The Sycamore Park District’s newest park is in need of a name.

Students in kindergarten through sixth grade have until Nov. 8 to submit their suggestions for the name and a chance to win a $1,000 savings bond, said Superintendent of Recreation Bart Desch, who is running the contest. The park is located in the Sycamore Creek subdivision.

“The park board of commissioners decided they wanted to get the community involved in terms of naming the park,” Desch said. “It’s fun to give an opportunity to kids, and they could learn about savings bonds.”

Desch said the park district acquired the Sycamore Creek Park through a land-cash ordinance, which states that any development must give a portion of land to the park district to use. During development of the Sycamore Creek subdivision, the developer went out of business, said Dan Gibble, executive director of the Sycamore Park District.

Gibble said instead of just leaving the land, Sycamore Creek residents paid back taxes in order to keep that land to give to the city.

“This land is for the park district to serve the residents living in those homes,” Gibble said. “The area was left for future development of a park.”

Jeanette Martin, secretary of the Sycamore Creek homeowners association, said Sycamore Creek residents were concerned when the developer went out of business a few years ago.

“We were left up in the air when our developer went bankrupt,” Martin said. “We were thinking we’d get this great park, but instead we were left with a big dirt pile for a couple of years.”

Martin said a company from Cherry Valley cleaned up the dirt and debris in the lot, and then it was transferred to the park district. Martin hopes to see bike paths and a playground at the new park.

“The promise is finally coming true,” Martin said. “Land was promised to us initially, and we’re happy it’s coming to light now.”

Information on participant requirements, the written description requirements and more information about the contest can be found at www.sycamoreparkdistrict.com.