Work set to begin on $2.3 million Elk Grove park upgrade
A $2.3 million project to replace a concession stand, bathrooms and maintenance buildings at the Elk Grove Park District's Community Athletic Fields will break ground soon.
It's the first major renovation at the outdoor recreation complex since it opened on the southeast corner of Arlington Heights Road and Devon Avenue in Itasca in 1993.
While no changes are being made to the fields themselves - four baseball/softball diamonds and two football/soccer fields - those who play there will have a new space to gather between games, officials say.
Starting in mid-July, plans call for demolition of a cluster of seven small buildings in the middle of the 23-acre park, and in their place, construction of two amenity buildings covering 2,800 square feet to house bathrooms, concessions, storage and mechanical equipment. In between will be a shade structure covering a 900-square-foot patio.
On the west side of the park, a 800-square-foot structure will be built to house maintenance equipment.
The fields and parking lot will be open and accessible during construction, and portable toilets brought in since the old bathrooms are being replaced, said Tom Busby, the park district's executive director.
"Construction work will all be contained within a set area. It will not affect the field playability," Busby said. "Everything will be taking place like we normally do. It'll be a good project."
Some of the equipment currently stored in the small buildings, including tackling dummies and yardage markers, will be kept for now in large storage pods in the parking lot, Busby said.
Last month, the park board approved a $1.9 million contract with Wight & Co. for the work. With architectural fees and possible contingency fees, the total project cost is estimated to range from $2.1 million to $2.3 million, Busby said.
The project is being funded through the district's corporate fund balance, which sits at $5.8 million.
The new buildings are scheduled to be completed in spring 2017.