The Park District of Forest Park received a $100,000 grant from the Cook County Department of Transportation last week to expand the surrounding sidewalk and add a bike terminal near the soon-to-open Roos Recreation Center.
Park district officials submitted the grant application in August. It is the fifth grant the park district has received for construction of the Roos Rec Center.
“Five grants is a lot of hard work, but I think people will think it’s worth it when they see what’s happening with the money,” said Executive Director Larry Piekarz.
Set to open on May 26, construction is coming along at Roos, which recently added wall hairdryers to its men’s and women’s locker rooms, a drinking fountain that counts how many water bottles users save, and a rubber mat floor to its multipurpose fitness room, where kickboxing, high-intensity interval training, yoga and other group classes will eventually be held. Users will also be able to complete individual exercises in the room, which will eventually hold ellipticals, treadmills, free weights and more.
Construction to the main gym is still underway. The gym will feature a full-size high school basketball court, two half-size basketball courts and a curtain that can divide the gym in two. Volleyball and pickleball court lines can also be added. A running track will circle the court.
The last thing to be added to the Roos Center will be the gym floor. Workers were recently adding vinyl to the ground in its multipurpose room, which people can rent out for company events or birthday parties. Construction is set to be completed by mid-April.
“Every week there’s something new and something different; it’s very exciting for us,” said Rachell Entler, recreation and marketing supervisor at the park district and a village commissioner.
