Evanston officials have started the ball rolling for a proposed90,000-square-foot 'sportsplex' in the north suburb that wouldprovide year-round opportunities for soccer, basketball and battingpractice.
The city council last week approved a $14,000 appropriation fordesign work on the complex, which would be located at James Park, a46-acre facility on the city's southern edge.
Doug Gaynor, the city's director of parks and recreation, saidinitial plans for the park include two indoor soccer fields, threebasketball courts and space for indoor batting cages.
James Park already is home to five soccer fields and eightsoftball fields and two Pony League Fields.
Gaynor said planning for the complex still is in its infancy;neither the price tag nor completion date is settled.
Neighbors of the facility said they welcomed the news ofimprovements at the park but wanted to be more involved in theprocess.
'I think it is a really good idea, but I think (park officials)need to consult with the people in the neighborhoods,' said JudyFradin, president of Southwest Evanston Associated Residents. Shelives a few blocks from the park.
Fradin said she was concerned that the large facility on thecrowded park could eat away at existing, well-used facilities such asthe ball fields.
But she acknowledged the complex is a good first step in improvingservices to south Evanston residents.
'To say south Evanston has been neglected is an understatement,'Fradin said.
