



The Roberts Square Park Advisory Council is seeking volunteers to help spread new Fibar chips from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, July 24, as part of the installation of a new playground at the 3.5-acre park, 5200 W. Argyle Ave.

The playground was closed last week to allow the installation of a climbing wall, a spinner and other apparatus, and it is expected to re-open shortly after the chips are spread, council president John Riordan said. Fibar chips look similar to traditional woodchips but are a softer material.

As part of the "Chicago Plays" program, Roberts Square Park is one 300 parks with Fibar chips which will receive new equipment over the next 5 years. To save money, the footprint of each playlot is not changing, and a soft rubber surface is not being installed.

The swings at the park are remaining. The council did not want the swings replaced because newer ones require more space and would have resulted in a reduction in the number of swings.

The park is across the street from Beaubien School, 5025 N. Laramie Ave., where two new playlots and an artificial athletic field recently were installed.



