Elmwood Park has been awarded a substantial Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant from the state of Illinois to be used for a project that is part of the village’s ongoing redevelopment in the Village Circle.
The $376,250 in grant money will be used to cover half of the anticipated $752,500 cost for construction of four new pickleball courts that will be built adjacent to the Aquatic Center, 2 Contic Parkway, near the Community and Recreation Center.
The new courts will be the village’s first outdoor courts, as pickleball is currently offered indoors in the main gym.
“The indoor program is very popular,” village manager Paul Volpe said. “We host pickleball during the day throughout the week, and the gym is always packed with people playing. It is common to see people waiting to get on the courts.”
Volpe said village officials hope to have the new courts completed by the spring of 2026.
“Because the project impacts the pool area, we will wait until the pool closes in the fall,” he said.
In addition to the new pickleball courts, the OSLAD grant will also facilitate improvements to the Aquatic Center, with a new artificial turf area for sunbathing and a new playground.
“We continue to invest in our outdoor recreation opportunities because we know how important it is for the quality of life for our residents,” village President Angelo “Skip” Saviano said. “We’ve made improvements all around town, and we’re always looking for new opportunities to enhance our recreation opportunities. When we can take advantage of a state grant like this, it’s all the better.”
The development of the Village Circle on Conti Parkway continues the momentum Elmwood Park has generated for its town center. Over the past 10 years, new luxury apartments have been developed in the area along with several new restaurants, a new community recreation center, and outdoor bocce courts, along with summer concerts, car shows, and other community events.
“One of my main goals for my administration has been to reinvigorate the business community in Elmwood Park and open up new opportunities for growth and development,” Saviano said. “The transformation of the Village Circle is a remarkable story and we’re not done yet.”
Volpe said the Village Circle was a mess when Saviano was first elected in 2013.
“There were failing and shuddered businesses and dilapidated buildings falling further into disrepair each day,” he said.
The building of a recreation center, which includes both indoor and outdoor bocce courts, and the addition of a fitness center and golf simulators have been major upgrades during Saviano’s tenure as village president.
“We also have replaced the dilapidated buildings with new, luxury condominiums; opened a vibrant breakfast restaurant, where there was before a vacant storefront; and brought Culver’s to the entranceway to the Circle, replacing what was a vacant, deteriorating and obsolete commercial structure,” Volpe said.
Along with the new pickleball courts, village officials also are excited about the addition of Pompei Bakery, which is expected to open this summer at the corner of Conti Parkway and Sunset Drive.
“Pompei Bakery has been a popular and successful restaurant on Taylor Street (in Chicago) since the early 1900’s,” Volpe said. “They will offer an outstanding, already popular menu in a family friendly, brand new restaurant in town. The village is incredibly lucky to attract that type of investment.”
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
