The Burr Ridge Park District has created an immersive play landscape for young and old alike celebrating Historic Route 66. Part of Harvester Park in Burr Ridge, Illinois, the playground ventures through representations of the route and roadside attractions in each state it passes through. Route 66 Playground adds a new level of learning through play as kids bounce on in-ground trampolines, climb up the Willis Tower to slide down the tube slides, balance on the surf boards, traverse between rocks in the Painted Desert section, hang out with Tow Mater from the Pixar movie Cars, and learn about Route 66 through interactive play experiences.

The play experiences provide a thematic trip down Historic Route 66, with roadside attractions from each of the eight states it passes through. The landmarks are reimagined with play in mind with almost everything being custom designed, and custom made, drawing from talent across the country. Route 66 originally went past the southern border of Harvester Park, which is why the theme is so fitting. Route 66 enthusiasts can marvel at all the details woven in and kids can enjoy playing at such a unique and colorful playground while learning about the historic route with its geography and attractions. A 30' Willis Tower stands on the other side of the existing bridge between the two playground sections. The tower connects to the surrounding play area through a 16' tube slide that contains segments representing the area of the highway that replaced Route 66 across Illinois.

 

In honor of Meramec Caverns in Missouri, home to the world's rarest cave formation, there are boulders for climbing and sitting. A rock formation in the foreground, as well as fenced-in plantings, help establish the theme of this section. The plants are called sorghum, which is a grain that is grown along Route 66, mostly in Kansas. The Blue Whale of Catoosa is a popular roadside attraction in Oklahoma and now kids can climb over or through the whale tunnel at Harvester Park. Cadillac benches represent the public art installation and sculpture in Texas called Cadillac Ranch. Santa Rosa, New Mexico has 20 lakes and sink holes which all link up hundreds of feet underground. These lakes are represented in the New Mexico section of the playground in three small in-ground trampolines.

A rotating climber represents Wigwam Village in Arizona and there are also boulders with striating patterns to represent the Painted Desert. With the rubber surface sloping down between the rocks, younger kids can get the sensation of walking down into a canyon and looking at the stone above. The playground experience ends at Santa Monica with boogie boards, a wood pier, and the existing tilted rotating merry-go-round, which has always been a favorite.

TEAM LIST
Owner: Burr Ridge Park District
Landscape Architecture: Hitchcock Design Group
General Contractor: The Kenneth Company