Photo Credit: Kmiecik Imagery
When a park district has the chance to throw open the doors to welcome the public to a new facility, it’s always an exciting day. The Naperville Park District in Illinois did just that not long ago.
Fort Hill Activity Center opened in August 2016 as the first public recreation center to serve the community of nearly 150,000 residents. This approximately 80,000-square-foot facility is a multi-level building that includes an indoor walking/running track, a fitness center, basketball courts, volleyball/pickleball courts, a dedicated gymnastics area, group exercise studios, and an indoor playground.
Community members were delighted with the facility on opening day, and now into its second year of operations, its popularity continues to grow. Careful planning does not guarantee success, but looking back there were several key planning elements that led to the activity center’s wide appeal and warm reception.