Community Corner

El Morro Makeover Under Way

Director of Parks and Recreation Cynthia Grannan talks about the $650,000 in updates coming to El Morro in its off-season this year.

The overturned, churned up walking paths and dug-out future detention pond at  are hard to miss, even with several inches of snow recently dumped on Oak Forest.

The park is in the midst of a major makeover. Its reopening this spring, slotted for Mother's Day weekend, will be a bit grander than years' past as the unveils the newly revamped favorite.

Director of Parks and Recreation Cynthia Grannan said the Oak Forest Park District has been toying with the renovations since 2009. Now coming in at the $650,000 mark, original plans detailed $1.5 million in updates to the 5.7-acre park.

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In 2009, the district applied for an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant (OSLAD) with the Department of Natural Resources. As a reimbursement grant, the district was required to show they had the funding they needed; DNR would have then reimbursed the cost. After they were denied the grant, Grannan took a closer look at the plans and tried to adjust based on the park district's finances and a bond issuance. The plans have been designed — and redesigned — by Grannan and architect Brusseau Design Group.

"It's scaled back from its grand slam, down to this," Grannan said. "It's taken most of this year to figure out where we wanted to go with this."

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El Morro has been part of the park district since the '70s. Other than the addition of the miniature golf course in the '80s and a new playground set four years ago, very few changes have been made. 

This year's addition of an ice skating rink and small outdoor amphitheater will hopefully draw more residents to the park, Grannan said. The miniature golf course, which Grannan called one of the park's main draws for local school districts, will remain intact and may receive a face-lift of its own in the near future.

"All of Oak Forest might not know El Morro exists, and has a golf course," she said.

Graefen Development, of Frankfort, is in the process of sinking sewer and electrical lines. Keep reading for a full list of changes coming to El Morro.

What you see now:
  • Dug up tennis courts and fencing removed.
  • Walk path leading into the existing shelter overturned, as is the area for the amphitheatre and skating area. 
  • A big mound of dirt. With a good dumping of snow, this mound on the south end of the park will become the sled hill. 
  • A big hole. The large area at the north end of the concession stand is designed as storm water detention. 
What you will see:
  • A sled hill, ice skating area and council ring, along with a mini outdoor amphitheater.
  • A new, 20-foot by 30-foot shelter addition. The playground area isn't going anywhere.
  • New walk paths to connect with existing neighborhood paths. The paths will extend into the park, around the miniature golf course, picnic shelters and concession stand.
  • A cement patio addition to the existing shelter. 
  • No more perimeter fence.
Fun Fact

Did you know El Morro used to have a Frisbee-golf course?

Grannan remembers when the area that's now designated to become the sled hill was a Frisbee-golf course. The park district put in a course in the early '80s, before "frolf" became a more widespread trend. 

"I can remember being on the bus coming home, and someone saying there's a park with Frisbee-golf," she said. "I only played once.

"The park district was ahead of its time with that one."


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