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Construction to begin on Sprenger Park in Antioch subdivision

Pushing through the summer drought, the village of Antioch is moving forward with its plans to begin Phase II of Sprenger Park, a public park in the Neuhaven subdivision.

“The drought has not helped us,” Village Administrator Jim Keim said. “I was hoping (turf) would be ready by now, but obviously the whole thing went dormant this summer, and we didn’t get a lot of growth.”

Though the dry weather has hindered development of the turf installed during Phase I, Keim said the construction set to begin in the next two weeks is on schedule.

The finished park will include amenities such as a baseball/softball field with fencing and dugout benches, a football/soccer field, tennis courts, a basketball court, baggo courts, trails, a fishing pier, a picnic shelter and a parking lot. There will also be signage along the paths that will “speak to the flora and fauna in the area,” Keim said.

However, 30 acres of the 40-acre park will be left in a natural state. The undeveloped area includes prairies, wetlands, ponds and stormwater detention basins.

“The park lent itself to a really good blend of both passive and active spaces,” Keim said, giving credit to park designer Dave Reitz of HR Green.

The project was delayed earlier this year when bids came in higher than expected. After going out for bids for a second time, village trustees accepted a bid of about $425,000 from FBG Corporation at last week’s village board meeting.

Funding will come from an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development state grant of $283,200 and bond proceeds from developer Neumann Homes’ bankruptcy settlement.

Keim said he anticipates additional funding of about $25,000 to $30,000 may need to be taken from the village’s general fund.

Despite weather challenges, Keim said many amenities will likely be ready by fall, such as the trails, tennis and basketball courts and the shelter. He said he hopes the turf will be ready by spring or summer.

“It’s going to be a very, very attractive park and maybe one of the nicest parks in the area in terms of the ... serene and natural surroundings,” Keim said.

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