Latest news with #KevinNuppnau
Chicago Tribune
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Valparaiso Parks unveils ValPlayso pickleball courts as among first of 2025 parks upgrades
While reviewing a previous 2020-21 Valparaiso Parks 'masterplan and resident research study,' Kevin Nuppnau, director of the Valparaiso Parks Department, noticed the word 'pickleball' didn't appear anywhere in the documents or among the park patron requests for upgrades. 'I've been in my director role for two years now, and before that, five years with the department,' Nuppnau said Monday while unveiling six new pickleball courts joining the ValPlayso park landscape. 'Pickleball wasn't a term we really heard until about three years ago.' What was previously a greenspace devoted to T-ball is now the six-court sprawl devoted to this popular paddle, net and court sport called pickleball, included in the $25 million recent enhancement plan for the existing park landscapes in the city-funded by the rePLAY initiative. The public ground-breaking ceremony was April 15 at ValPlayso Park at the intersection of Glendale Boulevard and Roosevelt Road. 'This project came in at around $500,000 and it was finished about a week ahead of schedule, which is wonderful,' Nuppnau said. 'It was more than just a construction effort, but also consideration and engineering for proper drainage.' Following a ribbon cutting and opening remarks from Valparaiso Mayor Jon Costas Monday morning, more than 200 park revelers, including eager pickleball enthusiasts, swarmed the fenced courts adorned with green 'seed dotted' pickle-design balloon archways and borders. 'I liked that Mayor Costas inaugurated the courts with the first paddle hit,' said Lance Werner, 57, of LaPorte. 'In about two weeks, LaPorte is about to open our eight new pickleball courts, too. I wanted to come out to see what the Valparaiso design looks like. I love that each court here was created with its own paddle racks to make it easy to keep track of your racket from home. Our LaPorte mayor, Tom Dermody, plays pickleball. I'm going to suggest these two mayors have a pickleball playoff.' Molly Brust, 30, of Valparaiso, brought her paddles to play a 20-minute session against her pal Karley Wajda, 24, of LaPorte. 'It's great exercise for me since I started playing pickleball nearly two years ago,' Brust said. 'Pickleball also creates a nice sense of community, too. These new courts are spaced just right to provide the opportunity for some shared space to talk and meet other people playing.' In recent years, the Valparaiso Parks Department has converted low-traffic former basketball and tennis hard-surface outdoor courts into pickleball courts at Bicentennial Park, 175 Burlington Beach Road, Tower Park at 1000 Franklin St., and Kirchhoff Park at 400 Roosevelt Road. The Valparaiso YMCA at 1201 Cumberland has three indoor pickleball courts. The sport can be played with single players or double teams and uses a low net and lined boundary courts with paddles swatting an aerated, light, plastic, bright yellow, green or orange ball, like a Wiffle ball. The game score goes up 11 points, with the winner needing to win by two points, making it similar to tennis scoring. Pickleball enthusiast Linda Rodenbarger of Valparaiso also spoke during the opening remarks at Monday's ribbon cutting. 'The timing is so ideal for these new courts to open just as the pickleball courts at Kirchoff Park will now close for that park's renovations,' said Rodenbarger, who has helped coordinate pickleball teams and competition tiers using an app called TeamReach. 'I knew nothing about pickleball until about two years ago, while in Florida, when I was told about it and gave it a try. I came home to Valparaiso and started telling others about pickleball. It's a sport that has a great sense of community, and it's great for all ages.' Parks included in the rePLAY initiative are Kirchhoff Park, Fairgrounds Park, Tower Park, ValPlayso, Foundation Meadows Park, Rogers Lakewood Park, Ogden Botanical Gardens, Glenrose South Park, Will Park and Banta Park. 'The rePLAY initiative is a direct result of ongoing public input and our comprehensive Parks Master Plan,' Nuppnau said. 'This initiative will not only improve our existing parks but also ensure they continue to serve as vital community gathering places.' Nuppnau said the rePLAY initiative is funded using the bond proceeds that were originally earmarked for the proposed sports park, shelved last year because of the excessive cost, to now put the bond funding to immediate use for long-term benefits. To learn more about the rePLAY initiative and stay updated on project timelines and community engagement opportunities, visit
Chicago Tribune
08-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Valparaiso parks ready for proposals for $20M new REC park project
The Valpo Parks Department announced Tuesday it is now accepting proposals for the ambitious transformation of the long-shuttered McGill Manufacturing landscape into the city's new $20 million indoor recreation and event facility. Dubbed as the 'Valpo REC Project,' the design will span approximately 130,00 square feet within the available 163,000-square-foot existing foundation of the former factory at 909 N. Lafayette St. near the heart of downtown Valparaiso. Once completed for an anticipated late 2027 unveiling, Valpo Parks Director Kevin Nuppnau says the community will welcome 'a recreation and enrichment campus' in Valparaiso. Valparaiso City Council member Diana Reed, D-1st, who serves as the council liaison for the park department, said Tuesday there continues to be 'exploration with the intent' so the exterior and footprint of the original factory structure can be 'repurposed and preserved' with renovations to morph into the new multi-purpose park facility. Early architectural designs show approximately 25,000 square feet of dedicated courts for various sports; 32,000 square feet of indoor turf, offering versatile space for activities; 20,000 square feet dedicated to an interactive children's space providing engaging educational play; and an additional 53,00 square feet of flexible space designed to 'accommodate youth and senior enrichment areas, a walking track, a café, and essential support spaces' with a construction timeline expected to begin as early as October 2025. 'This project represents an exciting step forward for indoor recreation in Valparaiso,' Nuppnau said in the bid announcement Tuesday. 'We are excited to partner with a team to bring this space to life, offering opportunities for sports, learning, and community engagement for all ages. This facility will be a hub for health, wellness, and connection in our city.' Nuppnau and the Valparaiso Park Board have set a timeline for sealed proposals for the Valpo REC to be received at the office of the Valpo Parks Administration Office, located at 3210 N. Campbell in Valparaiso, until 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22. The sealed proposals will be publicly opened at the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting at Valparaiso City Hall Council Chambers, 166 W. Lincolnway, starting at 11 a.m., also on Friday, Aug. 22. Proposals will be presented at the Valparaiso Board of Public Works meeting at City Hall Council Chambers at 11 a.m. Sept. 12, and if an acceptable proposal is agreed upon, a recommendation of award will be made. Interested parties can obtain the full 'Request for Proposals' document by contacting the Valpo Parks Administration Office during regular business hours or visiting Last month, the Valparaiso Parks Department entered a partnership with Sports Facilities Companies of Clearwater, Florida, for the projected $20 million REC redevelopment after the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission purchased the property earlier this spring for $2.5 million. The Valparaiso Parks Department has promised to 'transform the 16-acre site, including its expansive 225,000-square-foot industrial building, into a year-round recreation hub for programming and activities.' Nuppnau has explained the funding for the redevelopment of the property 'will be strategically sourced through the remaining Sports Park bond funds, grant opportunities and public-private partnerships.' For more information related to the project, visit
Chicago Tribune
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Valparaiso Parks announces new ‘inclusive' playground for Foundation Meadows Park this summer
A new and reimagined park landscape will be unveiled this summer at Foundation Meadows Park promising a state-of-the-art all-inclusive terrain of equipment highlights designed for children of all abilities, according to Valparaiso Parks Department Director Kevin Nuppnau. 'We are incredibly excited to bring this new inclusive playground to Foundation Meadows Park in early summer,' Nuppnau said. 'This playground is a testament to our commitment to creating inclusive play spaces where all children can thrive. We believe that play is essential for a child's development, and this new playground will provide countless opportunities for children of all abilities to learn, grow and have fun together.' Foundation Meadows Park is located at 3210 N. Campbell St., and the new park is estimated to cost around $500,000, with a ribbon-cutting and unveiling expected at the end of August 2025. Nuppnau said there's currently a selection of parks in Valparaiso with select activities equipment and features for children with accessibility issues but not one comprehensive specifically designed destination until this new initiative. 'Our Valpo Parks is thrilled to announce this new, inclusive playground is coming to Foundation Meadows Park as part of the rePLAY project,' Nuppnau said. 'This new state-of-the-art play space offers children of all abilities a chance to play, explore and connect with others. When ValPLAYso was completed in October 2014, it offered fully accessible features and considerations which had been part of the plan since the early design. And as with all of our parks, we are always improving and making any needed changes to assure we are ADA-compliant.' One of the new park's focal points will be the Aventus Tower, which Nuppnau describes as 'the industry's first accessible playground tower up to 12 feet.' He said the Valparaiso Parks Department development and planning team have been working with Sinclair Recreation based in Holland, Michigan, in cooperation with GameTime park equipment, which has been in business since 1929, to craft and build the 5,230-square-foot play space to feature several components designed to stimulate creativity, encourage physical activity and promote social interaction. Berglund Construction of Norwood Park, Illinois, is the hired contractor. The new park will include: • Poured-in-place surfacing: Providing a smooth, resilient, and accessible surface for wheelchairs and other mobility devices. • Fifteen ground-level components: Offering a variety of engaging activities accessible to all children. • Eight different types of ground-level play: Ensuring diverse play experiences and sensory stimulation. • Seven elevated play components accessible by a ramp: Allowing children using mobility devices to access elevated play features and experience the joy of climbing and exploring. • Two bench swings: Providing a relaxing and inclusive swinging experience for children and caregivers. The Aventus Tower is a new approach to modular tower design serving as a playground centerpiece to welcome climbers and showcase slides and sensory activities. A transfer platform makes it easier for children to transfer from a mobility device while 'SureGrip' climbing components provide extra support with a controlled environment. Valparaiso currently has more than 1,000 acres of parkland, 28 athletic fields, 24 miles of pathways, 15 miles of trails, 14 playgrounds, two golf courses and a dog park. Nuppnau began his role as park director in April 2023 overseeing the department of 40 full-time employees in addition to 250 seasonal workers and more than 900 volunteers.
