Pickleball Courts in Portage Park: Residents can look forward to a revamped Portage Park next summer, featuring new baseball bleachers, tennis and new pickleball courts, a renovated playground, and a shaded dog park area, along with a new nature play space.
The enhancements are part of several concurrent projects aimed at improving the park’s facilities, according to local officials. Alderman Nicholas Sposato (38th) emphasized the importance of community-focused improvements.
“It’s crucial to demonstrate that elected officials are committed to maintaining our community spaces. Our parks are valuable assets.” – (Sposato)
The park’s southwest baseball diamond will see the installation of two new steel bleachers, each 21 feet long with a capacity for 52 people. These will be placed on a new ADA-accessible concrete pad, linking to an updated pathway that integrates with the park’s existing asphalt paths. Construction is set to begin this fall, with completion expected by spring.
The playground will also receive significant upgrades. A new pour-in-place soft surface is scheduled to be installed starting this fall, with the playground closed during construction. This project is anticipated to be completed by spring 2025.
Sposato noted that the playground, installed just before he began his tenure in 2015, has deteriorated significantly over the past decade. Additionally, a fabric shade canopy is planned for the Portage Park dog park, with hopes to install it before the year’s end.
Work on the park’s tennis courts began in March. The existing six courts are being replaced with four new tennis courts and four pickleball courts, with this phase expected to finish in the fall. The Portage Park Advisory Council is advancing plans for a new nature play space adjacent to the park’s natural area. This space will feature interactive elements such as branch structures, “mud kitchens,” and climbing features.
Volunteers have engaged over 30 children in design ideas, and further brainstorming sessions are planned for the fall. Finalized designs will be displayed at the Portage Park Field House. The Portage Park Advisory Council aims to raise $25,000 to complete the nature play space by next summer.
News in Brief: Pickleball Courts in Portage Park
Portage Park is set for a major upgrade by next summer, including new baseball bleachers, renovated tennis and new pickleball courts, and a redesigned playground. Enhancements include a shaded dog park area and a new nature play space with interactive features.
The baseball bleachers will be installed on an ADA-accessible pad, and the playground will get a new soft surface, with work starting this fall and completion expected by spring 2025. The park’s tennis courts are being replaced with new facilities, and a fundraising effort is underway for the nature play space, aiming to raise $25,000 by next summer.
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