Chicago Sun-Times (IL) May 14, 2008

Sliding off into history Demolition begins on beloved toboggan slides, but regraded sledding hill 'will start a new tradition' Author: Carly A. Mullady; SouthtownStar; Sun-Times News Group After more than 70 years of steep tobogganing terror, the Swallow Cliff slides are coming down. The Cook County Forest Preserve District and contractors began demolition Tuesday, digging out six 800-foot-plus slopes from the ground up. In their place, the Swallow Cliff Sledding Hill will officially open this winter. "Our goal is to establish one of the more impressive sledding hills in the area," Forest Preserve spokesman Steve Mayberry said. "We understand the toboggan slides have a history, but we think this sledding hill will start a new tradition." Patti Lyons, of Orland Park, watched the demolition Tuesday with her daughter Kim Fleischhauer, of Tinley Park, and Kim's 2-year-old daughter Emily. "I used to come out with other kids when I was little," Lyons said. "Kim went down the hill with her father when she was a kid. "That was probably over 20 years ago." Mayberry said the hill will be re-graded to ensure safe sledding. Demolition, softening the incline and replanting will cost about $1.3 million. The cost to replace the slides was projected at $4 million. The Swallow Cliffs North area off Illinois 83 west of La Grange Road has picnic tables and pavilions, open grass and trails for a number of activities. The stairs leading up to the top of the hill will remain intact, so the exercise enthusiasts who regularly climb the steps can continue their workouts. One of those climbers, Terry Cagney, of Chicago, remembers tobogganing down the slopes as a kid and exercising on the steps as a teenager. "Even in high school, we trained here for football," he said. "The athletes had to run up them." "There are a lot of memories here. It's kind of sad to see them go." Officials said the slides were built in the 1930s after a ski jump there became a national ski jump contest attraction in the 1920s. Poor maintenance of the slides and unpredictable area winters led to their 2004 closure. The Forest Preserve District once had five toboggan sites. All are being demolished. Comment at suntimes.com. Caption: Photo: Joseph P. Meier, SouthtownStar photo / ...the Swallow Cliff slides are demolished.; Photo: Jean Lachat, Sun-Times / Kids make their way up the stairs of the Swallow Cliff toboggan slides in January 2000. The runs closed in 2004. Photo: Joseph P. Meier, SouthtownStar photo / Sherry Willie, 36, of Orland Park works out on the stairs as ....; Copyright (c) 2008 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.

Record Number: 200805140016