Lockport Township Plans Hassert Park Grand Opening

The Lockport Township Park District is scheduled to unveil its newest park facility, complete with soccer fields, a softball complex, a splash park, concession stands and batting cages.

On Saturday, the park district will host a grand opening celebration for the final phase of Brent Hassert Park, named after the former state representative. The park is located at 19623 Renwick Road in Crest Hill, behind the headquarters.

Lockport Township Park District Executive Director Sue Micklevitz, who also serves as a Romeoville village trustee, said the recently completed project includes three softball fields, batting cages, a splash/spray park, two playgrounds (one for ages 2-3 and one for ages 5-12) and two concession stands.

The park was originally intended to be a three-phase project, but financial constraints prompted the park district to combine phases two and three.

“It’s probably the final phase we’re going to be able to do,” Micklevitz said. The first phase, which included the 15-acre soccer fields, was completed in 2009.

The phase two/phase three project cost an estimated $2 million, according to Micklevitz. It was funded in part by a total of $800,000 in Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

The district’s newest park was made possible through the efforts of Hassert, who helped secure the 80-acre parcel from the Illinois Department of Corrections, Micklevitz said.

“Brent Hassert worked with the park district to get the property for the [Prairie Bluff] golf course,” she said, adding he was able to secure an additional 80 acres for the park. The site was originally part of Stateville Correctional Center property.

The grand opening celebration is set for 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at the park. The event includes free hot dogs, chips, popcorn, drinks and sno-cones for the first 400 guests, along with face painting and balloon animals for the kids.