Slow-moving Hubble good news for Wheaton Park District

Due to the sluggish economy and slumping real estate market, it could be years before the former Hubble Middle School in downtown Wheaton is redeveloped.

In the meantime, let's play some ball.

Wheaton Park District and Wheaton Warrenville School District 200 have managed to turn lemons into lemonade by inking a three-year deal that allows sports teams to continue using the former school's three gymnasiums and outdoor ball fields.

"Basically, we now have an athletic center for at least the period of time that building's going to be standing," park district Director Mike Benard said Friday. "As far as the issue of our indoor space crunch is concerned, this was the best of all alternatives."

Parks officials weren't feeling that enthusiastic in February 2008 when voters gave District 200 permission to proceed with a $58 million plan to move Hubble to Warrenville. They were concerned that once the new building opened at 3S600 Herrick Road, the old Hubble at Main Street and Roosevelt Road would be sold and redeveloped right away.

"That would have left us without some major indoor facilities that are used to the tune of tens of thousands of user hours a year," Benard said.

Wheaton residents also could have lost considerable outdoor space to play softball, baseball, football and soccer. One urban planner's vision for the 22-acre site called for eliminating the soccer field, about half the space used for football and two of the three baseball diamonds.

And there wasn't anything the park district could do about it because the school district owns the land.

But this week, Mayor Michael Gresk said it appears unlikely the property will be redeveloped any time soon.

"It's not a good time to sell real estate," he said.

Benard said school district officials approached him with the idea of the intergovernmental cooperation lease agreement. As part of the deal, the park district will help pay for the building's utility bills.

In return, the park district can keep using the outdoor fields and about 44,000 square feet of indoor space, including the three gymnasiums. Basketball programs started this month in the building. Indoor training for baseball and softball is slated to begin next month.