INSIDE
SPORTS Spartans want to win a state title
www.romeovillebugle.com
Page 13
NEWS IDOT considers express lanes on I-55
Page 5
Our Village, Our News
NOVEMBER 8, 2012
Vol. 7 No. 18
Work begins on new athletic center New facility will house an indoor soccer field, basketball courts and conference rooms. By Laura Katauskas Staff reporter
Calling it a day of renaissance, more than 100 residents, and local and state officials came out to celebrate the ground breaking of the Romeoville Athletic and Events Center, the first development in the plan for a new downtown area 10 years in the making. “This is an exciting day for the village of Romeoville—it is the renaissance of the downtown,” said Village Manager Steve Gulden. “It is in fact a new beginning… We have been at work for this for a very long time. This will evolve to become a community space that will have people coming from all over Romeoville and beyond.”
Design plans for the new 66,000-squarefoot center include an indoor soccer field with cross-field capabilities, two basketball courts and conference rooms. Village officials believe the multipurpose center will attract various events like boat shows or convention type events, and, in turn, bring the traffic to the area that has sought revitalization for the past decade. “As the first component in the downtown redevelopment project, the new athletic center will be a catalyst for economic development by attracting attendees from around the region who will contribute to the local economy,” said Mayor John Noak. “It is our expectation that this center will encourage additional restaurants and See ATHLETIC CENTER, page 3
Laura Katauskas/Bugle Staff
Trustees Sue Micklevitz and Ken Griffin, Mayor John Noak, clerk Bernice Holloway, and trustee Dick Richards pictured during ground breaking of athletic center.