The Town of Schererville envisions the former Illiana Speedway property as a regional destination park in Northwest Indiana.
When complete, the 66-acre parcel will effectively become part of one larger park through land connections to nearby Rohrman Park, including bike trails linking neighborhoods and other local parks, according to Schererville Town Councilman Tom Schmitt, D-4th. There’s also more undeveloped acreage adjacent to the Illiana property that could push the combined park system over 125 acres.
Schmitt said the former speedway will be developed in stages. With input from residents, town officials and park board members — and more to come — the ideas are beginning to crystallize. As the town launches a “pre-design” phase, likely in June or July, land studies will commence. By the fall, he expects the town to have three options on the table to develop the property in tandem with hiring an engineering firm and construction contractor, with the aim of breaking ground on phase one of the development in late 2024.
“Naturally, the project would be done in phases,” Schmitt said. “Of course, you’re not going to go out there and build everything at one time. We would prioritize the one or two items that we think are the most important. If everything goes right, we will start part of the construction maybe by fall and then develop the entire property over time.”
There are a number of potential amenities on the table. Schmitt mentioned the likelihood of building a recreation center/gymnasium similar to Highland’s Lincoln Center and an entertainment pavilion with the flair of Crown Point’s Bulldog Park. A botanic garden/arboretum would accentuate various greenery enhancements.
Much of the land will be reserved for new sports fields, encompassing youth soccer, Little League and Babe Ruth baseball and Pop Warner football, with the addition of basketball, pickleball and volleyball courts and walking trails.
Baseball has the potential to be a key attraction and revenue driver, as a new ballpark could offer amenities substantial to attract a minor league baseball franchise, with ample parking to accommodate events and festivals, according to Schmitt.
He noted that the development will pay tribute to its speedway legacy through specific themes, naming and events. In fact, the former racetrack won’t be raised, as it has a foundation suitable to build an event pavilion or other structure upon.
As for financing the project, all options available to the town are on the table, but town officials have made no formal decisions yet. The land is part of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district, so there is a mechanism in place for funding the infrastructure and development itself.
Schmitt said he looks forward to the development being a source of revenue for the town through various events, sponsorships and user agreements. Additionally, the area fronting U.S. 30 is expected to include recreation-related retail aspect, but not any type of strip mall.
“I’m real excited about this project because I’ve seen what some of the other towns have done and I’m a firm believer in recreation,” he said. “I just think it’s a thing that the town of Schererville needs. This is going to be a destination location for people coming from other communities to enjoy.”
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
