Title
2026 Playground Renovations - Purchase and Installation
History
There are currently fifty-five (55) playgrounds and sixty-two (62) pavilions located in sixty-six (66) Village parks. According to the 2020 NRPA Agency Performance Review, which highlights characteristics of America’s local public park agencies, a community with a population range between 50,000 to 99,999 has on average one (1) playground for every 3,859 residents. With a population of roughly 60,000, the Village of Orland Park fares substantially better, with one (1) playground for every 1,111 residents.
According to the U.S. Access Board and the National Center on Accessibility, a typical public playground is designed for a lifespan of ten to twenty (10-20) years. It should be noted that while some Village playgrounds have surpassed that average life span, Village playgrounds are maintained to the highest possible safety standards. A Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) from the Public Works Department inspects and reports on each playground monthly, and all hazards and other issues are addressed promptly. Public Works shifted from analog to digital (cloud-based) record keeping in 2026, which will make record keeping even more efficient.
The Public Works Department currently employs eight (8) Certified Playground Safety Inspectors (CPSI). Upon completion of each playground, a Village CPSI audits all work to ensure compliance with manufacturer requirements and national playground standards. Once approved by a Village CPSI, playgrounds are opened to the public for all to enjoy.
Since 2020, the Village has renovated twenty-nine (29) playgrounds based on data outlined in the “2019 Village Park Assessment” and subsequent “2023 Playground and Pavilion Assessment”. The 2019 Assessment was used to help determine which playgrounds would be renovated from 2020-2023 and provided a comprehensive look at the condition of the Village’s parks, while the goal of the “2023 Playground and Pavi...
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