Naperville skaters and youth baseball players can expect major upgrades to their parks this year.
The Naperville Park Park Board approved contracts Thursday to construct the new Rothermel Family Skate Facility at Centennial Park and to add synthetic turf infields at DuPage River Sports Complex and Knoch Park.
Contracts for $559,900 were awarded to Spohn Ranch for the skate park and $269,637 to FieldTurf USA for the artificial turf fields.
Skate park construction should begin this summer and be mostly completed by the fall, Naperville Park District officials said. It will include the addition of concrete bowls and other new features chosen by community members through an online survey and at public meetings.
The project is being partially funded by a $120,000 donation from the Rothermel Family Fund of DuPage Foundation, the name of whom has been approved for the renovated facility.
Originally named the Centennial Skate Park for its location near Centennial Beach at 500 Jackson Ave., the park was originally built in 2004 and needs equipment replacement and renovation work because of extensive wear and tear from heavy use.
Construction will cost about 12% more than originally expected because of inflation associated with the materials.
“We are looking forward to providing the skating community with an all-new experience at the forthcoming Rothermel Family Skate Facility at Centennial Park later this year,” Park District Executive Director Brad Wilson said. “Obtaining feedback to understand the desire of skaters in the community was a cornerstone in developing plans that will result in an exciting, accessible and enjoyable experience for all ages and abilities.”
Synthetic infield turf will be installed at DuPage River Sports Complex in the fall and should be completed by late 2023. Turf installment at Knoch Park’s Memorial Field will be done in 2024.
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Naperville Little League contributed $200,000 to the project, which will help reduce the number of games canceled due to rain and provide a more consistent playing surface, park district officials said.
“The addition of synthetic turf baseball infields at DuPage River Sports Complex and Knoch Park in partnership with Naperville Little League is just one example of many that shows the district’s continued commitment to enhance our facilities and experiences for the benefit of our residents through community collaboration,” Wilson said.
Giles Bruce is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.