Project Updates

As updates are provided we will post a description of each project with pictures

If you have questions about any of the projects listed on this page, please contact Ann Viger, Director of Planning and Development at 815.459.0680, ext. 4205 or via email.

Spoerl Park Renovations

Oakwoods Lodge Parking Lot Renovation Project

Sterne's Fen Restoration Project

Wyndwood Park Renovations

Lippold Park Drainage Improvements

Shamrock Hills Park Development

Racket Club Parking Lot ADA Accessibility Project

Fetzner Park

Spoerl Park Renovations

Update: Sept 16, 2019

Exciting news! Spoerl Park, 7610 Pingree Rd, Crystal Lake is home to 6 dedicated outdoor Pickleball Courts. The court complex was just completed and is NOW OPEN for play. Stay tuned for Open House info and upcoming tournaments.

Update: July 15, 2019

Construction will begin soon to convert the two tennis courts at Spoerl Park into six permanent pickle ball courts. The Park Board of Commissioners made the decision to provide dedicated pickle ball courts after receiving numerous requests from the public. The contractor plans to return to the park the week of July 22 to resume construction. The tentative date for completion of the pickle ball complex is September 1. In the meantime, the basketball court renovation project is complete and open to the public!

Update: June 20, 2019

Rain has caused another delay in completing the basketball court. The base colors have been applied but the lines have not been installed. The contractor will remove barriers once the court is ready for play.

The contractor will begin converting the existing tennis courts into six pickle ball courts in the very near future. Watch here for updates throughout the project.

Update: May 23, 2019

A proposal to change the two tennis courts into six pickle ball courts will be discussed by the Board on May 23. Their discussion will provide direction to the staff which way to proceed. Meanwhile, the asphalt is curing and the basketball court will be color coated when weather permits.

Update: May 15, 2019

Public Meeting Notice:

The Crystal Lake Park District has started a renovation project on the tennis and basketball courts at Spoerl Park. Pavement has been laid and new fencing is currently being installed.

A request to convert the two tennis courts in six pickleball courts has come to the park district's attention. Pickleball is similar to tennis but played on a smaller court with paddles instead of racquets. It is a popular sport that is growing in popularity throughout the Chicagoland area.

The Park District would appreciate input from neighbors of the park since we know that you are a primary user of the facility. If you would like to ask questions, make comments or just learn more about the proposal, please stop by Spoerl Park for an informal meeting on Monday, May 20 at 7 PM.

For updated information, feel free to contact me at the email address below or this section of the website.

Sincerely,

Ann Viger

Director of Park Development and Interpretive Services

815-459-0680 x 4205

Update: May 6, 2019

Renovation work continues at both Spoerl and Wyndwood Parks. The concrete curbs have been installed and fence posts installed at both parks. The last few weeks of wet weather has slowed progress a bit, but the contractor expects to be back on site very soon.

Update: April 18, 2019

The project began last week with removals of the existing paving. Next step is installation of the new fence.

Update: March 8, 2018

The tennis and basketball courts at Spoerl Park will undergo a total renovation project beginning in mid-April. Please be aware that the courts will be closed during this time but the baseball field, parking lot and recreation building will be open as usual. This type of work is weather dependent and the final colored playing surface cannot be applied until there has been a long stretch of warm weather. Therefore, we don't anticipate the courts being open for play until early or mid-Jul

Oakwoods Lodge Parking Lot Renovations

Update: Sept 5, 2019

The project will begin sometime next week (week of Sept 9) and will take approximately two weeks (with no rain) to complete. During construction the driveway will be closed. Programs scheduled for this building may be rescheduled for relocated. The building can only be accessed from the east door (facing the Nature Center). The west door (facing the parking lot) will not be usable. A portion of the path on the east an west sides of the parking lot will also be closed.

Sterne's FEN restoration project

Update: December 7, 2018

Work continued all week in the fen. A crew is busy removing buckthorn and other invasive trees from the fen. The material is being piled and then burned so there is a few constant plumes of smoke over Sterne's every day. Four of the six check dams have been installed.

Crew at work at Sterne's Woods		Work continues at Sterne's Woods

Update: November 28, 2018

Wyndwood Park Renovations

Update: July 15, 2019

The renovation project is complete at Wyndwood Park. The tennis court and brand new basketball court are open to the public.

Update: June 20, 2019

Rain has caused another delay in finishing the basketball and tennis court. The base colors have been applied but the lines have not been installed. The contractor will remove barriers once the courts are available for play.

Update: June 4, 2019

The last phase of the tennis and basketball court renovation project is to install the colored surface and play lines. However, the contractor needs three warm days with NO RAIN IN THE FORECAST before starting the color coating process. The project will be completed as soon as the weather dries up a bit!

Update: May 23, 2019

The courts will be color coated when weather permits. Meanwhile, the tennis court gate is locked to keep the surface clean.

Update: May 6, 2019

Renovation work continues at both Spoerl and Wyndwood Parks. The concrete curbs have been installed and fence posts installed at both parks. The last few weeks of wet weather has slowed progress a bit, but the contractor expects to be back on site very soon.

Update: April 18, 2019

The project began last week with removals of the existing paving. This week, the new fence installation is underway.

Update: March 29, 2019

Demolition and removals will begin on April 8 (tentative date, weather dependent.) A letter has been sent to neighbors of both parks notifying them of the project.

Update: March 8, 2019

A contractor has been hired for this project and work is expected to begin in mid-April. Please be aware that the tennis court will be closed during this time but every effort will be made to keep the playground open. This type of work is weather dependent and the final colored playing surface cannot be applied until there has been a long stretch of warm weather. Therefore, we don't anticipate the courts being open for play until early or mid-July.

Update: August 28, 2018

The existing tennis court in Wyndwood Park is scheduled for renovation in the spring of 2019. At the request of neighbors, a basketball court will also be installed in the park. A public meeting was held on August 23 to review the plan pictured above. If you have questions, please contact Ann Viger, Director of Planning and Development at aviger@crystallakeparks.org or 815.459.0680 x 4205.

Print Engineer's Plan

Update: July 26, 2018

The existing tennis court in Wyndwood Park is scheduled for renovation in the spring of 2019. At the request of neighbors, a basketball court will also be installed in the park. Anyone who is interesting in viewing the plans or providing input is encouraged to attend a public meeting at the Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office on Thursday, August 23 at 7:00 PM. If you have questions, please contact Ann Viger, Director of Planning and Development at aviger@crystallakeparks.org or 815.459.0680 x 4205.

Lippold Park Drainage Improvements

Update: May 6, 2019

The drainage improvement project (berm) is complete.

Update: March 21, 2019

Weather permitting, the contractor is expected to return to the site in early April to complete punch list items.

Update: December 14, 2018

The grading, drainage and installation of manhole with restrictor plate is complete. The contractor needs to return to finish up turf and path restoration.

Manhole installed		Swale and Berm		Path at Lippold

Update: November 21, 2018

This project is going well and is on schedule.

Update: November 16, 2018

Work began Thursday, November 15 on the project and is expected to finish at the end of December. Watch here for updates if anything changes.

Update: October 25, 2018

The berm grading project at Lippold Park will be starting around the middle of November. Due to construction along the walking trail, a portion of the trail will be temporarily closed. Please see the attached map for the section to be closed. I will give you updates if the dates change as the project proceeds.

A notice will be send to immediate neighbors of the project, as well as affiliate groups using Lippold Park

Update: October 15, 2018

Bids have been received and the Board of Commissioners is expected to approve a contractor at the next board meeting.

Update: September 21, 2018

The project is out to bid. Bids are due October 10.

Update: August 31, 2018

Engineering plans for increasing the height and length of the berm located just south of the soccer field complex are being finalized. The project is tentatively scheduled for November.

Shamrock Hills Park development

Update: June 20, 2019

Work continues at Shamrock Hills where the driveway is being widened and parking spaces being installed. Underground storm sewers are being installed to handle storm water runoff.

Visitors to the park are asked to park in the temporary lot provided off Hillside Road. Turn in the first driveway east of Walkup on the north side of Hillside Road. Please be aware that this is an active construction zone and stay away from open excavation and equipment.

Main driveway at Hillside Road		Looking east toward the new parking area

Update: June 14, 2019

Work continues on the driveway, parking and drainage improvements. Please access the park from Walkup Avenue during construction and park in the grass (out of the construction zone.)

Update: May 29, 2019

Driveway and parking improvements are now underway at Shamrock Hills Park. During construction the main driveway entrance on Hillside Road will be closed much of the time. Please enter off of Walkup Avenue and park in the grass outside of the construction zone. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!

Update: May 23, 2019

Construction will begin the week of May 28. The public is asked to use the Walkup Avenue entrance to the park during construction.

Update: May 6, 2019

The driveway and parking improvement project is expected to begin around June 1. The Hillside Road driveway access will be closed during construction.

Update: March 8, 2018

The first phase of development at Shamrock Hills Park is improving the driveway and adding parking spaces. This work will provide public access to the park which is located at the NE corner of Hillside Road and Walkup Avenue. Construction is expected to begin in May or June.

RACKET CLUB PARKING LOT ADA ACCESSIBILITY

9101 S. Route 31, Algonquin, IL

Update: June 14, 2019

Phase 1 of the handicap accessibility improvements is complete except for final landscaping. The front building entrance is now open again. Phase 2 is expected to begin in late fall.

Update: May 23, 2019

The project got underway on May 20. Asphalt has been removed and yesterday new concrete curbs were poured. This project is expected to take two weeks to complete. Signage is posted around the construction site directing members to parking and the building entrance.

Update: May 6, 2019

The contractor expects to begin this job on May 20. It will take two weeks to complete, during which time patrons will enter through the locker room doors. The pavement around the front entry doors will be removed and replaced. Handicap accessible parking spaces will be relocated across from the front door.

Update: April 8, 2019

Late April, early May (weather permitting) construction will begin for our ADA Accessibility Improvement Project. This project is required to bring us up to date with ADA regulations.

What will be changing:

The handicap parking spots will be relocated from east of the front entrance to directly across the driveway from the front doors. Also, new sidewalk paving directly at the front doors and just east of the front doors will take place.

What to expect during the project:

During the project, the front entrance will not be accessible and parking to the west of the front door may be closed or extremely limited. The exterior locker room doors will be open for you to enter and exit the club for indoor club activity. For your convenience there will be signage posted to assist with the location of the temporary entries and exits. Please check in at the front desk as you normally would.

We do apologize for the inconvenience and ask you to please plan accordingly to allow yourself enough time when parking. We will also keep you up to date on any changes in the progress of the project.

Thank you for your patience during this time.

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Fetzner Park

site information

690 Alexandra Blvd, Crystal Lake, IL

Update: June 3, 2019

On Wednesday, June 5 the native restoration area will be spot treated with herbicide to selectively kill invasive plants that have sprouted this spring.

Update: May 23, 2019

The oak tree planting is complete!

Update: May 6, 2019

The Fetzner Park Riparian Area Restoration Project has now moved into an ongoing maintenance phase. Over the summer you can expect to see restoration professionals working to prevent weeds, encourage growth of native plants and maintain health of the creek.

Crystal Lake middle school students will be plant oak seedlings over the next two weeks in the newly restored native planting area at Fetzner Park. This project is being done in cooperation with Project Quercus, an initiative of the Land Conservancy of McHenry County. The purpose of Project Quercus is to protect, preserve and regenerate the oak woodlands of McHenry County.

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monthly schedule

April-July

Spoerl and Wyndwood Tennis and Basketball Court Renovation Project

May-June

Shamrock Hills Driveway and Parking Lot Improvements

August/September

Replacement of two retaining walls behind the Rotary Building at Veteran Acres.

Renovation and improvements to the Oakwoods Lodge parking lot (near the Veteran Acres pond.)

October

Second phase of handicap accessibility improvements at the Racket Club, including replacement of exterior patio and exterior walkways near the courts.

Replacement of the deck at the Lippold Park Family Golf Center clubhouse.