Lyon Park Playground Update

The Lyon Park Playground is well-loved and well-used, but the equipment and surfacing are aging. The Lyon Park Playground Committee, a group of community volunteers led by resident Mark Ilich, under the auspices of the Board of Governors and the Lyon Park Citizens Association, is collaborating with community members and neighbors to create a new vision and design for a renovated playground at Lyon Park. If a plan is approved and sufficient funds are raised, the changes would upgrade the aging playground and picnic equipment, add child- and environment-friendly play surfaces, and address water management issues.

Through a community survey and numerous outreach events to both the Lyon Park and Ashton Heights communities, feedback was gathered to understand the residents’ preferences and priorities for the renovation. Based on those results, the goal is to replace the aging playground equipment and diversify the ages and types of play, install new surfacing, improve drainage, and respect the park’s existing trees and open space.

A concept design for a new playground has been developed that emphasizes nature-inspired play through a variety of play experiences, improved accessibility and inclusion, tree preservation, and enhanced shade. This plan is conceptual and we will continue to hear input on the plan including the exact playground equipment and the type of plants and trees. A fundraising campaign will finance the project and no construction will begin until sufficient funds have been raised.

Comments, questions, and concerns about the overall plan can be sent to Playground Committee Chair Mark Illich at MIlich74@gmail.com and to leadership of the LPCC Board of Governors at LPCCGovernors@gmail.com.

The Vision

Thanks to a generous donation, we’ve engaged a local design firm to assist with early planning and community engagement. These renderings show the vision for the park’s renovation based on the current concept plan. These renderings are illustrative in nature; the details of the equipment, furnishings and plants will be finalized following an additional opportunity for community input.

The plan includes active play areas with structures for 2–5-year-olds and 5-12-year-olds that provide variety and inclusivity. A picnic area and ample seating options will be available. Stroller parking and accessible pathways will allow the playground to be more accessible for all. A rain garden will capture and treat stormwater runoff while providing nature exploration opportunities. If sufficient funds are raised, we hope to include nature-focused play areas with loose parts play, balance play, and a playhouse village in the shade of existing trees.

Listening to the Community

Throughout the spring of 2025, the Committee hosted information tables at numerous community events where they spoke with residents, listened to ideas, and built awareness of the effort. Additionally, they launched a survey which provided residents with the opportunity to share ideas, preferences, and needs for the playground renovation. The survey’s digital link was shared through the community newsletters of both Lyon Park and Ashton Heights and on the LPCA website, with paper copies available as needed. It ran from April 4^th through May 29^th, 2025, and captured responses from 147 residents. The survey covered the current and anticipated future visitation to the playground and priorities for equipment renovations including access, activities, inclusion, and developmental benefits. The survey also asked residents about their preferences for the design of the park including equipment styles, playground elements, and surfacing.

The key takeaways from the survey included a strong preference towards natural and nature inspired play elements, a need to improve access and inclusion, a desire to provide a wider diversity of offerings and elements, and a high importance placed on saving trees and providing shade and maintaining the natural and open feel of the park as a whole.

The Plan to Play It Forward

The following views of the concept plan for the playground renovation were designed based on community priorities and preferences. Details will be finalized with the Playground Committee after taking into consideration all input provided by the community.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the size and location of the new playground compare to the existing?

The location of the new playground will include the same area of the existing playground, plus a little more. Community responses to the 2025 survey indicated adding more diversity of play types and equipment, and increasing the age range to include 2–12-year-olds was very important. These improvements increased the playground size but will better serve the neighborhood, and there will still be plenty of room for all the other traditional events and activities you are used to.

What will be the impact to the existing trees?

All of the existing trees will remain, with the exception of the small leaning cherry tree. Measures will be taken to protect the existing trees both from construction activities as well as from the new equipment and surfaces, including installing temporary fencing around critical areas, limiting excavation, and using pervious materials around the existing trees.

How was this design selected and is it finalized?

The design has been vetted carefully through the Playground Committee and the Lyon Park Community Center Board of Governors (BOG). The design team analyzed the results of the community survey and presented recommendations to the Playground Committee. The community survey results informed the creation of two initial concept designs which were reviewed by the Playground Committee and the BOG. Their comments were incorporated into this concept you see now.

How is the renovation being paid for?

A generous private donation has funded all of the design and community engagement work completed to date, and will continue to fund the documents needed for permits and construction. Donations from the community and local businesses will be collected to fund 100% of the construction. Construction may be phased to accommodate the fundraising pace, and no construction will begin until enough money has been raised to fully fund that phase.

How do I get involved in this exciting project?

There are multiple ways to support this important project, from getting the word out to helping to organize the fundraising campaign.

Please contact Mark Illich at milich@mkdevelopmentllc.com if you are interested.