Gym Space No. 1 Priority for New Plainfield Rec Center

The Plainfield Park District is moving forward with plans to build a recreation center, thanks to a successful November referendum.

Executive Director Carlo Capalbo said the park district is seeking requests for qualifications (RFQs) for architectural and construction management services for the project, tentatively slated to break ground at Gregory B. Bott Community Park in 2018.

In November, voters authorized the park district to issue $10.5 million in bonds for improvements to neighborhood parks and facilities, and build a new recreation center. The budget for the new recreation center is estimated at $7 million, Capalbo said.

The park district currently does not have a central recreation center with a gymnasium. Current facilities include the Recreation/Administration Center at 23729 Ottawa St., Streams Recreation Center at 24319 Cedar Creek Lane and Normantown Equestrian Center at 12151 Normantown Road.

“We know we need gym space, and that’s our No. 1 priority,” Capalbo said.

Current plans call for building a 30,000- to 45,000-square-foot recreation center at Bott Community Park, 24550 Renwick Road. Formerly known as Renwick Community Park, it was renamed in 2016 for former Executive Director Greg Bott in honor of his 32 years of service with the park district.

Capalbo said plans for the rec center are based on the park district’s master plan, public input and a 2016 feasibility study on aquatic and indoor recreation potential in the park district.

The master plan calls for a multi-use facility with indoor gym space, with elements like a walking/jogging track, fitness center and indoor playground.

Due to the costs involved, Capalbo said current plans for the rec center do not call for an aquatic component, but that’s something that could be added later.

“The facility has to be expandable,” according to Capalbo, who said the site will be designed with the possibility of future growth in mind.

Capalbo said proposals from construction management and architectural firms are due Thursday and will be presented to the board of trustees at its next meeting on March 8.

He said he hopes to see the design process get under way in April.

Other projects

The remainder of the $10.5 million bond funding will go towards improvements at existing parks and facilities starting in the summer and early fall, Capalbo said.

Those projects will include ball field lighting at Bott park, and playground redevelopment or replacement at Van Horn Woods West, Village Green Park, Kendall Ridge Park and Harvest Glen Park.

The bonds will also fund redevelopment of the disc golf course at Avery Preserve, Capalbo said.