This afternoon village employees helped unveil the new PrairieWalk Pond during downtown trick-or-treat hours. Mayor Joe Broda, the village trustees, economic director Cathy Schuster, village manager Jerry Sprecher and public works director Jason Elias congratulated the park's designers and explained the park's benefits to the downtown area and village at large.

The park comes after several months of work and a $400,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Wheaton's Planning Resources Inc. created the park with an "emphasis on sustainability." Once a floodplain, the water retention pond stores runoff from up to ten acres of the downtown area—a purpose crucial to helping the downtown's redevelopment.

The park's features include 2100 feet of walking trails, a gazebo overlooking the pond, recycle bins, a bike rack, water fountains and the Dragonfly Landing playground. The unique play area features that engage children, including rock climbing wall and jumping boards. The shelter has a living roof, and in warmer weather kids can cool off under flowers that water you.

According to Broda, the playground will have a second grand opening in the spring when the water features are turned on. The village will also add signage about plants featured on the green roof.

The village recognized the efforts of Planning Resources, as well as the playground and Dragonfly Landing arch designers.

Around 40 residents attended today's ribbon cutting, and a handful of children tested the new playground.  Schuster said the village has already had a request to hold a marriage ceremony in the gazebo on the west side of the park.