Pickleball, Ninja course, outdoor gym part of Rolling Meadows park’s $1.3 million makeover
Rolling Meadows Park District leaders will cut the ribbon Saturday morning on a slew of upgrades to one of their largest and most centrally located parks.
The $1.3 million improvement project at Community Center Park represents one of the larger investments — both in scope and dollars — compared to other major capital projects in recent years.
Among the additions to the 27-acre park at 3800 Pheasant Drive: a Ninja Warrior-style challenge course, a body weight circuit training fitness court, two pickleball courts, a 9-hole miniature golf course, two in-ground game areas for bag toss and ladder toss, a 40-yard dash, a shuffleboard court, a 20-by-20-foot picnic shelter, and connecting pedestrian paths.
Still to come in 2026: the planting of native wildflowers and grasses in the park’s bioretention basin next to the existing sled hill.
“With the wide range of amenities and opportunities being added, it represents an exceptional value for the community while maximizing the impact of the park district’s capital improvement budget,” said Nick Troy, the park district’s executive director. “In an era when families are looking to reduce screen time and spend more time outside, this project provides countless opportunities to experience one of our most popular parks.”
Construction work wrapped up five months after the groundbreaking; a year ago, the project received zoning approvals from the city council. Designs for the park transformation were unveiled at a community meeting two years before that.
Nearly half the project is being funded through a $600,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois and the National Fitness Campaign provided $50,000 for the fitness court.
The court is described as an “outdoor gym,” in which users leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout at seven exercise stations.
State and local officials will attend the 9 a.m. Saturday ribbon-cutting event, which will include fitness competitions, light refreshments, giveaways, raffles and prizes.