By Meg Sullivan
Many were caught by surprise Tuesday by the sudden start of demolition of the toboggan slides at Swallow Cliff Forest Preserve, in unincorporated Palos Township.
The demolition process is slated to last a week to 10 days.
"While we are saddened that the toboggan slides are being demolished, we are excited that the hill will be available next winter for sledding," said Cook County Commissioner Liz Doody Gorman (R-17, Orland Park) who was out at Swallow Cliff for the start of demolition.
The slides, which have been a Palos-Orland institution for decades, are located on Route 83 west of La Grange Road in unincorporated Palos Township. Closed since 2004, the slides, first built in the 1930s, would have needed $1 million in repairs to open again. Instead, the county approved spending more than $600,000 to remove the slides and alter the hill for sledding.
Gorman said the hill should be ready for sledding by the beginning of this winter season. The slope of the hill is to be filled a bit to make it less steep.
Despite a campaign by Palos Park Mayor John Mahoney, other Village Council members and villagers to save the slides, the Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners voted at the beginning of last month 13-2 to approve demolition. Mahoney led a delegation of residents to unsuccessfully plead the case for saving them before the board on April 8.
Commissioners Gorman and Forrest Claypool (D-12) were the only two commissioners to vote against demolition.
"I fought hard to keep the slides in operation," Gorman said in a press release. "In the end the Forest Preserve District Board voted for demolition of the slides, but I want it made clear that this vote does not preclude future development plans for other recreational activities."
Gorman said she went to the demolition site to answer questions that many runners and walkers that use the stone stairs adjacent to the slides may have had.
"They started demolition with the farthest chute away from the stairs. I was there to put "Pardon Our Dust" signs up and talk to a few people. There were probably about 50 people walking the stairs and running by, lots of activity," she said.
Gorman also sponsored a resolution to open the door for potential future development of the recreational areas. She worked to secure funding for the upkeep of the running trails that run behind the slides, which are enjoyed by many residents and local school sports teams.
The stone stairs and trails will be open during the demolition.
 The following image was attached:
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