The Recreation Park Project is currently in the planning and development stages. We expect to have timelines and finalized designs for Phase 1 soon! Information regarding the project will be communicated as they become available through our website, social media, email newsletter and more.
Phase 1 | OSLAD
August 2024
The Recreation Park site has 156 trees identified on both the Park District property and the Village of Arlington Heights right-of-way. As part of the Phase 1 improvements, 18 trees will be removed – 6 due to their poor or failing condition and 12 that are located in areas where soil distribution is necessary. These areas will be future locations for detention, skate park, tennis courts and playground. Other woody plant and landscape bed removals may take place to accommodate the new amenities.
In accordance with permit requirements, we are required to plant 50 trees but are happy to share that we have increased that number to 71! In the coming weeks, we will start removing the playground surfacing and curbs as well as the tennis courts, followed by site grading and the installation of underground infrastructure. As utility disconnects are completed for the Northwest Highway properties, we will proceed with their removal and site preparation for the southern area of the project.
July 2024
The Recreation Park playground was removed around July 16 by Kids Around the World, who will bring the equipment to a third world country for use.
May 2024
The Arlington Heights Park District staff is pleased to share preliminary information regarding the renovations at Recreation Park. Buildings along Route 14 may be demolished before Frontier Days with Phase I construction potentially starting after Frontier Days.
AHPD is also pleased to confirm that Recreation Park Pool is anticipated to have normal pool operations during the 2024 and 2025 pool seasons with construction to the pool and bathhouse potentially starting in August 2025.
February 2024
In February of 2024, Governor Pritzker and the IDNR announced that AHPD has been awarded a second $600,000 OSLAD Grant for Phase II of the Recreation Park Project. Phase II includes improvements to the ballfield, basketball court and pathways as well as additions of various table games and a shelter.
March 2023
On March 1, 2023, Governor Pritzker announced that Arlington Heights Park District is one of 118 agencies across the state to receive an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant! Thank you to our legislators and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for their work on securing this critical funding.
This $600,000 grant will go towards making proposed improvements to Recreation Park including: a fully accessible playground for people of all abilities, adding outdoor lawn games and fitness equipment, renovating the tennis courts, a new skate park and more. Learn more and about the Phase 1 Concept below. Additionally, thank you to the Arlington Heights Park Foundation for generously committing $200,000 toward the fully accessible playground portion of the project.
View Recreation Park Proposed Phase 1 OSLAD Concept
Pool & Bathhouse | PARC
The Arlington Heights Park District (AHPD) is leading a planning initiative for Recreation Park facility improvements (future aquatic amenities and bathhouse) and is submitting an application for funding assistance through an Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act (PARC) Grant.
The improvements will include:
- Renovation of an existing inaccessible recreation center into a fully accessible bathhouse (its intended purpose), while maintaining the original façade of a well-loved WPA building, initially constructed in 1937
- Complete removal of the existing 50-Meter swimming pool to be replaced with a new 50-Meter swimming pool
- Updated children’s aquatic area
- Additional green space accessible to pool users
View Pool and Bathhouse Proposed Concepts
