You can help Wheaton Park District name athletic center
Naming rights for the historic building at 500 S. Naperville Road in downtown Wheaton are in the hands of residents, thanks to a new contest put on by the Wheaton Park District.
The building, which dates to the 1920s, is owned by the park district and simply called the Central Athletic Center. Park district officials recently decided it would be fun to let residents come up with a more creative name.
"This is a wonderful way for the community to get involved and give their input," said Brad Keene, the center's athletic director.
The only requirement for the name is that it captures "the excitement and tradition that this iconic building exemplified in our community," according to a news release. The 50-character ideas can be submitted online at wheatonparkdistrict.com, along with an optional, short explanation for why that name is being nominated.
The winner will receive a family pool pass, unlimited mini golf and a family fitness membership for one season. Entries are due June 29.
Park district officials said the building first opened as Wheaton Community High School. John and Jim Belushi passed through its halls, along with Watergate journalist Bob Woodward.
From 1992 to 2006, the building housed Hubble Middle School. When the school relocated to Warrenville, the building lay vacant for several years while Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 considered several options for its sale.
Bradford Equities purchased the property from District 200 in 2012 for $5 million. The Wheaton Park District then purchased a 50,000-square-foot section of the building that contained three gymnasiums for $3.25 million. The rest of the property was used to build a Mariano's grocery store.
The athletic facility is home to two basketball courts, four volleyball courts, two batting cages, a tumbling area, indoor soccer and lacrosse training areas, a synthetic turf field, baseball and softball training areas and a birthday party room.
Outside, there are plans for new multipurpose fields for soccer, football and lacrosse, three renovated baseball/softball fields and a jogging path.