Parks & Recreation

NEW Lions Community Recreation Building

11/21/2023 - Permit received in mid-October, contractors are reviewing all permit review comments and incorporating them into the project.  Construction fence w/windscreen has been installed, and trades have mobilized with site work and foundation work beginning. Upcoming work to be completed: 

  1. Begin Steel Erection – Dec 2023
  2. Begin Masonry Stair & Elevator Shaft Installation – Dec 2023
  3. Begin Hollow Core Plank Installation – Jan 2024
  4. Begin Exterior Envelope – Jan 2024
  5. Begin Pre-Cast Wall Panels (Gym)  – Feb 2024

recreation center ground level

9/22/2023 - The Village of Villa Park would like to invite you to join us for the groundbreaking of the NEW Lions Park Recreation Center! The groundbreaking will take place at 320. E. Wildwood St, Villa Park, IL 60181 at 5:30 pm on Friday, September 29, 2023. 

7/6/2023 – Preparations to take down the Community Recreation Building are being completed today, 7/6/2023.  The Community Recreation Building structure will be taken down and demolished starting tomorrow, 7/7/2023 at 7:00 am.

6/27/2023 – Demolition of the Community Recreation Building and Site will begin on Wednesday 6/28/2023.  Crews will begin with the removal of the playground and preparing the building to be taken down.  Preparing the building consists of the removal of the roofing material and other nonstructural materials, we expect the work to prepare the building to take 2-3 days.  We will provide more information as it becomes available and once the building structure is prepared to be taken down and demolished.

6/16/2023 - Demolition site security fencing will be installed Friday, June 16th.  Permits are finalized and will be issued following the inspection of security fencing.  Demolition is expected to begin the week of June 19th. As with all construction sites, the area will be inaccessible to the general public.

6/14/2023 - DEMOLITION OF THE COMMUNITY RECREATION BUILDING

The CRB building served our community well for many years, but as we say goodbye to this older facility and outdated playground, we say hello to a new state-of-the-art facility that will enhance our community. This recreation center will be a hub of activity, offering opportunities for fitness, leisure, and community engagement. The new recreation center will feature many modern amenities, including a full gymnasium, a fully equipped fitness center, multipurpose rooms, and even dedicated spaces for cooking classes.

The demolition of the CRB building will occur soon after Permits have been approved. As with all construction sites, the area will be inaccessible to the general public.

2021-2022 $10M GRANT INFORMATION

In September 2021, the Village of Villa Park received notice that the community received a $10 million grant from the Department of Natural Resources- Build Illinois Bond Fund grant to be used towards costs associated with the construction of a Parks and Recreation Center.lions community center presentation slides Opens in new window 

Lufkin Park Renovation

Update 8/10/2023 - DuPage County is finishing up the Storm Mitigation Management portion of our Lufkin Park Renovation. The next step will be to plant native emergent plants in the western and south shoreline portions of the park.

Update 6/29/2023 - DuPage County will start working on expanding the stormwater mitigation project area. Work will be only on the pond itself and will begin on July 5th and should be completed shortly. 

lufkin two

Lufkin Park Tree Update- 5/1/2023. The trees in Lufkin Park were removed in conjunction with planned park enhancements starting later this summer/fall. The Village is partnering with DuPage County Stormwater Management on enlarging the detention pond and natural landscaping to help mitigate localized flooding. The Village also received an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Grant to add additional park amenities, including a splash pad, band shelter, park shelter, playground, and walking paths. 

While construction is not planned to start until late July/early August, new legislation was passed that added DuPage County to the list of locations to add protections for the endangered Northern Long Ear Bat. The protections included that tree clearing for capital projects can’t occur between April 1st and September 30th. Therefore, trees impacted by the projects had to be removed early. If you have any questions, please contact our public works at 630. 834.8505.

Lufkin Park Sign Rendering 4-21-2023

Starting on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, our Parks department will be shutting down all the drinking fountains for the season that are located on all parks and paths.