CRB Activity Center Renovation and Expansion
Wed October 5, 2022
WINFIELD PARK DISTRICT TO FINISH CHARLES R. BEGGS ACTIVITY CENTER
EXPANSION AND REMODELING PROJECT IN LATE SEPTEMBER
In August of 2020, the Winfield Park District was awarded $2,000,000 from a Fast-Track Public Infrastructure Capital Program through an Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity (DCEO) grant. This Fast-Track Capital DCEO grant awarded a total of $24.8 million in grants for 17 construction projects in the State of Illinois. The Winfield Park District was one of the five communities that received the maximum grant amount awarded.
The Winfield Park District has allocated this grant towards its $5.6mil Charles R. Beggs Activity Center Expansion and Remodeling Project. Areas for remodeling included: special rec room, men’s and women’s locker rooms, WINFIT Family Fitness Center flooring and equipment, and gymnasium flooring. Areas for new expansion included: dance room, instructional kitchen, group/senior exercise room, programming rooms(2), entry/registration area, storage, bathrooms(4), parking lot, and WINFIT expansion.
Executive Director Mark Pawlowski said, “It’s an honor to be one of two Park Districts in Illinois that have the opportunity to utilize these funds to enhance our facilities for the community we serve. We are looking forward to finishing the expansion and remodeling project, and we can’t wait to welcome our community into these new spaces designed for their recreational enjoyment and experiences.” Pawlowski noted, “The gymnasium and WINFIT Family Fitness Center were fully operational by late 2021 and in early September of 2022, we began seeing use of the new program rooms. Dance classes, Special Rec programs, Party Room rentals and Senior programs are taking place in the newly added rooms in the south corridor."
Construction began in November of 2020 and has been substantially completed in late September of 2022. There are still a few minor items to be completed in the upcoming months, but all of the building’s rooms are fully functional. The Park District offices, ABC-123 preschool, and several activities remained open, even during the construction phases.
The successful DCEO-FTPI grant application and Charles R.Beggs Activity Center improvements were based upon the Park District's Community Survey that was completed in 2019. The survey input from the Winfield community was also incorporated into the Park District's 5-Yr Capital Development Plan (2019-2024).