ELGIN, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The children of Elgin are going to have to play on old playground equipment for some time to come.
Nearly half the playgrounds in northwest suburban Elgin are deemed to be outdated and need of replacement, but that’s not going to happen. The money is not there.
Elgin Parks and Facilities Superintendent Greg Hulke said 22 of the city’s 46 playgrounds are at or are beyond their intended lifespans of about 15 to 20 years. He added that it costs $350,000 to re-do every playground and all its equipment.
"The one that’s left in our repertoire that's over 30 years old is Powder River Park. Powder River Park is a nice park, but it is severely dated, and basically what happens when I have a 30-year park, I don't have the ability to replace it anymore. The parts aren’t made anymore," Hulke said.
Hulke told the Elgin City Council budget committee recently it would cost $7 million to replace outdated equipment, but next year’s budget is slated to be nowhere near that.
"The average cost of a new playground is about $350,000. In order for all the playgrounds that I have in the city to be updated to within their recommended lifespans, we come up with a price tag of about $7 million," he said.
Hulke said there’s also been a clamoring for new pickleball courts, which would cost $260,000 each. That said, Elgin’s budget plan for next year only includes enough money to make improvements at a couple of parks.
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