By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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MACHESNEY PARK — A new pediatric clinic designed to create a fun and effective therapy experience for children has opened along West Lane Road.
Westside Children’s Therapy cut the ribbon Monday on its facility at 1205 W. Lane Road. The opening was celebrated with the Parks Chamber of Commerce and village officials including Mayor Steve Johnson. Westside also has a location in Rockford, where it filled the former Baci’s Kitchen at 2990 N. Perryville Road.
Westside serves children of all ages with applied behavior analysis and occupational, speech and feeding therapies as well as counseling services.
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“We really strive to make everyone feel welcome here,” said Jay Gilson, senior director of operations for Westside Children’s Therapy. “We want them to feel the warmth and feel welcomed on a daily basis.”
The Machesney Park space includes a sensory gym with a climbing wall, crash pit, slides, ziplines and trampolines that can be used by all therapy disciplines. There are also private treatment rooms where therapists can work with children one on one.
Programs are tailored for the needs of each child, and every child receives one-to-one therapy, even during group sessions, the company said. Westside also offers three therapeutic school readiness programs: Ignite for ages 2-6; Rise for ages 5-8 and Focus, an afterschool program.
About 20 people are employed at the Machesney Park location, which had a soft opening in late summer 2023 before its ribbon-cutting Monday.
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The family-owned business has provided therapeutic services since 1996 and has nearly 30 locations throughout Chicagoland and northern Illinois.
“We are beyond excited to share the mission of Westside Children’s Therapy to the families of Machesney Park,” Gilson said. “Our family-owned organization exists to improve the quality of life for kids by providing the best patient experience through the best people.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas