The Community Park District of La Grange Park broke ground on its Recreation Center refurbishing with an event that drew about 60 leaders and residents.
In an unusually large groundbreaking ceremony, almost everyone at the center’s 1501 Barnsdale Road location got a chance to plunge a shovel April 14, including a couple dozen children.
“This is what we’ve looked for from before this building was built,” said Park Board President Robert Corte. “We were looking for gym space and now we’re finally going to get what the people want. It’s going to be great for people of all ages that are going to be represented.”
The board approved the contract with Chicago Heights Construction in December 2025, with the stipulation the project must be substantially completed by May 31, 2027.
The expansion will include a gymnasium with flexible recreation space and a stage, a concession area and restrooms meeting Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, a new lobby with play spaces and study nooks, and an elevated walking track.
There will be improved security, a dedicated entrance for preschool and summer camps and a green roof with recreation space and offices.
“This is a very, very exciting day,” said Jessica Cannaday, Park District executive director.
The expansion will be financed by a $10.7 million referendum passed by district voters in 2023. The original cost was was to be $14 million, financed by the referendum and capital outlays from the district.
But there was a setback.
An additional referendum asking for a tax rate increase failed, and the district’s position was that it would not go forward with the expansion without the increase. But revenue from district operational and programming fees were strong enough that the expansion could proceed with a lowered cost of $11.3 million.
Cannaday spoke about the history of the Park District, established in 1945, and the planning that went in to getting the Recreation Center expansion done.
“By 1997, the Park District was developing plans for a recreation center here at Haynesworth Park,” Cannaday told the audience. “The plan included a 100-foot by 75-foot gymnasium, a basement and other amenities at an estimated cost of $2.9 million.”
But the plan was scuttled when two 1998 referendums, one for the money and one for a rate increase, were narrowly voted down.
In the early 2000s, the board issued $2.1 million in bonds to build the headquarters/recreation center at 1501 Barnsdale, which was completed in 2006.
Cannaday stressed the need for more space, saying, “this is the largest indoor space currently available to our residents.”
Corte talked about the challenges inherent in working with limited available space.
“We’ve been working with Jessica and our staff envision doing as many things as humanly possible,” he said. “Every space, because of our constraints at this site, has to have two or three functional uses.”
Several village officials were on hand for the ceremony, including Trustee Mike Sheehan.
“Myself and the community are excited with the upcoming expansion at the center,” Sheehan said.
“I was impressed by the turnout of so many people for the groundbreaking,” he said. “I liked the forward thinking in the new design, which will leave options open if an when another addition is needed.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
