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Hibbard Park – OSLAD Grant Project
START DATE
Spring 2025
END DATE
Spring / Summer 2026
LOCATION
3000 Glenview Rd, Wilmette, IL 60091
Hibbard Park OSLAD Grant Project - Update
Updated 5.26.26
Early Childhood Center Tot-Lot temporarily closed.
As part of our continued commitment to providing high-quality, inclusive play spaces for our community, the ECC Tot-Lot will be temporarily closed for resurfacing beginning Friday, May 29, through Tuesday, June 9.
While the playground is entirely safe and fully functional, the current pour-and-play surfacing did not meet our expectations or ADA accessibility standards. Our contractor will be redoing the surfacing at no cost to ensure the Tot-Lot reflects the quality, accessibility, and experience our families deserve.
We appreciate your patience as we make the newest playground in Wilmette even better for every child and family who visits!
We’re thrilled to announce that the Early Childhood Center Tot-Lot is officially open!
After months of renovation, our community’s youngest adventurers have a fun new place to play, climb and explore. The ECC Tot-Lot is open for Early Childhood Center students during school hours and open to the public in the evenings and on weekends.
Come and explore the newest playground in Wilmette, designed with imagination, movement and joy in mind. We can’t wait to see you there!
Visit our BLOG for more information on the entire project.
About the Project
Hibbard Park History
Hibbard Park is located behind the Community Recreation Center on the corner of Glenview Rd. and Skokie Boulevard. The robust 8.3-acre park includes baseball fields, skate park, tennis courts (also lined for pickleball), a playground, a tot lot, walking path, and open space.
The Inception of the Project
The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program is a state-financed grant program that provides funding assistance to local government agencies for acquisition and/or development of land for public parks and open space.
In August 2024, after receiving community feedback via survey, the Board of Park Commissioners requested parks staff finalize features for the OSLAD application in September.
The official application was sent in early September and Wilmette Park District received notice in December that we were awarded $600,000 for the project in 2025.
Planning Goal and Outcomes
Construction is slated to begin in spring 2025, with completion anticipated by October 2025. Here’s what you can look forward to:
- Six new pickleball courts replacing the two existing tennis courts, providing a vibrant hub for players of all ages.
- A 16’ x 16’ picnic shelter, which will greatly enhance summer programming at this park central to our seasonal activities.
- A new ADA-compliant water fountain offering dual drinking fountains, a bottle fill station, and a dog fountain
- A 6-foot-wide concrete path improving accessibility with a safe, interior loop free of car traffic.
- Renovated baseball fields with updated fencing, dugouts, benches, bleachers, and shade structures—plus solutions for persistent drainage issues.
- Wayfinding signage, helping visitors navigate the park with ease.
Documents and Downloads
Project Timeline
July 2024
Community Survey to determine the needs and improvements at Hibbard Park
August 2024
Board Meeting to discuss and finalize OSLAD Grant Applications specifications with Board of Commissioners
September 2024
OSLAD Grant Application submitted
December 2024
Awarded $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant.
May 2025
Kick-off meeting for project.
June 16
Project Begins. Phase 1 begins with work focused on the pickleball courts, north baseball field and new path.
June 30
Demo on Tennis Court and North Baseball Field structures concludes.
July 14
Fencing and backstop construction begins on North Baseball Field
July 21
Fencing and backstop installation is in progress, and the base for the new pickleball courts has been laid and is curing.
August 2025
Fencing and backstop installation continues to progress. Shelters have been erected. Tot-Lot Playground removal begins.
August 25
Pickleball courts have cured, and the contractor is applying pickleball court lines.
September 5
Pickleball Courts being laid. Walking Path installed. Tot-Lot foundation work begins.
September 16
Pickleball Courts lined. Shelters and fencing constructed. Walking path laid. Tot-Lot equipment delivered and beginning installation.
October 1
South Baseball Field renovations have begun, the Early Childhood Center Tot-Lot equipment is being installed and should be completed by the end of October. The pickleball courts are nearly complete, and the contractor is applying pickleball noise reducing fencing.
October 31
A "soft opening" of the Tot-Lot is scheduled for the first week in November for ECC families. The Tot-Lot will open to the general public in mid-November.
November 20
We're thrilled to announce that the Early Childhood Center Tot-Lot is officially open!
Updates
Photos: Before
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