Countryside Park to be Home of State's First Quito Geometric Net Climber

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

A first of its kind play structure in Illinois is set to debut at Rolling Meadows Park District's Countryside Park!

The distinct geometric net climber and accompanying playground were chosen by Rolling Meadows children during February's Pick Your Playground Community Input Meeting. Children were invited to place blue stickers on their favorite playground renderings. PlayWorld's proposal, which includes friendship swings for families and tire-swing style equipment for multiple users, was the top choice. The design also includes a playhouse for imaginative play. The playground replaces more than 20-year-old equipment at the park, located at 4360 Euclid Avenue.

"The kids chose a great playground," said Superintendent of Parks Brian McKenna. "Out of the choices this would have been the one I would have picked."

Drawing inspiration from Quito, Ecuador's capital nearest to the equator, the standalone net climber is named after the city. McKenna said the structure promotes a creative play experience as children attempt all the various ways to climb through the "web."

"Children can climb on it differently each time they use it," McKenna said. "With the slide, you go up the steps, sit on the slide and slide down. That experience isn't going to change much. When you have a large climbing structure like Quito, children are offered a range of options for navigating and traversing the framework from various angles."

The new playground is expected to be complete in July, McKenna said. A majority of the work is being done by Rolling Meadows Park District parks staff.