Des Plaines OKs baseball facility’s move, expansion

Play Ball USA, an indoor recreation facility in Des Plaines, will be relocating to a larger building in town, doubling the size of its current operation.

The Des Plaines City Council recently approved a conditional use permit allowing Play Ball to move from its current location at 208 Graceland Ave. to an industrial building at 111-121 Rawls Road.

“They do a very good job and I’m very glad they are staying in Des Plaines,” Des Plaines 5th Ward Alderman Jim Brookman said. “They offer the community a very positive recreational experience.”

Play Ball would be one of three tenants in the roughly 73,000-square-foot building, operating from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, and 2 to 9 p.m. weekdays.

The facility provides individual instruction in baseball and softball, as well as space for team practices. Its new roughly 20,000-square-foot facility will include a turf baseball diamond/football field, a two-lane running track, two batting cages with a pitching mound, a weight room, and volleyball/basketball court for training.

The owners will provide about 12 additional clinics yearly for teams, parents, and coaches at the new facility.

While there is no plan for the business to host basketball/volleyball tournaments or large recreational events, city officials granted the conditional use permit with the proviso that Play Ball provide 20 additional parking spaces nearby, on top of the 56 parking spaces available on-site.