Nike expansion made possible by all

At their meeting on April 20, Naperville City Council voted to approve the planned expansion of Nike Sports Complex to include an additional 20 acres, thereby increasing the recreation inventory of the Naperville Park District.

On behalf of the district's board and staff, I want to thank city council, city staff, plan commission, and the many residents who provided feedback and support for this project. The purchase, planning, permitting, engineering, design, and finally, annexation of the Nike expansion property has been a long, complex process, but I am proud to say that it is a great example of government and community coming together to achieve positive results to benefit Naperville. Special thanks goes to the residents and sports affiliate representatives who took time to learn about the project, attend evening meetings, and communicate their input.

It is especially important to note that the Nike Sports Complex expansion will help fulfill the needs outlined in the park district's 2007 Open Space and Recreation Master Plan to bring additional sports fields online for community use. The new amenities will include the district's first lighted, synthetic turf field and multiuse fields for soccer, football, lacrosse and other field sports. Exciting additions to the park also include a park support building with restrooms and a shade structure, lighted courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball as well as a playground, walking and bicycle trails and one of two cricket pitches in Naperville. Professional landscaping and attention to environmental conservation will add to the site's benefits.

We anticipate a groundbreaking event this summer, and plan to open the new Nike Sports Complex in 2011. As we continue working toward the project's completion, we encourage interested residents to follow our progress by checking out project updates on our website at www.napervilleparks.org.

Ray McGury

Executive director

Naperville Park District