The Park District introduced its $5.2 million recreation center with a grand-opening celebration last weekend.
The two-story building occupies the south side of the Yunker farm property the Park District bought in 1995. A window wall in the fitness center gives exercisers a panoramic view of a grove of old oak trees.
Concerns over those trees and preserving the farm’s green space delayed the center project until an agreement was reached.
Besides a fully equipped exercise room, The Oaks Recreation and Fitness Center has a 22,000-square-foot fieldhouse that can be divided into three indoor courts so three basketball and volleyball games can be played simultaneously, Park Director Connie Eskoff said.
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A walking track is at mezzanine-level and a dance and exercise room and three multi-purpose rooms occupy the second floor.
“We’re going to be able to offer a lot more because we have the space,” said Megan Linge, the Park District’s event coordinator.
Building and operating the center did not require a tax increase, Park District Board member Tom Canna said. Revenues from fitness center memberships are coming in quickly, he added.