Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Futsal Fields topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
West Chicago council reallocates $50,000 to advance proposed downtown Futsal courts
Summary
The council approved a budget amendment moving $50,000 to the Downtown Revitalization Fund to signal city support for proposed downtown Futsal courts. Staff said the move starts a multi-step process — not construction authorization — and partners would handle fundraising and day‑to‑day maintenance.
The West Chicago City Council voted to reallocate $50,000 to the city’s Downtown Revitalization Fund to advance a proposed downtown Futsal facility, council members confirmed at the June meeting.
Staff described the budget amendment as an early, nonbinding step to show the city’s intent and to unlock partner investment. City planner Ms. Messino told the council the recommended site was moved slightly to avoid a 100‑year floodplain and to allow a future connection to North Aurora, and that the location had been recommended by the Downtown Revitalization Commission by a 5–1 vote. She said the change will require a zoning text amendment to allow an outdoor athletic facility as a special use in the B1 district and noted a tentative schedule that could see construction documents and permitting completed for a spring 2027 start on an accelerated timeline.
The amendment does not authorize construction. "No, it doesn't," Ms. Messino said, adding the step is intended to give outside partners "skin in the game" so they will commit time and funds to move the project through planning, fundraising and permitting.
Public commenters urged the council to move quickly. "We strongly support the new fields that are being presented to us and we hope that with your guys' help we are able to make this happen," said Dorian Carrasco of the West Chicago Community High School soccer program.
City staff said partners Street Soccer USA and MAI would lead fundraising and programming and would likely hire a part‑time local employee to handle scheduling and basic maintenance. For larger repairs, staff said the draft shared‑use agreement under consideration would contemplate a three‑way cost split between the partners and the city. Ms. Messino described artificial‑turf care as low‑maintenance, noting annual infill work and occasional repairs.
City staff also said the $50,000 was not newly created funds but a reallocation from the city administrator's special projects account; the money was originally budgeted for outside hiring assistance that was ultimately handled in‑house. In addition to the city’s allocation, staff said a private offer of about $400,000 was part of partner discussions to fund the facility, though the city emphasized fundraising and donor‑collection mechanisms would need to be formalized before construction.
Council members asked for clarity about maintenance responsibilities and why the budget amendment was presented at this stage. Alderman Morano said he pulled the item to confirm parking, maintenance and funding arrangements; staff responded that the ordinance establishes the funding path rather than obligating immediate outlays and is the mechanism available to demonstrate city interest.
The council approved the budget amendment by roll call, advancing the project to the next steps of a zoning special‑use process, additional fundraising and development‑review hearings. Staff said the likely next milestones include formal review by the Plan and Zoning body and final agreements with partner organizations before any construction contract would be considered.
