10/22/2026
Chesterton Park Board votes to purchase new playground equipment for Tamarack Park
The Chesterton Park Board voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 6, to purchase new playground equipment and mulch for Tamarack Park from NuToys Leisure Products of Westchester, Ill., for the contract price of $95,048.
The Tamarack Park project—being funded with moneys from the $1.9-million bond issued late last year—is one of the high-priority projects previously identified by the new five-year masterplan approved last year by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
As Superintendent Tyler McLead told the Park Board, the current playground is original to the subdivision, was installed in the middle to late 1990s, and is now “beyond its useful life.”
“Right now we have a slide and a climbing structure in this area, so that’s getting replaced with a new structure that has a lot of different elements for ages 2-12,” McLead said. “A lot of play value here in this little area.”
In addition, the project includes pathway improvements to create connectivity between the playground proper and the swing set; as well as the installation of a shade structure which will be located between the playground and the swing set.
The actual nstallation of the playground equipment and shade structure will be bid out separately.
McLead added that he’s hopeful of completing the project this year. “This is something that could potentially get completed this year,” he said. “In the event we have any delays with installation, we still feel it’s worth purchasing the equipment now because the price will go up in 2027. Last year, I know, was kind of unique. We had a large snow event on Veterans Day, if I remember right. Typically, though, t’s kind of mild, so we should be okay to proceed with an install prior to Thanksgiving.”
Should the project be delayed into 2027, on the other hand, the Park Department will store the purchased equipment at its compound off 23rd Street.
COFFEE CREEK BOARDWALK PROJECT
In other business, the Park Board voted unanimously at its Oct. 6 meeting to award the contract for the design and engineering of the Coffee Creek Park boardwalk project to Ohm Advisors, which has a local office in Chesterton.
Contract price: $65,878.
The scope of the project—partially funded by a 50/50 match grant in the amount of $200,000 from the Lake Michigan Coastal Program—includes the replacement of approximately 350 linear feet of boardwalk, chiefly along the primary east/west segment; the construction of a staircase leading into the park from Lois Lane; and the restoration of native vegetation along the boardwalk.
The grant will similarly be matched with moneys from the $1.9-million bond.
McLead told the Park Board that construction documents should be completed by the end of March and the project put out to bid in the spring.
Below: Rendering of the new Tamarack Park
