Waukegan SportsPark open to public

WAUKEGAN – A touch of awe was added to the typical park experience earlier this month when families and community leaders gathered for the official opening of the Waukegan SportsPark, located on Beach and Green Bay roads.

The outdoor sports complex has been a lengthy project for the Waukegan Park District. It was originally scheduled to open last fall, but was delayed by such things as continuous rain and last year’s strike by the Laborers and Operators Union, officials said.

Now that the first phase of the two-phase project has been completed, park commissioners and patrons alike can take advantage of city’s new attraction.

“This is the proudest moment for me,” said park district Commissioner Wayne Motley, after the unveiling of the Wayne Motley Drive sign.

Motley said the park is something he had been waiting for a long time.

“It has been a 20-year journey for me,” Motley said. “I used to play for [soccer club] Trebol and we used to picket the park district to get better fields to play on. Then I got elected to the board and fought to get this built.”

One of the main goals of the park district is to meet and satisfy the demands from residents for outdoor athletics facilities. It’s a mission some park-goers agreed has been accomplished.

“I think it’s beautiful,” said 25-year-old Luis Aguayo of Waukegan.

Aguayo is a member of the Waukegan Bad News Bears softball team. He said the atmosphere at the Waukegan SportsPark is better than that of other fields he’s played on.

“Yeah, this is cool. My favorite is the [synthetic] turf field,” said 11-year-old Zion Kilpatrick of Waukegan.

During the evening event, the crowd was free to roam and explore the park and all of its amenities, which include a lighted championship synthetic turf soccer/football field; 13 lighted natural-turf sports fields for soccer, football and lacrosse; four lighted softball/baseball fields; viewing stands; concession stands; bathrooms; a park with a spray area; picnic areas; and parking to suit 665 vehicles.

A fee of $5 per vehicle is enforced on the weekends to residents and non-residents.

“I don’t like that they charge for parking,” said Rosa Romero of Waukegan. “Other parks don’t charge for that.”

But many park patrons think the fee is reasonable, considering all the new fields that are now available to the public.

“I don’t mind the parking fee. You pay more to get into indoor facilities to play soccer and these fields are better,” said Francisco Garcia of Waukegan, a father of three children who are enrolled in three different soccer clubs in the area.

Park district executive director Greg Petry said the fee will generate around $8,500 per weekend, and will allow for youth leagues to use the park free of charge.