Grand Reopening Showcases Exciting Enhancements at Triphahn Center
The Hoffman Estates Park District is inviting the community to a grand reopening event that will showcase the exciting enhancements made to the north side of the Triphahn Center (1685 W. Higgins Road). The Grand Reopening party will be held Saturday, June 24 from 10 a.m. to noon. Attendees will enjoy free custard from sponsor Culver's Frozen Custard, crafts for kids, plus performances by the HE Parks dancers, class demos, facility tours and prize drawings. Prizes include an overnight stay at the Chicago Marriott Northwest, park district passes and gift cards.
The enhancements to the facility are expected to meet future programming needs of the community, which were derived from the park district's Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP). The CMP was completed in 2014 after extensive surveys, focus groups with residents and meetings with community stakeholders. The study revealed the growing need for preschool programming, programs for residents age 50 and over, and off-ice hockey training areas.
As a result, the park district spent much of 2015 studying options to accommodate future needs including:
North Side Lobby and Lounge - A new welcome desk allows visitors to get information and register for programs. A lounge area opposite the Welcome Desk makes a comfortable and cozy waiting area for parents with a fireplace and sofas and a quite space for card games for the 50+ members. A movable wall allows the space to be open to the lobby or closed.
50+ Active Adults Center - The 50+ Active Adults Center, previously four smaller rooms, was expanded into one large room with a retractable wall to separate the space into two smaller rooms. Equipment, books and games are stored in cabinets in the lounge area.
"The retractable walls give the space flexibility of a multi-purpose space," said Director of Recreation and Facilities Mike Kies. "It will allow us to adapt the space to the changing needs of the district."
In addition, the new space lends itself to additional party rental opportunities; an affordable rental option for residents and a valuable revenue source for the District.
Early Learning Center - A new room will be added to the Early Learning Center (ELC), which provides full-day preschool child care. The ELC, which has been filled to capacity for several years, will now accommodate more families and provide a more enriching experience for children. The new room allows teachers to separate 3, 4 and 5-year-olds into their own classrooms and tailor the curriculum for the developmental needs of the child's age.
Athletic Performance Shelf - The Wolf Pack Hockey Club currently serves more than 300 kids year round. With the growing popularity of hockey programs across the nation and the success of the Wolf Pack program, the need for off-ice training areas has been a concern for several years.
"To be successful in any hockey program, players should have training on the ice, of course, but it's vital that they get skills training off the ice, too," said Triphahn Ice Arena General Manager Jeff Doschadis.
A new off-ice hockey training room, called the Athletic Performance Shelf, is located in the space that was formerly the Gymnastics Shelf. The new space accommodates 15-18 athletes at a time and suits the program's needs well.
Gymnastics programs have been relocated to the second floor of the Vogelei Barn where the program has additional space both in square footage and ceiling heights.
For more information about the event and the project, visit heparks.org.