The long awaited expansion to La Grange Park’s Recreation Center will begin this spring.
The Community Park District of La Grange Park Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to award the contract to Chicago Heights Construction Co., one of 10 companies that bid on the project.
“I think it’s great, and we came in pretty much under budget,” Bob Corte, board president, said after the vote. “So everything that we wanted will be in it. “I went with Jessica (Cannaday, executive director of the district) to look at the design. It’s going to be phenomenal.”
The Recreation Center expansion will be financed by a $10.7 million referendum passed by district voters in 2023. The original cost was estimated to be $14 million, to be financed by the referendum and additional capital outlays from the Park District.
But an additional 2023 referendum question asking for a tax rate increase failed and, without the additional revenue, the Park District’s original position was that it wouldn’t go forward with the expansion.
But even with the failure of the referendum for the tax rate hike, officials decided to go forward with the expansion in a plan with a reduced cost of $11.3 million.
“Operationally, we’re performing so well in our programming and operations that we’re actually generating our own money,” Cannaday said after the vote. “This is an incredible opportunity for Parks and Recreation. Indoor space like this allows us to provide the opportunities and activities that our community has been going elsewhere for. So we’re able to keep people at home and provide the services they deserve.”
The work will begin in spring — or “as soon as the snow melts” Cannaday said — and will include a new gymnasium with flexible recreation space and a stage, ADA accessible concession area and restrooms, a new lobby with play spaces and study nooks, and elevated indoor walking track, improved security, a dedicated entrance for preschool and summer camp, a green roof with recreation space to be added later, and offices to be added later.
Per the contract with Chicago Heights Construction Co., the expansion must be substantially completed by May 31, 2027.
Commissioner Sheri Sauer was excited about the project.
“I think it’s awesome,” she said. “It’s going to have so much opportunity for our community and it’s just a great addition.”
Commissioner Mike Marusic cast the lone dissenting vote on the project.
“I’m not in favor of the gym, and I don’t think the residents of La Grange Park are in favor of it either,” he said.
The next meeting of the Park District Board of Commissioners will be 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan. 12 at the Recreation Center, 1501 Barnsdale Rd.
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/19/la-grange-park-recreation-center-expansion/
