Orland Park trustees approve Dugan Park redevelopment with 10 lighted pickleball courts and field upgrades

The Village of Orland Park Board of Trustees voted to approve a package of actions to redevelop Dugan Park, including rezoning parcels from R-3 residential to O-S open space, a special use for recreation facility lighting, a variance related to sidewalk installation, and formal approval of the redevelopment plan.

Trustee Healy moved the rezoning (case no. 2025-0337) and the board adopted an ordinance to rezone the parcels along Park Lane (14700–14760 Park Lane). Trustee Kompas moved to grant the special use permit and a variance (case no. 2025-0011) for the redevelopment. Roll calls on those items were recorded as unanimous yes votes by trustees present: Trustee Campos — Aye; Trustee Malani — Aye; Trustee Healy — Aye; Trustee Katsenas — Aye; Trustee Raduchevski — Aye; Mayor Keith Picow — Aye.

The redevelopment plan as presented calls for: 10 fenced and lighted pickleball courts (all courts fenced with 8-foot and 4-foot internal partitions for play), continued lighting for two existing tennis courts, a restroom building with shaded gathering area (two single-use unisex bathrooms in the presented design), a larger improved soccer field, a slightly smaller baseball field with 60-foot base paths, a pavilion, a playground with separate age areas, a loop trail, and reconfigured north and south parking lots. The presenter told the board the north lot would contain 91 regular stalls and 4 ADA stalls; the south lot was presented as approximately 40 regular stalls and 2 ADA stalls, consistent with the materials supplied to the planning commission.

Staff said the project had a current construction cost estimate of slightly over $3,000,000 with an $825,300 contingency (presented as 8% in the packet) for a total presented about $3,400,000. The project was budgeted in phases: $2,500,000 in capital this year with other departmental budgets contributing for a combined $3,300,000; staff said there is also an anticipated $600,000 ASLAC grant (presented on the record as “Aslac grant of $600,000”) that would offset part of the cost. The presenter noted geotechnical reports showed poor soils on parts of the site and described optional remediation work (underdrains, increased stone depth in parking lot sections, deeper footings for the restroom shelter) that could add cost; those were presented as alternates.

The plan commission had reviewed the project and voted unanimously (5–0) to recommend approval; the commission also suggested two additional items for board consideration: limiting park hours (planning commission presented a suggested hours limit described on the record as “from 8 to 9”) and adding additional restroom stalls to the shelter. During board discussion one trustee questioned lighting if the park were to close at 9 p.m., calling it “kind of stupid to put in lighting and then close the park at 9.” Another trustee noted historical lighting at the site and referenced noise mitigation via berms and trees at other parks.

Why it matters: The multi-million-dollar project will significantly change Dugan Park’s layout and amenities, adding court-based recreation (pickleball), field upgrades, and increased parking. Funding includes village capital allocations and a state grant noted on the record. The geotechnical issues and potential alternates create some cost uncertainty; the board approved the entitlements and redevelopment plan to move the project forward.

Next steps: entitlements and final engineering/ stormwater items remain to be finalized in staff-level approvals; staff noted stormwater reporting and final landscaping/planting details will be completed before final construction authorization.