Farmers Weekly Review

New Lenox officials have announced two major “legacy” projects slated to be approved by the mayor and village board on March 27: the relocation of the KidsWork Children’s Museum from Frankfort to a new 12,000-square-foot building; and a multi-sport complex next to Silver Cross Hospital at Interstate 355 and I-80.
KidsWork Children’s Museum has been open since 2007 and is the only children’s museum operating in Will County. With attendance of nearly 40,000 visitors per year, the museum needed additional space beyond its current 6,500-square-foot building area.
The village will construct a 12,000-square-foot museum to be located at the entrance of the Commons area near the New Lenox Village Hall complex. Home to the successful Christmas in the Commons event, as well as the highly attended Triple Play Concert Series, the Commons is visited by thousands of people throughout the year from many countries and states.
There will also be a 4,200-square-foot outdoor interactive play and picnic area for families. The new museum construction is expected to start in June 2023, with a spring 2024 opening, and is projected to cost approximately $4 million.
“Adding a cultural piece to our village only enhances our reputation as a community that has something to offer for everyone,” said Mayor Tim Baldermann. “By doubling the size of an already popular children’s museum, and adding many new exhibits, we expect people from all over Will County and surrounding counties to come visit New Lenox for the museum and our other many fine amenities.”
For the sports complex, the Village of New Lenox has 100 acres under contract next to Silver Cross Hospital. Design will begin this year for a multi-sport complex, consisting of eight full-size baseball fields, five soccer fields, two multi-sport fields, a 50,000-square-foot field house (basketball/ volleyball/pickleball), and a main pool with 10 lap lanes, a space for open swimming, splash pad and 10,000-square-foot clubhouse.
The site plan for this location has over 10 acres of prime real estate dedicated for restaurant/retail/hotel use, village officials said. Located at I-355 and I-80, the complex is expected to draw teams from a multi­ state area, village officials said. Design will begin this year, with hopes of having tournament play by 2025.
“Up and down I-355 are warehouses and trucking terminals,” Baldermann said. “The board and I wanted something different for our community. The land next to Silver Cross Hospital and the surrounding area are the premier property sites in Will County.
“By building a much-needed sports facility that brings restaurants, hotels and retail, we are ensuring our community will continue to be the place people want to move, raise their families, and work.”