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| Hodgkins Park District Executive Director Kelly Young talks with guests at the July 29 groundbreaking for a $3.3 million expansion. |
Desplaines Valley News
Work is underway on a long-awaited expansion and face-lift
at the Hodgkins Park District building at Hodgkins Park, 8997 Lyons St.
Plans for the work first began in 2007 under then-park
Executive Director Ron Kubicki and finally came to fruition earlier this summer
when a groundbreaking ceremony was held at the end of July.
New Executive Director Kelly Young said the $3.3 million
project will be paid for in large part by a $2.75 million Park and Recreation
Facility Construction reimbursement grant from the state.
She said the project was the culmination of years of hard
work by her and Kubicki and the park district board.
The project will see the renovation of the older portion of
the building (constructed in 1958), the addition of an indoor playground at the
east end of the building, and an expansion of the fitness center. Also added
will be a new locker room, new bathroom facilities, a nutritional classroom
(learning kitchen), a new multipurpose room (to include a fitness studio and a
regulation volleyball court), a senior center, an expanded preschool room with
controlled access, and an expanded and more functional lobby area.
In addition to these specific improvements, the building
will be getting an overall “face-lift” to the exterior.
At the groundbreaking ceremony on July 29, Young addressed a
crowd of village residents and community leaders, expressing her joy at the
culmination of so much work over many years.
“I can’t believe we’re finally here,” Young said.
Also in attendance at the ceremony were representatives of
the construction management firm, Sigalos and Associates, and of the
architectural firm, Studio GC.
Young expressed glowing praise for these two companies, and
an excitement to see their work come to life.
“We threw any and every idea we ever had for this building
at them. And we aren’t sure how they did it, but, even dealing with our
craziness, they designed the most beautiful and functional building we could
have ever imagined. I couldn’t have asked for a better team,” she said.
The PARC Grant is provided through the Illinois Department
of Natural Resources. It provides 75 percent of funding for construction on
public parks and recreational facilities through reimbursement, with the
municipality typically covering the remaining 25 percent.
Construction is set to be completed by next June.
