Sunset Knoll goes Green!

Sunset Knoll park on a beautiful fall day

The Sunset Knoll project is near complete with the planting of 80 additional trees. Overall, the Lombard Park District has planted 160 new trees, including White Birch, Blue Spruce, Autumn Blaze Maple, and Redmond Linden at Sunset Knoll Park in 2010 and 2011. Many bushes and flowering plants have also been planted. The trees and bushes not only provide oxygen for the environment, but many of the trees provide shade for the building, which will help cut down on cooling costs. The shade also reduces the heat on paved paths. The trees planted near buildings provide a wind barrier to help prevent building erosion.

Sunset Knoll was built with many green practices in mind, in addition to adding trees. The interpretive trail is a no mow area which provides a natural habitation and native vegetation. The trail also promotes the education to patrons on natural wildlife. The two retention ponds were built with bank stabilization and erosion control.

If you haven't been to the new park, there are great additions, such as a new playground and interactive NEOS play structure, bags court, new baseball and soccer fields with irrigation, paved walking paths with fitness stations, fishing piers, and much more! Come check it out!

Holiday Lights & Extension Cords!

It's getting close to that holiday decoration time {well it seems that way since there are holiday decorations available at the stores now}! With that said, when you come across those lights that just will not light up, put them aside for recycling at one of three Lombard locations.

The Village of Lombard and the Lombard Park District encourage residents and businesses to recycle their holiday lights and extension cords. The drive will kick-off with the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and last until January 15th. Collection bins will be available at the Department of Public Works at 1051 S. Hammerschmidt Avenue and at Sunset Knoll Recreation Center at 820 S. Finley Road. Residents may drop off at any time, including evening and weekend hours.

Elgin Recycling will pay the Village and the Park District for the copper content and the proceeds will be used to offset the Village's costs for its Recycling Extravaganza each September and the Park District's cost for outdoor recycling bins for the parks. Last year, 10,000 pounds were collected in the Western Suburbs.

For additional information, visit www.lombardparks.com or www.villageoflombard.org. Happy {soon-to-be} Holidays and Happy Recycling!

Lombard Park District Earns Earth Flag

Earth Flag presentation during September Board Meeting

The Lombard Park District was awarded with the Earth Flag from the organization SCARCE on Tuesday, September 27, 2011 in recognition of its green initiatives.

To start the process of earning the Earth flag, the Lombard Park District’s Green Committee met with the SCARCE team for a green audit. The audit showed Earth-friendly practices the District already had in place and several initiatives for the District to put in place. The District hosted a Battery Recycling Drive, paired recycling bins with garbage cans in all of the parks, switched to soy-based inks and recycled paper for the brochure, initiated green construction practices, and more.