Park District of Oak Park Celebrates Grand Opening of the New Community Recreation Center
The highly anticipated new Community Recreation Center (CRC) located at 229 Madison Street is officially opening its doors to the public on May 22, 2023. The much-needed community facility offers a wide range of amenities and programs designed to promote health, wellness, and community engagement. The 42,000-square-foot Center features the following amenities:
•Three-lane indoor walking/running track
•Fitness center with cardio machines, strength-training equipment, and free weights
•12,000-square foot gymnasium with 12 basketball hoops that can be converted into two middle-school sized basketball courts or four short courts and will also host pickleball, volleyball, badminton, and more
•Esports Lounge equipped with consoles, PCs, and video games for classes, tournaments, and open play
•Childcare (3 months to 11 years old) for CRC visitors
•Inclusive locker room equipped with individual lockers, private changing rooms, lavatories, and showers
•Multi-purpose room for programs and events
•Two community rooms available for programs and meetings
•Free afterschool program for Oak Park youth in 6th through 12th grade on school days from3:00 – 6:00 p.m. with structured and unstructured activities supervised by our staff social worker beginning fall 2023
•Access to mental health resources from the Community Mental Health Board office suite
The facility is fully electric and collects energy through solar panels and energy saving construction and mechanics. The facility is also equipped with battery storage that collects and stores electricity so the facility may continue operations in the event of a power outage. This
facility is the second Park District facility built to operate as a Net Zero facility and is a testament to our commitment to sustainability. This amenity was made possible by a grant from the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation and supplemental funding from the Village of Oak Park’s sustainability funding.
“We are thrilled to provide our community members with a new space to engage in healthy activities and to connect with neighbors,” said Jan Arnold, Executive Director of the Park District. “Our goal is to create a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong, and encouraged to pursue their health and wellness goals.”
To celebrate the grand opening of the Community Recreation Center, there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a grand opening event on Sunday, May 21 from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. The community is invited to explore all the CRC has to offer with family friendly activities, games, and giveaways. Visitors are welcome to walk the indoor track and participate in organized and open game play in the gymnasium, Esports Lounge, and Playzone childcare room. They can also explore the fitness center where staff will be available for questions and demonstrations or enjoy fitness and dance demos in the Fitness & Dance studio. Additionally, Rush Oak Park Hospital staff will provide health screenings and feature our “Walk with a Doc” program.
Monthly memberships starting at $25 for adults 19+, $20 for 12–18-year-olds, and $5 for 8–11-year-olds will be available for purchase. Fitness and Playzone childcare passes will also be available for purchase. Finally, all Oak Park residents can sign up for a free CRC Track Membership which allows access to the walking/running track during normal operating hours.
“We invite everyone in Oak Park to join us for this exciting occasion and learn more about the many ways the Community Recreation Center can enhance their quality of life,” added Kassie Porreca, Park Board President. “We’re confident the CRC will be a central gathering place for our community and a great source of pride for years to come.”
For more information about the Community Recreation Center and its
programs, please visit pdop.org/crc.
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About the Park District of Oak Park: The Park District of Oak Park serves the recreation needs of Oak Park’s 53,000 residents, providing nearly 3,000 programs and special events annually throughout our versatile recreation centers: 18 parks totaling 84 acres, two outdoor pools, indoor ice rink, gymnastic center, the Oak Park Conservatory, Cheney Mansion and Pleasant Home. Since 1912, our high-quality programs and well-maintained parks and facilities have dependably met residents’ diverse leisure, wellness, childcare and other needs and helped enhance quality of life. Learn more at https://www.pdop.org/.
