Sports complex bids $1.9 million below budget

Bids for Glen Ellyn Park District's new sports complex came in about $1.9 million below the estimated cost.

About $7.9 million were initially budgeted for the voter-approved project, which will be located north of the intersection of Riford and St. Charles roads in Ackerman Park. Now that bids are in, the pricetag is looking more like $6 million.

"We're pretty thankful," said Cory Atwell, executive director of the park district.

Leaders said bids came in lower than expected because of the struggling economy.

"I think that, right now, there's not a lot of building going on," Superintendent of Parks Dave Scarmardo said. "So these companies don't have the luxuries of bidding high and knowing they're going to get work. We get more people bidding on the job and they give us a better price."

The 89,000-square-foot facility at the 64-acre park will feature three full-size basketball courts, a three-lane walking track, a workout facility, locker rooms, a small meeting area and a multipurpose athletics area for other sports.

Scarmardo said the extra roughly $1.9 million may be used for additional features at the sports complex or might be used for land acquisition.

"We're always looking to purchase contiguous land along park properties," he said.

Construction is expected to begin by the end of October. The work will continue throughout the winter.

During the construction process, existing soccer fields and volleyball courts will be shifted to another location near the recreation center.

The project originally was slated to begin in fall 2007, but the design and village approval process took longer than expected. Construction is expected to take between 12 and 14 months to complete, and officials are hopeful the structure will be completed by January 2010.

Voters agreed in fall 2006 to give the park district $11.9 million for land acquisition, renovation of Main Street Recreation Center and the construction of the new recreational facility at Ackerman Park.