Dundee Twp. Park District to build new rec center

Submitted by Dundee Township Park District

Dundee Township Park District and Lamp Inc. will host a groundbreaking ceremony on the new Randall Oaks Recreation Center at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Lamp Inc. is managing the construction on the $12.6 million building on Randall Road near Route 72, which will join a nearly 800-acre campus that includes the Randall Oaks Park, golf course, petting zoo and a baseball complex.

This 52,300-square-foot facility will include a fitness center, double gymnasium, elevated track, exercise classrooms, an early childhood classroom, a baby-sitting room and a multipurpose room. It will also house a west side branch for the Dundee Township Public Library.

They anticipate completion and opening of the building in September 2012.

The construction of this facility comes as a result of a 2008 community survey in which the residents ranked a west side recreation center high among projects they wanted the district to tackle. The district’s aim is to accommodate the growth west of the Fox River, while easing crowding at the east side center.

Today, roughly 62,000 people live in the township vs. the 39,000 who lived there in 1989 when the first center opened, Park District Executive Director Tom Massomer said.

The park district is able to finance the project within the existing park district tax resources. This project will also take advantage of funds available from the Build America Bond program, which includes a 35 percent interest rebate to the district.

Everyone is invited to watch the progress on the construction of the new Randall Oaks Recreation Center on the park district’s website, www.dtpd.org.

For details, contact Ian Lamp, ilamp@lampinc.net or (847) 741-7220, ext. 305.