Village Voting On New Playground Equipment At Winnetka Elementary School

WINNETKA, IL — Winnetka’s Village Council is scheduled to consider a request from Winnetka Public School District 36 for a permanent gaga ball pit at Greeley Elementary School.

Gaga ball is a children’s sport that is considered a gentler version of dodgeball. It’s played in an octagonal pit with a soft foam ball. The goal is to hit other players below their knees to get them out for the round.

The school district, as owner of the property, is seeking approval to install the play feature east of the existing asphalt play surface. The request includes a zoning variation to allow a front yard setback along Woodland Avenue of 5.5 feet, where a minimum of 30 feet is required. That would amount to a variation of 24.5 feet.

According to the application materials, there is existing play equipment that currently provides a front yard setback of 7 feet from the east property line.

The proposed pit would be built of black composite wood with black metal corners. Plans call for the structure to measure 14.5 feet in diameter and 2.5 feet in height. It would sit on a perforated rubber mat system measuring 20 feet by 16.42 feet, for a total of 328 square feet.

Lindsay Kopinski, principal of Greeley Elementary School, told the Winnetka Zoning Board of Appeals that a temporary gaga ball pit had previously been installed at the school, but it did not hold up to student use. She told the board the school is now seeking a permanent pit similar to the one installed at Hubbard Woods School.

The proposal has already cleared one step in the review process. The Zoning Board of Appeals unanimously approved the school district’s request on July 13, sending the matter on to the Village Council for final consideration.

Winnetka’s Village Council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Village Hall, located at 510 Green Bay Rd.