction will begin in December 2024 with a grand opening scheduled for early Spring 2025 (weather dependent).
View past archived capital projects below.
The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission has spearheaded coordination between the local sponsors, including Warren Township Highway Department and Wildwood Park District to establish the Wildwood Area Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements Project. This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLT-3381 awarded to the State of Illinois by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. This funding is being administered through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Stormwater Capital Improvements Program (DCEO-STOCIP).
The proposed project achieves flood protection up through the 50-year event and significantly reduces the flood impact for larger events within the Wildwood and The Willows of Grayslake subdivisions. A County road and 4 Township roads are frequently subject to flooding and closure as well as 109 primary structures and 106 secondary structures. The scope consists of the construction of a secondary storm sewer extending from the Greentree Road/Winnebago Drive intersection and discharging into the drainage way adjacent to the Meadowbrook Estates Subdivision, in addition to a new storm sewer between Manitowoc Court and Royal Oak Lane. Related ancillary work includes restoring and replacing roadway as well as roadway drainage structures, adjacent appurtenances, earth excavation, grading, and shaping of swales. Additional project features include modification to the Valley Lake outlet structure to minimize clogging potential, enhancement to the Valley Lake berm along its northern shore and water quality enhancement measures along the southern end of Valley Lake including plunge pool improvements and porous parkways along Mill Road and Greentree Road.
Construction of the project's primary infrastructure is planned to begin Summer 2023, with a completion date of Summer 2024. Infrastructure servicing The Willows of Grayslake subdivision may not be completed until 2025. Please note- if we are awarded additional grant monies from DCEO-STOCIP, those additional funds will cover the resurfacing of the roads. If we do not receive additional funds, the resurfacing portion of the project will be paid for using Warren Township Highway Department funds.
Engineering plans for this project are available to view below or at the Wildwood Park District office. Questions about the project can be directed to bmagnini@wildwoodparkdistrict.com.
August 9, 2023
At the edge of Valley Lake in Wildwood, IL, the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC), Warren Township Highway Department, Wildwood Park District, state legislators, and Lake County Board Members gathered today to mark the beginning of construction on the Wildwood Infrastructure Improvements Project. The work will reduce the flood risk of more than 210 property owners and alleviate the volume of stormwater runoff across several roadways which frequently flood and are closed during severe weather.
The work to be completed consists of the construction of a secondary storm sewer extending from the Greentree Road/Winnebago Drive intersection and discharging into the drainage way adjacent to the Meadowbrook Estates subdivision, in addition to a new storm sewer between Manitowoc Court and Royal Oak Lane. The combined efforts of flood relief and water quality improvements make this project incredibly valuable to the people of this community.
Improvements also include enhancing the sediment basin to prevent pollutants from entering Valley Lake, protecting its ecological health. Porous pavements will also be added to aid in managing stormwater runoff by allowing water to flow through it, reducing the volume of water going into the storm sewer system, minimizing the risk of flooding.
"In the year following the 2017 historic flooding event, we worked with the SMC team and the Road District's consulting engineer to come up with a solution to address flooding in our area" says Amy Sarver, Warren Township Highway Commissioner. "Our next problem was how to fund the project which was fortunately solved when the DCEO funding was made available".
This flood protection will significantly reduce the flood impact during larger events within the Wildwood and the Willows of Grayslake subdivisions.
"The impact of this project will be felt not only by this community for years to come, but also by our neighbors downstream along the Des Plaines River. Thanks to the efforts and collaboration between state legislators, Warren Township Highway Department, Wildwood Park District, SMC, and the Lake County Board, today that solution becomes a reality as the construction begins on this project," said Sandy Hart, Lake County Board Chair.
"The Wildwood community in unincorporated Warren Township has been routinely impacted by increasing rain levels in our area. This project includes the design and construction of storm sewer system upgrades and drainage system enhancements, as well as water quality improvements," said Stormwater Management Commission Executive Director Kurt Woolford. "The Wildwood Area Stormwater Infrastructure Improvements Project is in Warren Township, but the scope of this work and its benefits is far reaching".
This projet is supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLT 3381 awarded to the State of Illinois by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Additional funding was provided by the Warren Township Highway Commission and Wildwood Park District. This is one of several projects SMC is currently overseeing in partnership with local governments to make the most of available funding to problem-solve flood mitigation issues countrywide.
December 20, 2023
As part of the Lake County Stormwater Management-led Valley Lake Stormwater Improvements Project (in which the Wildwood Park District is a local sponsor); Valley Lake South Park off of Mill Road was temporarily closed due to the beginning of construction on the redesign of the storm drain inlet plunge pool at the south end of Valley Lake. This part of the project will help with enhanced water quality improvements with the excavation and rebuilding of the enclosed stormwater inflow area along with new native plantings to filter stormwater before it enters Valley Lake.
This portion of the project is now complete and Valley Lake South Park has re-opened for use. Upon completion of this project, the contractor laid straw seed blankets to restore the grass/earth, and re-installed park posts and cables. We ask that you please use caution while visiting the park and if possible, avoid walking on the straw seed blankets allowing the new grass to grow and restore the natural appearance of the park.
Detailed PDF’s of the engineering design plans can be found here: https://www.wildwoodparkdistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Valley-South-Plunge.pdf
Please direct further questions to bmagnini@wildwoodparkdistrict.com, the Warren Township Highway Department: https://www.warrentownship.net/162/Highway, or Lake County Stormwater Management https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ILLAKE/bulletins/36977f3
December 20, 2023
As part of the Lake County Stormwater Management-led Valley Lake Stormwater Improvements Project (in which the Wildwood Park District is a local sponsor); Valley Lake North Park off of Mill Road was temporarily closed due to the beginning of construction on the replacement of the Valley Lake North outflow structure to avoid future clogging, enhancement of the existing berm wall (additional 8” higher) to minimize flooding risk, and earth ditching to modify and improve stormwater drainage pipes that run within and around the park property.
This portion of the project is now complete and Valley Lake North Park has re-opened for use. Upon completion of this project, the contractor laid straw seed blankets to restore the grass/earth, and re-installed park posts and cables. We ask that you please use caution while visiting the park and if possible, avoid walking on the straw seed blankets allowing the new grass to grow and restore the natural appearance of the park.
Detailed PDF’s of the engineering design plans can be found here: https://www.wildwoodparkdistrict.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Valley-North-outflow.pdf
Please direct further questions to bmagnini@wildwoodparkdistrict.com, the Warren Township Highway Department: https://www.warrentownship.net/162/Highway, or Lake County Stormwater Management https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ILLAKE/bulletins/36977f3
Engineering Plans