Schererville consultants present four master-plan concepts for Norman Park/Ileana Speedway site; budget range and phasing top questions

Schererville Town officials and consultants presented four master-plan concepts on June 9 for redevelopment of the former Ileana Speedway and adjacent Norman Park into a multiuse community park, featuring combinations of a recreation center, amphitheater, flexible event lawns, trails and an optional commercial parcel fronting U.S. 30.

The presentation, led by Pat Reardon of Reardon Consulting Services and Sean Reardon, senior project manager, and designers from American StructurePoint, outlined a high-intensity concept that includes a roughly 23,000-square-foot recreation center, a permanent amphitheater with fixed and lawn seating, an interchangeable seasonal ice rink, multipurpose fields and a commercial parcel on the U.S. 30 frontage. Consultants gave a preliminary low-end budget estimate of about $59 million for the project as presented and said the full buildout could be substantially higher depending on finishes and scope.

Why it matters: the site is large and centrally located along U.S. 30 and was discussed as a potential catalyst for economic development as well as a community destination. Council and park board members sought detail on who pays, how the town would manage construction and maintenance costs, and how much parking and accessible spaces the designs would provide.

Consultants presented four configurations. The high-intensity plan centers on a recreation facility north of existing fields that the designers said could fit two indoor basketball courts, a walking track and multipurpose rooms.…