Turf field, gym and walking track planned for new Wagner Community Center in Elmhurst
An artificial turf field, gymnasium, walking track, early childhood spaces and more are part of the Elmhurst Park District’s plan for a new Joanne B. Wagner Community Center.
The park district board approved the schematic design for the community center during its board meeting this month.
In November, the park district received permission from voters to borrow money to pay for the new community center, which is estimated to cost $84.95 million.
The district also got voter approval to build a new band shell at Wilder Park, convert a grass field to artificial turf at Berens Park, and install heated, permanent restrooms at three other parks.
As a result of the successful ballot measure, the owner of a home valued at $500,000 — the median in Elmhurst — will pay roughly $317 in additional property taxes to the park district per year for 25 years.
The new, 127,000-square-foot Wagner Community Center will be a two-story building with a main entrance on Crockett Avenue, according to the plan by the Dewberry architect firm.
Its dominant features include a turfed indoor soccer field that can be divided into halves or quadrants for different uses. The schematic also identifies batting cages as a possible use.
Four multipurpose rooms and a changing area are shown opposite the indoor field.
Also, a large gymnasium will offer three full basketball courts that can be divided into smaller sections. A second-floor, three-lane walking track will line the perimeter of the gymnasium building.
In between the large spaces is a first-floor gymnastics gymnasium across from other rooms hosting a wellness area, rooms for esports or indoor play, a registration desk, staff rooms, plus a lobby area. Two dance studios will be on the second floor.
An area for preschool and early childhood classrooms will have a separate, secure entrance. There also will be space for storage and building operations on the first floor.
Outside, south of a parking lot, the site plan show a large field and a smaller one over a 220-foot by 500-foot outline.
Construction of the new Joanne B. Wagner Community Center is anticipated to start this fall, according to the park district. The plan is to open the facility in 2027.
The approval of the site plan allows the park district to move forward with design development documents, including architectural features, elevations, mechanical systems and other operational components.
In a news release, the park district said it will hold an open house this summer for people to see the plans.