Joliet Park District's $1.4 Million Project Underway

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Park District is moving full speed ahead with a $1.4 million FieldTurf addition to its six softball diamonds at the Inwood Sports Complex. Hoppy's construction in Lockport is tearing up the infields to make way for the FieldTurf.

Joliet Park District Director Brad Staab said he is hoping all the work will be completed before snow arrives this winter. The Joliet Park District plans to resume its softball leagues in March, weather permitting.

Softball is a huge draw for the Joliet Park District. The park district has more than 200 softball teams in its leagues annually, Staab told Joliet Patch's editor.

Staab said it's important for Joliet area residents to know that the Joliet Park District will not have to raise property taxes to pay for the $1.4 million FieldTurf installation.

"No increases in taxes," Staab stressed during Thursday's interview.

He said the Joliet Park District still had some leftover funds available from its 2014 referendum that paid for the paving of roads at Pilcher Park as well as improvements to 20 community playgrounds across Joliet.

"And we had a big financial turnaround at the end of 2019," he said.

"Every field will have FieldTurf for the infields only," he added.

The outfields for the six softball diamonds will remain grass. The Inwood softball complex was constructed in 1989.

"This has been a project on our list for 10 years or so," Staab said.

Once the FieldTurf is ready for play, the Joliet Park District will also be able to host youth baseball, high school baseball and girls softball tournaments at the sports complex, Staab said.

FieldTurf is the same vendor that the city of Joliet for its 2018 improvements at the downtown stadium used by the Joliet Slammers independent baseball team.

"A lot of athletic facilities are going toward turf," Staab said. "Maintenance costs go down and it helps you absorb the weather easier."

The FieldTurf project marks the biggest capital improvement at the Joliet Park District since the $7.7 million Nowell Park Recreation Center opened on Mills Road two years ago this fall.