Hobson Corner Park Sees Repairs After Winter Flooding

The spray pad at makes the park a popular warm weather destination for Woodridge's kids. 

But that spray pad has been out of commission since the park district discovered a in-ground vault housing the controls and filtration equipment for the pad filled with water this winter. 

The sump pump for the vault was shut off after an electrical outage for "some extended period of time," said Executive Director Mike Adams.

"We don't use (the vault) in the winter, so there was no reason to check it," said Mike Adams, executive director of the Woodridge Park District. "We're investigating some kind of alarm to alert us to this situation in case it ever happens again."

Fountain Technologies is testing the equipment to see what is still operational. Adams said the park district is submitting the receipts for the repairs to its insurance company. 

Hobson Corner Park will see some other work this spring, as well. 

The park's spray pad surface is being treated with a non-slip coating to prevent slips and falls. 

"Once body oils and sun tan oils get on the surface, it creates some slippery pockets in the pad," Adams said. "We did some research on it and were able to find out there was a kind of sealant to apply to it which will add some grit to it that should hopefully give us some more tackiness." 

He said that is a "pretty inexpensive treatment." 

The park district plans to open the park, pending the completion of repairs and weather, on May 7. 

Once the park opens, the park district also plans on adding a gate to the corner of Hobson and Woodridge Drive to minimize conflict between park users and those on bikes or vehicles.