Relax, learn at new Florey Park picnic pavilion

If it seems like a new picnic pavilion along Campbell Street sprung up overnight, well, it basically did.

Last week, workers built the wood and metal structure as part of the park district's Florey Park area renovation.

"They installed it in one day," says Amy Charlesworth, executive director of the Rolling Meadows Park District.

The first phase of the project is on the east side of Salt Creek and consists of the pavilion, new wheelchair-accessible picnic tables and educational markers.

The small signs will offer mini lessons about topics such as stream bank stabilization and animal habits -- great for science and ecology field trips for schoolchildren.

Brian McKenna, superintendent of parks, says he is especially excited about the bronze statues of animals being placed near the pavilion, also to promote learning about the environment.

Across the creek, the new basketball and tennis courts should be ready in May, McKenna says. New playground equipment also will be installed about that time.

Beginning in the spring, the pavilion can be reserved by permit. "I would expect it's going to have a good draw. It's a pretty place, and parking is nearby," he says.

Two lives in patchwork: Paula and Donald Graetz have soft and cozy reminder of their 60 years together, thanks to the efforts of their children.

For their anniversary in October, the longtime Rolling Meadows couple received a 6-by-8-foot quilt with squares displaying family photos taken through the decades.

"It was a complete surprise," Paula says of the gift. They worked on it, I think, for six months."

Using a scanner and computer printer that prints on fabric, the Graetzes' daughters and daughters-in-law prepared each square. The color photographs include wedding scenes, family vacations, grandchildren and even pets.

The women got together on weekends to put it all together, but they had to be sneaky about it. "They robbed my photos without me knowing about it," Paula says, laughing.

The Graetzes have lived in Rolling Meadows since 1965 and raised their six children here.

Cozy as it is, the quilt won't be for wrapping up in, Paula says. She and Donald plan to hang it on a very visible wall in their house.