Niles' Golf Mill Park gets $3.3 million in upgrades, including pickleball, tennis and basketball – Chicago Tribune

After the west side of Golf Mill Park in Niles was renovated, residents and visitors can look forward to renovations on the east side of the park, which is just south of the Golf Mill Shopping Center.

The Niles Park District began $3.3 million worth of construction on Aug. 13 to renovate the east end of the park, which borders Cumberland Avenue to the east. The park, which is jointly owned by the Village of Niles (the western half, which borders Greenwood Avenue) and the Niles Park District (the eastern half), is expected to be fully renovated well before the completion of the $440 million renovation of the Golf Mill Shopping Center.

To fund the $3.3 million renovation of the eastern half, which will include several sports, play and recreation areas, the park district received $1.2 million in open space acquisition and development grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Construction is expected to be completed by June 2025, according to Tom Elenz, executive director of the Niles Park District.

Improvements on the Park District side of the park, located between Grace Street, Church Street, Davis Street and Cumberland Avenue, include new and improved pickleball, basketball and tennis courts, a soccer field with improved drainage, walking trails, a larger playground, a picnic shelter, a seating area, game tables and a fitness area.

According to Mitch Johnson, the village's communications specialist, the western half of the park between Grace Street and Greenwood Avenue is owned by the village because it purchased the former bank property that sits there. The village's renovations on its side of the park were completed last year and included stormwater storage improvements, walkways, a grassy area for festivals, seating areas and new lighting. The village funded the construction on its side of the park.

The primary source of funding for the village park renovation was a 0.25% sales tax increase that was used for stormwater, a village document states. The village also received a $2 million reimbursement from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.

Elenz said the park district will handle maintenance on the village side of the park, including mowing, weeding and fertilizing grass. Water retention on the village side of Golf Mill Park will remain the village's responsibility. The village and park district agreed to an intergovernmental agreement, a formal contract between two governmental entities, in March 2023 to maintain Golf Mill Park.

“The village's redesigned park is not intended to generate revenue, but rather to be a gathering place for families and special events for the community,” Johnson said. He added that the park “will be a unique and special destination that can host large festivals while meeting everyday needs for open space and continuing to serve existing functions for sports.” The Maria SS. Lauretana Festival and Holly Jolly Fest will be held at the west end of the park and will also include the east end of the park at times.

Johnson said in March that “High Flight,” a 10-foot-tall abstract sculpture of a WACO CG-4A glider, will be unveiled in spring 2025 to honor World War II veterans. The sculpture will be on the village side of the park and was also paid for by the village.

The park district side of Golf Mill Park will remain closed during construction and will not open until all work is completed, Elenz said.