Village seeks community input on athletic‑field turf conversion and East Fieldhouse feasibility studies
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Summary
Staff presented scope for two feasibility studies: converting some athletic fields to artificial turf and evaluating the former Riviera Country Club site for a multi‑generational East Fieldhouse. Staff emphasized community engagement and a five‑month study timeline for the East Fieldhouse probe.
Village staff detailed the scopes of two linked feasibility studies aimed at informing long‑term park and recreation investments.
On athletic fields, staff said the study will inventory existing fields, evaluate demand and market positioning, assess a phased conversion to artificial turf where appropriate, and examine repurposing an underused skate park and adjacent bulk storage site at Centennial Park. The study will include cost estimates, staffing and financial models, and robust community engagement to assess resident comfort and willingness to support turf conversions.
About the East Fieldhouse (former Riviera Country Club site), staff explained the study will test whether the site can accommodate a year‑round, multi‑generational facility with indoor turf, senior programming (including SilverSneakers), family play amenities and training spaces. Staff asked consultants to analyze renovation vs. demolition, environmental constraints, parking and traffic impacts, and revenue and subsidy requirements for long‑term sustainability.
Timeline and community engagement: staff said the East Fieldhouse study timeline is five months from notice to proceed with a hard deadline no later than Dec. 31; they emphasized inclusive outreach methods (surveys, workshops, open houses and pop‑ups) to capture a broad cross section of resident views.
Trustee feedback: trustees asked that consultants provide a clear decision matrix outlining options, beneficiaries, costs and timelines so the board and residents can weigh tradeoffs. Several trustees emphasized the need to balance field quantity and quality, to prioritize neighborhood vs. regional facilities, and to ensure public‑private partnership opportunities are considered in the feasibility work.
Next steps: staff will solicit proposals from qualified vendors to carry out both studies, carry out community outreach, and return with draft deliverables for board review.
