Lyons focuses on parks

Big changes coming for sites in village

By Steve Metsch

Basketball games and use of the swings have been put on hold at Veterans Park in Lyons.

The rims and backboards have been removed from the courts – which are very popular. And the swings have also been removed.

Part of it is maintenance. Part is response to the coronavirus.

“The basketball courts, we’re upgrading the backboards and the rims. We’re leaving those down until this plays out,” Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty said of virus concerns.

“They are popular,” he said of the basketball courts. “We decided to fast-track that project. It will be nice when it’s done.”

Swings were removed because they’re being upgraded, he said, and new swings won’t be available for us until social distancing is no longer required to fight spread of the virus, Getty said.

The Lyons Village Board – with trustees and officials scattered in accordance with CDC guidelines of social distancing – met as scheduled on April 7 at the village hall.

Parks were on the agenda as the board voted unanimously to acquire a small house at 8131 45^th Street.

“We’re going to tear it down and turn it into greenspace. It will be a very passive park, maybe a couple benches, a walking path, some landscaping,” Getty said.

The land is between 45^th Street and 45^th Place. “It will really open up 45^thPlace,” Getty said.

The village pay an amount to not exceed $116,000 to acquire the house and land, Getty said.

In another park-related topic, the board approved authorizing Village Manager Tom Sheahan to spend $75,000 to $95,000 for playground equipment for a playlot at 8603-05 45^th Street on the west side of town.

A few years ago, the village bought and demolished an old house beside vacant land to create an L-shaped piece of property that will become the playlot between 45^th Street and 45^th Place.

The board also approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Lyons School District 103 for repairs along Joliet Avenue that fronts the district offices and Washington Middle School.

A noise restriction ordinance was also approved. Cases would be heard and decided in Lyons rather than being sent to the courthouse in Bridgeview, Getty said.

There were no public comments during the meeting because no residents were in attendance.

Desplaines Valley News

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Steve Metsch

Steve Metsch is an award winning veteran reporter who previously worked for the Daily Southtown Newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. Metsch is a writer and editor at the Southwest News Newspaper group based in suburban Chicago, and a freelance writer a health magazine, the Suburban Life, the Naperville Sun, and other organizations.
Email Steve Metsch at [email protected]

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