GreenMark Public Relations®, Inc.

Multi-use turf fields will serve recreation needs of residents, community sports

With the groundbreaking today at Nike Sports Complex, the Naperville Park District begins development of the long-anticipated 20-acre expansion, bounded by Mill Street, and Diehl and Bauer Roads.

“This is a great boost to the sports life of every child from Naperville and the surrounding communities,” said Mayor A. George Pradel during Tuesday’s event.
When the addition opens next spring, the expanded site will include the District’s first premier lighted artificial and multi-use turf fields for soccer, football, lacrosse and cricket. It will be used by residents of all ages for Park District programs, including community youth and local athletic organizations. Organized sports teams especially have been desperate for play field space on the north side of town.

“It’s great that we have this field space on the north side of town,” said Brett Strang, director of coaching and executive director of the Galaxy Soccer Club, which represents 550 youths on 40 teams in the community. “The lighted game fields will be very helpful, especially in the fall season.”

Several thousand people use the existing Nike Sports Complex every year for organized play and recreation. In addition to more turf fields, the expansion will include courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball, as well as a playground, and walking and bicycle trails. A park support building will include a picnic pavilion, restrooms, and storage. New trees will be installed throughout the project, including along a landscaped berm on the south and east perimeters.

Land adjacent to the existing Nike Sports Complex was purchased in 2007 because of its ideal acreage. It also is easily accessible and contiguous with the existing sports complex. The property was annexed into the City of Naperville after approval by City Council in April.

The expansion is based on resident feedback, as well as recommendations contained in the Naperville Park District’s Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. In addition to the landscaped berm, the master plan includes entry into the new area from Mill Street and a dry bottom detention pond to assist in collecting storm water runoff. Opening of the expanded facility is expected in early spring 2011.

The Naperville Park District is home to 139 parks totaling more than 2,500 acres. Parks appeal to a wide variety of interests and needs, including for environmental stewardship, conservation and education, as well as recreation, sport and fitness, gardening, and river and trail walks.

For more information on the Nike Sports Complex expansion, including the master plan, background information and frequent updates, please visit online at www.napervilleparks.org.

When the Nike Sports Complex expansion opens on the north side of town in early 2011, the traditionally English game of cricket will be among the organized sports played on a pitch located at the new field space.

“It is very exciting to see a cricket pitch included in the new Nike Sports Complex because Naperville residents, especially its youth, will benefit in a big way from the programs the park district will be able to offer at the facility,” says Sarti Krishnan, a Naperville Park District Cricket League participant. The community has one other cricket pitch, at Commissioners Park, 3704 111th St.

“The addition will enable the district to expand its nationally renowned and highly popular cricket league, which has seen overflow demand for the past three years,” Krishnan says.
Cricket is played with two teams of eleven players each. Although the play and rules are different, the basic concept of cricket is similar to baseball. Teams bat in successive innings and attempt to score runs, while the opposing team fields and attempts to bring an end to the batting team’s innings. After each team has batted an equal number of innings, the team with the most runs wins.

“Cricket teaches patience, teamwork and self-confidence,” Krishnan says. “As with many competitive sports, younger players benefit the most because of values the sport teaches early on. Children as young as 8 years old can start playing seriously. Many people play the game for recreational purposes well into their 60s.”

Several thousand people use the existing 25-acre Nike Sports Complex every year for organized play and recreation. With viable, active youth sports teams in the thriving
community, Naperville became desperate for recreational field space on the north side of town. Land adjacent to the existing Nike Sports Complex was purchased for expansion in 2007 because of its size, contiguous location and ease of accessibility.

Area youth athletic coaches say the planned addition of 20 acres of field play at the site will get even more kids involved in the community’s record-winning teams – and help maintain its tradition of producing great sports athletes.

With the planned expansion at Mill Street and Diehl and Bauer Roads nearly doubling the facility’s existing size, amenities also will include the district’s first lighted, synthetic turf field and multi-use fields for soccer, football and lacrosse, in addition to cricket. Lighted courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball as well as a playground, walking and bicycle trails also will be used by youth and community residents.

“Without regular practice, a player will fail to perform well and a team will not win consistently until it plays well together,” Krishnan says of cricket. “Regular practice that results in improvement in game performance will significantly increase one’s overall self-confidence. In addition to cricket, this multi-sport facility is very attractive for the range of recreational activities it provides.”

The Nike Sports Complex expansion is based on resident feedback during the acquisition process, at several public meetings and from recommendations contained in the Open Space and Recreation Master Plan. One of the first steps in the project’s development was installation of safety fencing and removal of trees and underbrush last fall. Engineering plans were developed and the park site received a positive recommendation from Plan Commission earlier this year, followed by City Council approval in April. Groundbreaking is planned for late June. An opening is targeted for early 2011.

For more information about the Nike Park Sports Complex expansion, call 630-848-5000 or visit www.napervilleparks.org. The Web site features news updates, a site plan and frequently asked questions about the project. Please visit the Web site to also learn about Naperville Park District and its numerous public programs, seasonal events and services.

Read more about the sports complex on Naperville Park District’s web site, here.