Lemont Park District Celebrates Reopening of Virginia Reed Park

The Lemont Park District celebrated the grand reopening of one of its oldest and most beloved parks Tuesday night.

Virginia Reed Park, 51 E. Eureka Drive, underwent a series of upgrades this summer. The park, long known for its "Choo-Choo Train" theme, features a new playground, a swingset, a shelter, paved pathways and a giant stationary toy train.

Dozens of Lemont residents and park officials gathered for the re-dedication ceremony Tuesday night.

Lemont Park District Board President Pat Sexton read the following statement during the event:

On behalf of Lemont Park District Commissioners John Diorio, Jim Davoren, Brian Pepich and Peter Korbakes; Executive Director Louise Egofske and the entire Lemont Park District family, I want to invite everyone to Lemont’s latest train stop at the corner of Warner and Eureka.

I would like to thank all of our community peers who showed their support by attending our recent park dedication: former Park President(s) Norb Lesnieski and Dan Lipowski, Village trustee Ron Stapleton, Village Clerk Charlene Smollen, Township Clerk Barb Buschman, Fire Chief George Rimbo, Fire Trustee Rick 
Rimbo, Lemont Police Commander Greg Smith, Lemont Park Foundation member Ann Marie Evans, Tri County SRA Executive Director Peggy Wilson, Lemont Historical Society President Sue Donahue, Lemont Lion’s Club President Mark Joiner and past President John Goushas and the Library District’s Ms. Mary.

I want to thank the Lemont Lions Club and Citgo Refinery for being proud partners throughout the years at Virginia Reed Park and the other park sites in our community. I would also like to thank the neighbors for their participation at our park design forums and for their patience during our summer construction. 

And special appreciation goes out to our outstanding park district team, led by Louise Egofske and Dawn Banks, for their belief and commitment to re-energizing this special park site.

In March of 1948, a group of dedicated neighborhood mothers set out to create a recreational experience for the children in this area. With this corner lot donated by the N.J. Brown family and with the strength and determination of the newly created Singer Warner Mothers Club, their founding members—Eleanor Jungles, Florence Shaski, Clara Smollen, Leona Wall, Velma Weber, Elsie White, and Club President Virginia Reed—set out to build a 'play yard' with sand boxes, teeter-totters, slides and the hot metal merry-go-round. 

Virginia Reed was a devoted advocate for recreational opportunities for the children of this neighborhood. Due to her untimely passing, Ms. Reed was not able to see her labor of love open for the children in June of 1948. Ms. Reed’s vision was recognized later that year as the Chicago Motor Club awarded the 
Singer Warner Park as the “best area play yard” in the southwest suburbs.

In 1978, the Singer Warner Mothers Club transferred ownership of the playground to the Lemont Park District, and under the leadership of former board President Norb Lesnieski the park district honored the memory of the lady who started this all and renamed the site Virginia Reed Park.

In 1989, the Lemont Park District rebuilt the park and the local legend was born. Depending on your children’s age, the Train Park or Choo-Choo Park rolled into town.  

In 1990, Virginia Reed Park followed in the footsteps of the Singer Warner Park and was recognized as the best Illinois Park Design by the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association. In 1991 the park was awarded the best park design by the State of Illinois Landscape Architect Association.

Throughout the years thousands of visitors, including those from surrounding communities, have graced this property, and when our park board began the discussion of renovating this site, we understood the history and excellence that came with this park.  

Our board was tasked with meeting today’s trends with yesterday’s memories and each and everyone one of us knew the importance of how special the train park was to this community.  

It is our pleasure to recognize the hard-working members of the Singer Warner Mothers Club, the thousands of children who have grown up at this park and the legacy of Virginia Reed, and I am honored to re-introduce Train #1948 to the children of Lemont.

Tell us: What do you think of the new Virginia Reed Park? Sound off in the comments below.