Field Park & Center
Continued investment in our parks and facilities is critical to the District’s mission. The Park Board’s policy states that each park site plan will be revisited and updated within a 10-year period. The Park District is in the process of revisiting each park site plan per this policy in order to identify additional park amenities desired by our residents, to budget strategically for these improvements and to be prepared for grant opportunities.
If you have questions or would like to provide feedback on park plans currently in progress, contact Bill Hamilton, Superintendent of Parks & Planning. (opens email app)
Current Plan
Past Plans
October
Playground installation is underway.
October
HVAC and electrical work underway indoors, and interior wall framing complete.
September
September
Splash pad was poured.
September
Roofing work is underway.
September
Timber posts went up with roofing and slab pour to follow.
September
At the playground, water and cistern connections underway, along with sidewalk framing.
August
Playground demolition is underway.
August
Rammed earth walls are complete.
July
South wall nears completion and slab is scheduled to be poured. ComEd has been onsite for electrical installation work.
June
Underground plumbing is complete and underground electrical work is underway.
May
Progress is being made on the rammed earth walls.
April
The first wall passed inspection.
April
A mock wall was built and lettering was approved. Underslab work is to begin soon.
April
Framing for rammed earth is finalized and a mock wall is being built for review.
March
Gravel and sand delivery coming soon. Framing work continues.
March
Wall construction slated to begin mid-March.
February
Framing for rammed earth walls continues.
January
Framing for rammed earth walls is ongoing. Work on the walls will begin in early March. Current work includes pouring the slab and underground work.
January
December
Concrete foundations were poured, and dowels were set.
December
Foundation framing and scaffolding completed.
December
Ongoing work on the composition of the rammed earth walls, including color selection, seal coating, and lettering molds.
November
Foundation walls are being prepared for pouring. Due to pending weather (snow and single digits), the pour has been delayed and will occur once the temps are above freezing and stable.
November
Concrete foundation wall forms are onsite and installation has begun.
November
Column footings have been poured, with foundation wall forming coming soon.
October
Check out the latest updates:
Strip footing excavations for east, south, and west walls complete. Rebar placement and forming of strip footings in progress.
October
Forms for the foundation wall were put in.x
August
Fencing went up and initial demolition began.
Acquired in 1916, the park is named after children’s author Eugene Field and includes a center originally designed by John S. Van Bergen. The center has been significantly modified over the years. Woodbine Avenue between Berkshire and Division was vacated by the Village in 1960, to expand the park and connect it to the Mann School grounds, creating roughly five acres of total open space.
The Field Park site master plan was completed in May 2006 with School District 97’s cooperation. Improvements began in August 2007 and finished in April 2008, partially funded by a $399,000 Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Grant. Upgrades included new playground equipment, bocce court, splash pad, shelter, walkways, expanded baseball and soccer fields, a new vehicular drop-off, irrigation trunk, benches, drinking fountains, bike racks, and extensive landscaping with new trees. In 2007, Field Center received roof repairs and door and lock replacements. A fire alarm upgrade in 2008 enabled constant detection and direct alerts to emergency agencies. In 2010, restrooms were made accessible when staff are absent, and minor repairs were completed. A new exterior accessible restroom was built in 2011. In 2013, irrigation was added to sports fields.
The District reviewed the master plan with the community in 2014. An underground cistern was installed in 2017 to capture and reuse splash pad water for irrigation. In 2018, the playground surface was replaced, and a natural planting area was added.
