Work to begin on Lake Villa's largest park

As soon as the Civil War re-enactors break camp at Lehmann Mansion, the bulldozers will move in.

After three years of planning, construction will begin on Lake Villa's newest and largest park. The 18-acre Lehmann Mansion Park will start to take shape shortly after the annual Living History event ends Sept. 14.

"This park will have something for everyone," Lake Villa Mayor Frank Loffredo said. "We are all very excited to finally see it becoming a reality."

A fitness trail, including exercise stations, will ring the entire complex. The park will also have football, soccer and baseball fields. Loffredo explained that the ball fields are for "recreational use" only and not for league play.

In addition, there will be a hockey rink that can be frozen in winter or used for roller hockey in the summer. A group of seventh-grade students came up with the design for a skatepark that will be built as well.

Lake Villa Director of Public Works Glenn McCollum said the village received a $300,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources three years ago. The village added another $400,000 to cover the nearly $700,000 price tag.

Grading work will begin in about three weeks. Though not entirely complete, most of the facility should be ready to use by next summer, McCollum said. There are seven other parks in Lake Villa.