The Oak Lawn Park District will host an open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the renovated Memorial Activity Center.
The event is scheduled from 2 to 3 p.m. on July 14, with the ribbon cutting set for 2:30 p.m. Visitors are encouraged to explore the facility, meet staff and learn about available programs.
Located at 5725 W. 102nd St., the building has been updated in partnership with the Village of Oak Lawn and now serves as a dedicated space for senior programming, which began June 30. Current offerings include bridge, pinochle, movies, fitness classes and games. A full program schedule is available on the village’s website.
Previously used as a bathhouse for the now-closed Memorial Pool, the structure had served mostly as storage. It has been transformed into a bright, modern facility featuring two large multipurpose rooms with TVs, a commercial-grade kitchen, a lobby and restrooms.
“This project has been a long time coming,” said Tom Hartwig, executive director. “We listened to the feedback from the community about wanting a dedicated space for senior programming, and we’re proud to see that happen, thanks in part to the Village of Oak Lawn partnership and support.”
The project was made possible by a $2.1 million grant from the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act, or PARC, grant program. Hartwig credited local elected officials, including Sen. Bill Cunningham and former state Rep. Kelly Burke, for helping secure the funding.
“Projects like these don’t come without a cost,” Hartwig said. “We are incredibly grateful for the continued support from our elected officials, both at the state and local levels, along with the Illinois Association of Park District’s, and the State of Illinois. They played a huge role in bringing this project to life.”
The PARC grant program is part of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Rebuild Illinois capital improvement plan. Administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the program awarded $28 million last year to support local government efforts to renovate or build recreational facilities statewide.