Orland Park celebrated the opening on Monday of its new inclusive playground at Schussler Park, which was thoughtfully designed to welcome children and families of all ages and abilities.
Construction on Schussler Park Phase II, 14609 Poplar Road, began in February 2026 and includes a new inclusive playground, half basketball court and picnic pavilion, transforming the park into a more accessible, welcoming and family-friendly destination.
“This project reflects our commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels welcome,” said Mayor Jim Dodge. “By improving accessibility and adding inclusive features, we are ensuring Schussler Park serves residents of all abilities.”
Joining Dodge at the ceremony were Clerk Mary Ryan Norwell, Trustees Cynthia Nelson Katsenes, William Healy and John Lawler, families, residents, Village staff and project partners were on hand to check out the new features. Designed to welcome children of all abilities, the playground encourages exploration, connection and fun for everyone.
Funding for the project was made possible in part through a $600,000 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant.
The OSLAD grant helped offset construction costs and allowed the village to expand accessibility features beyond the project’s original scope.
Designed as an inclusive playground from the start, the new play area exceeds Americans with Disabilities Act requirements and serves children of all abilities. Integrated play features encourage children to play together while supporting a wide range of physical, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional needs. Sensory-rich elements, quiet spaces and accessible ramped pathways allow children to engage with the playground in ways that best match their abilities and comfort levels.
Nelson-Katsenes called the park renovations “beautiful.”
“We have been working on this for years and the result is a beautiful (village) park that is all-inclusive and can be enjoyed by all children,” she said. “The staff and construction crew did an outstanding job.”
Orland Park Recreation and Parks Director Ray Piattoni said the costs for Phase I and II totalled $13.5 million. Phase I costs were $12.4 million and included turf fields for soccer, football and lacrosse use, a parking lot, restroom/storage building, dredging of Schussler Pond, the bleachers and press box, storage garage and other improvements and additions.
Phase II costs totalled $1.1 million and included the playground and playground elements, all site work and installation, the pavilion, a half-basketball court, site amenities and landscaping.
Tim Doody, a 40-year resident of Orland Park, said he was “amazed” by how the park addition turned out. “The village did a phenomenal job bringing this to fruition,” he said. “They had a great turnout for this event today.”
The ceremony also welcomed a special appearance by Sandburg High School alumni, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time Walter Cup champion Kendall Coyne Schofield, and Super Bowl Champion Michael Schofield III, who helped make this project a reality.
After the official ribbon-cutting ceremony, complimentary ice cream was provided by Rainbow Cone, and Joey’s Red Hots served hot dogs for guests to enjoy.
