Public feedback sought for final plan to improve Naperville's Nike Sports Complex

Chicago Tribune

2 days ago

Naperville Park District is seeking feedback from residents on plans to add, expand and update recreational amenities at the Nike Sports Complex.
This round of community feedback via an online survey available until Aug. 8 comes as improvement plans for the complex are finalized. Currently, proposed amenitiees include a new challenge course, loop trail, shade shelter with seating near the cricket field, water play features, native prairie planting area and synthetic turf infields for the playground and ball fields.
The amenities proposed for the complex, located at 288 W. Diehl Road, are the result of extensive input sought from the community last year through online surveys and two in-person open houses.
'What we heard from residents is very similar to and it aligns with the proposed improvements,' Eric Shutes, park district director of planning, said. 'So we heard more walking, jogging and biking trails, so we added an asphalt trail loop. We heard (requests) for an addition to the playground that has water play features, so we added that.'
Residents also voiced strong support for a new challenge course, noting the popularity of the challenge course at the Wolf's Crossing Community Park, Shutes said.
Other improvements that received support were an expansion of and enhancements to the existing nature areas at the site as well as the addition of synthetic infield turf for existing ball fields, he said.
The existing facility has baseball and softball fields, basketball courts, a cricket field, fitness center, ice rinks, playground, pickleball and tennis courts, picnic shelters, restrooms and trails.
Input from the current survey also will be considered as the district staff develops an application for the Open Spaces Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. OSLAD grants, which are awarded to government agencies to help acquire land and develop recreational space, are due in September.
The district has had success in securing OSLAD grants. One a few years back helped add amenities to Meadow Glens Park, including a nature playground and a winter skating area.
The maximum grant award is $600,000 for a project expected to cost $1.2 million. As things stand right now, the changes planned for the Nike complex will cost about $4 million, Shutes said. The district is still assessing other funding sources to cover the rest of the cost, he said.
'We are excited to have the opportunity to connect with the rest of the community,' Shutes said. 'Receiving the input from the community allowed us to really identify ways to make Nike Sports Complex and how our patrons use it much, much better.'
Construction is expected to take place throughout 2027 and 2028, according to district documents.
The online survey can be found at napervilleparks.org/location/nikesportscomplex.