Renovated Grennan Heights Park Set To Reopen

Walk into the Niles Park District's newly-renovated Grennan Heights Park building and you'll notice new all-glass entry doors, a relocated front-desk area, glass walls between the gym and lobby, a new lounge and relocated bathrooms.

Grennan Heights, a favorite place of Niles children to play baseball and basketball and attend summer camp and preschool, got a facelift this summer, and it's ready to reopen for fall sports.

"The way (the renovation) turned out was everything we had hoped for," said Joe LoVerde, executive director of the park district.

Earlier:

The district budgeted $500,000 for the renovation, which took place over the summer, and it has not compiled the actual cost yet, LoVerde said. 

New look, better security

The more than 50-year-old building got a new look, decked out in a cream, medium blue and brick red color scheme that matches that of Golf View Recreation Center on Caldwell Avenue. 

Many of the changes were made with security in mind. In the past, many parents wanted to see their children playing sports in the gym. Now, the gym walls have large glass portions, so parents will be able to see their children from the lobby.

"Gymnastics is sensitive, and parents wanted to be able to see their kids," LoVerde said, referring to the fact coaches often have to touch and position children when teaching the sport. 

The front desk was also moved to face the gym, so that staff sitting there will have a clear view of what kids inside the gym are doing.

The building also will have security cameras.

Preschool gained space and natural light

One will go into the preschool, which gained a lot of square footage be being extended out 10 feet. It now has a window to provide natural light.

In addition to those space configurations, LoVerde said maintenance work was done to relieve problems with pipes and excess moisture in the building. The 50-year-old plumbing was removed, and existing drains were capped. Workers put in new pipe, sewers and drain tiles to prevent water problems.

Energy-efficient features, such as lighting on sensors, were also included in the renovation.

The park district has spent close to $18 million on renovations and construction, including TAM Tennis and the Golf View Recreation Center and updates to Oasis Fun Center, in the past 12 years, LoVerde said. 

"We move slowly, but we do it right and we do it when we have funding for it," he added.

The district next hopes to modernize the Iceland facility on Ballard Road. 

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