Farmers Weekly Review

By Stephanie Irvine

Construction has been underway at the massive, 100-acre Crossroads Sports Complex in New Lenox since last spring’s groundbreaking, and all signs point to its first phase for outdoor sports being operational this summer.

In fact, New Lenox Mayor Tim Baldermann said they are shooting for the June 28-29 weekend to give everyone a pre-grand opening opportunity to view the impressive layout.

“We’re looking at the Saturday and Sunday before the opening weekend — I’m working with the Board and staff now — to opening it up, free of charge, to anyone who wants to come from anywhere and see the fields,” Baldermann said.

“I’m really looking for it to be something casual — this field may be dedicated to base-running, this field will be for catch, family fun.”

Baldermann sat down with Farmers Weekly Review to discuss the progress of the $70 million outdoor investment owned by the Village of New Lenox. He explained that this project is truly an economic development project — and one that the village was very particular about choosing.

“We’re very strategic in what we’re doing,” Baldermann said, explaining that the majority of the people playing in the tournaments will be coming from outside the area.

However, with the expressways so close, outsiders can easily access the complex without congesting local roads and residential areas. Even better, residents can easily access it for recreation or eating at restaurants planned.

“It is the premier place, right at I-80 and I-355, 10 minutes to the west I-55 and 10 minutes to the east I-57. So, we said, ‘We’re going to invest in our own community,’ and things are off to a great start,” Baldermann said.

Baldermann explained that a project of this type takes a few years to operate in the black, but in New Lenox, they have high expectations of meeting that in the first year.

With tournaments booked from the Fourth of July weekend through June 30 of next year, village officials hope the project will operate on time and be debt-free by the end of the first year.

“You’re closing in on 3 million people to that area,” Baldermann said of the anticipated number of visitors to that area, to utilize the sports complex, hospital, hotel and restaurants.

Those tournaments don’t include off-season weekends with favorable weather, when fields could likely be snatched up, especially with fair weather often extending into November.

Local teams shouldn’t feel left out, either. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday play is intended for local Lincoln-Way area teams to reserve, giving them the first pick of the state-of-the-art field on those days.

“It’s going to be hopping out there, day and night, seven days a week,” Baldermann said. The location – with I-355 to the east and the Silver Cross campus to the west — limits residential exposure, so lighting and noise aren’t anticipated to be a problem.

If You Build Them …

Nine flex fields have been built, and they can be converted into 29 different fields for multiple sports. At the time of the interview, the turf for the third field was almost complete.

While Baldermann couldn’t reveal which restaurants have expressed interest in the commercial areas adjacent to the sports complex, visitors to the facility won’t go hungry. Two smaller concession stands are near the fields, plus a larger restaurant-style concessions area with a beer garden.

Due to the size of the fields, multiple games can be played on the same fields, depending on league requirements. For example, youth sports could be played simultaneously due to the distance between fields.

Construction over the last year has gone well, Baldermann said, with post-COVID prices having stabilized, costs were as projected, and no major construction hiccups have occurred.

“For as big of a project as it is, and as quickly as it’s moving, we’ve been very, very fortunate,” Baldermann said of the smooth progress while knocking on wood.

“We never leave a meeting without saying, ‘What are we looking to accomplish, when are we getting back together, how are we keeping tabs on that?’ and that comes with a seasoned staff,” Baldermann said, praising his team as well as the builder, Northern Builders, and Sports Facilities, the consultant for the project.

More Fun on the Way

The Phase Two indoor component will consist of 140,000 square feet of indoor courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, and more. Of that phase, Baldermann said the village won’t “put a shovel in the ground until they have the revenue committed.

“This is really for regional and country-wide tournaments,” Baldermann said, noting that they’re expecting 200,000 to 250,000 visitors for the outdoor facilities and about the same for the indoor.

With 1,400 spots, visitors also shouldn’t have trouble parking. Baldermann noted the 1,400 does not include parking that would also be available at future hotel sites.

Those visiting the complex for weekend-long tournaments will soon be able to stay on-site. Village officials have signed a contract for a hotel. Baldermann said they were particular about their choices, visiting other sites of the hotels and restaurants that were interested in building within the complex’s footprint.

Because the village owns this property and the sports complex, it will rake in the revenue from rentals and concessions, not just tax dollars. Those renting the facility absorb liabilities, he said.

A Select Location

The property across the street from the complex is within the village limits, Baldermann said, which means that tax revenue will go to the village for what is built there.

“For this property right next to the hospital, we kept getting calls for industrial, and we didn’t want that,” Baldermann said.

Baldermann explained the Village likes to keep its industrial primarily in Cherry Hill business park, outside the grandfathered-in areas off Schoolhouse Road with smaller-scale industrial.

“There is a need for it — there’s no question. But we can’t have it infiltrating where it impacts the daily lives of our people residentially,” Baldermann explained, stating that during his 18-year tenure as mayor, he and the Village Board have rejected plenty of industrial projects that weren’t the right fit.

“The board is united in this vision, and the staff is just phenomenal. I never have to worry about staff being able to carry the load. They do such a great job.”

Baldermann said the village has been working closely with the Park District, which will handle staffing concessions, etc., but will be paid through the village. Of the experience, Baldermann said they’ve been “phenomenal” to work with and a great help, noting the park district’s experience in managing those aspects.

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.