New maintenance plan to have key role in Antioch parks and rec, skatepark reopens

Village of Antioch (www.antioch.il.us) Director of Parks and Recreation Robbie Spencer is putting lots of things in high gear in the new year, including a newly-created and robust plan to maintain, upkeep and monitor all parks, facilities, and recreation sites. These include such things as neighborhood playgrounds, outdoor pavilions, sports and play fields, to the Antioch Aqua Center, which opened in 2013 with a $2.5-million upgrade.

"Good maintenance plays a vital role in parks, safety as well. Well-lit areas, surveillance and community input, ongoing maintenance, the use of sustainable and long-wearing materials, as well as materials that blend and work with nature, will help us provide and project an image of our sites being well-cared for," said Spencer. "This lets residents and visitors enjoy things more and take pride in what we have."

The Village of Antioch serves a population of over 14,000, with more than 350 year-round programs, summer day camps, a preschool, and seasonal special events, all offered by the Parks and Recreation Department. Sites and facilities include parks and outdoor spaces, tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, multi-use sports fields including the Tim Osmond Sports Complex featuring an 18-hole disc golf course, historic Hiram Buttrick Sawmill, William E. Brook Entertainment Center and nature area, Antioch Senior Center, to the Antioch Aqua Center at Williams Park. Williams Park also hosts a skatepark, a popular youth and teen BMX/skateboarder attraction which recently completed renovations. These very refurbishments were a catalyst for Spencer to create and prioritize this new plan.

"Residents and our skatepark users were vocal, and they were right. We needed to take steps, and get the site readied. For a short time, things got sidelined, and we have put better strategies in place. We have a dedicated plan, dedicated staff, a vision. It's great to have input, and we want to continue to hear feedback." The skatepark, located at Main and Williams Streets, is open year-round, weather permitting.

Spencer encourages residents, park visitors and community members to contact or stop by the Parks and Recreation Department. The office can be reached at 847-395-2160, and is located at 806 Holbek Drive in Antioch. You can also download a program and activities guide at www.antioch.il.gov, under the "Departments" tab.