Construction on a 2.4-acre park to serve residents living on the south end of Clarendon Hills could begin as early as spring.

Don Scheltens, executive director for the Clarendon Hills Park District, said bids for construction on Kruml Park, 5623 Western Ave., could be issued before year’s end if the district can obtain a storm-water permit from the Village of Clarendon Hills within the next few weeks.
 
“We’ve applied for the storm-water permit, and are waiting for the village to approve it,” Scheltens said. “Once that is accomplished we will go to bid.”

The Park District has appropriated $250,000 for the first phase of construction, Scheltens said.

Plans call for installation of a playground, a parking lot, a gazebo, paths, a soccer field and a drinking fountain, Scheltens said.

The Park District purchased the property in 2008 for $1.1 million, a purchase partially funded with a $551,000 matching Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant.

The purchase was delayed last year while park officials waited for confirmation the matching OSLAD grant would come through.

“Usually the grants are awarded in January, but last year we had to wait until April before we knew whether or not we were going to receive the funds for which we applied,” Scheltens said. “There is no other park site south of 55th Street to service residents in that residential area.

“Hopefully, by the end of 2009, there will be.”