Romeoville Plans Major Expansion Of Athletic & Event Center

ROMEOVILLE, IL — The Village of Romeoville is considering adding a second building to the Edward Hospital Athletic and Event Center. Village officials are currently weighing the feasibility of adding a 68,000-square-foot- building to the facility, nearly doubling the footprint of the existing center.

The 76,000-square-foot Edward Hospital and Event Center opened in 2014, with an eye towards expanding Romeoville's ability to host sports tournaments and special events. In the years since, it has done just that, hosting national gymnastics meets, major sports camps, the village's Winter Wonderland fest and other expos.

"The current center has been tremendously successful," Village Manager Steve Gulden said. "It has accomplished our goals from an economic development standpoint."

Now, the village is considering building a 68,500-square-foot building at 621 Dalhart Avenue, according to village document. In recent months, the village has hired firms to do a site analysis and construction estimate, Gulden said. In August, the Village Board voted to allow the issuing of up to $21 million in municipal bonds to pay for the event center expansion and other potential projects, Gulden said. The village has not committed to spending that money, or issuing the bonds, he said.

Concrete details about the features to be included in the event center expansion are still being discussed, Gulden said. Village documents mention a pool or water feature and a fitness center — features the existing center doesn't have.

"We're still in the design phase, and we're looking at several options," Gulden said.

While final details have not been hammered down, Gulden said the idea is to make the expansion multi-dimensial, which has helped in making the existing center a success.

"The key is to make it multi-purpose," he said. "Our current center is so successful because we don't cater to just one service."

The village's hope is to have a design in front of the Village Board by the end of the year, Gulden said. The plan would need to be approved by board members.

Last year, the village made some improvements to the Romeoville Recreation Center, a separate entity from the athletic and event center. The rec center last year received over 3,000-square-feet of new flooring and other improvements.