Proposed New Community Activity Center

The Lisle Park District seeks to construct a new indoor, multigenerational Community Activity Center, which would replace the existing Community Center building. The new facility would complement the offerings at the current Recreation Center, which would remain in operation.

Anticipated benefits include:

• Expanded access to indoor recreation and fitness
• More year-round programs for all ages
• Expanded community gathering and rental spaces
• Improved health, wellness, and quality of life
• Reduced reliance on recreation facilities in other communities
• Protection of property values

The proposed two-story, 47,753 sq. ft. facility would support accessible, year-round recreation opportunities for children, teens, adults, and seniors, including:

• Elevated walking/jogging track
• Stretching and warm-up zone adjacent to the track
• Gymnasium with two full-size courts for instructional programs, leagues, and open recreation
• Multi-Activity Court (MAC) for athletics, fitness, and community use
• Fitness area with cardio and strength training equipment
• Group exercise/dance studio
• Men's locker room, women's locker room, and family changing room
• Main lobby and welcome area

The new facility could support a range of programs, activities, and amenities, such as:

Fitness & Wellness:

• Cardio and strength training
• Group fitness and dance classes
• Wellness and healthy living programs

Community Use

• A variety of open gym times for all ages
• Community events and gatherings
• Facility rentals
• Family-oriented programs

Youth & Early Childhood Programs

• Youth sports (basketball, flag football, volleyball, soccer)
• Camps and skill-building clinics
• Drop-in recreation and open gym time
• Early childhood movement programs
• After-school recreation and enrichment
• Educational and specialty programs

Teen Programs

• Dedicated open gym times
• Fitness memberships
• Special events
• Social, educational, and recreational programs

Adult & Senior Programs

• Sports leagues and drop-in play (pickleball, basketball, soccer, volleyball)
• Low-impact fitness and movement activities
• Indoor walking and jogging opportunities
• Social, educational, and wellness programs
• Open gym times

The entire process has been and will continue to be driven by resident feedback. The following planning and outreach efforts helped define the current proposal under consideration:

• 2023 Strategic Master Plan: Identified indoor, multigenerational recreation as an area for further review based on community input and long-range planning goals
• 2024 Facility Assessments: Reviewed the condition and use of existing Park District facilities to help inform future planning discussions
• 2025 Indoor Recreation Space Feasibility Study: Gathered resident feedback related to indoor recreation use and preferences, including fitness, court sports, walk/jog space, and flexible programming areas
• 2026 Citizen Task Force: A group of community stakeholders reviewed needs, early concepts, and funding options and provided feedback to help inform communication and outreach efforts.

Indoor aquatics were evaluated during the feasibility study but were intentionally excluded from the proposed concept. Indoor pools have very high construction, operating, and lifecycle costs. For example, current market conditions reveal indoor aquatics construction costs are approximately $1,000/sq. ft., minimum, not including support amenities like locker/changing rooms. A conservative size that could adequately address community requests would be 10,000 sq. ft., which translates to an additional $10 million in construction costs. Featuring aquatics in the facility would also require ongoing funding beyond what a bond referendum could cover. The Park District has not explored this opportunity further because of these costs. The feasibility study identified flexible indoor recreation space as a higher priority, as it can serve more residents, more frequently, and at a lower ongoing cost, which helps preserve affordability.

Yes. The proposed Community Activity Center is anticipated to offer a range of membership options designed to meet the needs of individuals, families, and users of all ages. These options and rates would be similar to those offered at other neighboring districts. No final membership rates have been set at this time, and affordability – especially for families and multi-generational households – remains an important consideration. We intend to have reasonably priced fitness memberships (with open gym included), as well as separate memberships for open gym-only usage.

The proposed Community Activity Center includes two IHSA-certified hardwood courts and a multi-activity court (MAC) gymnasium designed for flexible use, similar in function to a smaller fieldhouse. Turf fields typically require more specialized use, which can limit flexibility. Instead, the proposed concept prioritizes multi-use indoor spaces that can adapt to many activities and age groups. This approach emphasizes right-sized, flexible spaces that can support many users and programs throughout the day while helping keep construction and operating costs affordable.

Yes. Netted batting cages could be set up at certain times for baseball and softball training, such as hitting and pitching. This approach supports seasonal needs without dedicating permanent space, helping balance flexibility, access, and cost.

A bond referendum is a ballot question asking voters if they would authorize the District to borrow funds to address capital facility improvements. Bond funds may only be used for capital projects, and cannot be used for operating costs, staffing, or programs.

The estimated annual tax impact of the proposed 25-year, $29.75 million bond referendum would be approximately $146 for a home with a fair market value of $407,000, the current median home value in Lisle.

A tax calculator is available above on this page or by selecting the button below.

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Yes. The Park District anticipates the ability to allocate up to $5 million from its fund balance to support the proposed Community Activity Center.

The Board of Park Commissioners will decide in August 2026, providing time for additional public input.

Voters approved a $7.6 million referendum more than 24 years ago to fund construction of Sea Lion Aquatic Park.

If a referendum is pursued and approved by voters, the Park District would provide regular updates on project budgets, timelines, and construction progress through its website, email communication, social media, and monthly Board of Park Commissioners meetings.

The District is committed to ongoing public engagement, including:

• Informational meetings
• Board meetings
• Website updates, which will be posted to this page
• Communitywide opinion survey (expected to be conducted in May 2026)

Dan Garvy, Director of Parks & Recreation
dgarvy@lisleparkdistrict.org
(630) 353-4310

Jon Pratscher, Deputy Director
jpratscher@lisleparkdistrict.org
(630) 353-4305

The District serves approximately 32,000 residents across the Village of Lisle and parts of Naperville, Woodridge, and unincorporated DuPage County.

The District maintains 43 parks and over 400 acres of land, including:

• Recreation Center (Gentle Learning Preschool, Senior Center, multipurpose rooms, administrative offices)
• Community Center (dance studio, group exercise studio, functional training studio for personal training, facility maintenance offices)
• Sea Lion Aquatic Park
• The Museums at Lisle Station Park
• River Bend Golf Club (golf course, canteen + bar, private event venue)
• Athletic fields, playgrounds, courts, trails, and open spaces

Without seeking additional taxpayer funding, the District has completed projects such as playground replacements, court renovations, accessibility upgrades, trail enhancements, facility repairs, and park improvements throughout its park system, including at Beau Bien Park, Tate Woods Park, Kingston Park, River Road Park, Aspen Park, Rivers Edge Park, Sea Lion Aquatic Park, and The Museums at Lisle Station Park.