Crete Park District’s Willard Wood Center remains closed while officials “navigate the planning for repairs.”
Gale-force storms last spring inflicted extensive damage to the venerable facility at 515 First Street. Two massive old cottonwoods fell on the building, leaving a gaping hole in the roof.
The storms battered the village and surrounding areas, unleashing damage to all but two of the park district’s properties. The Willard Wood Center was the hardest hit.
Andy Biesterfeld, Executive Director for the park district, told the Vedette that, fortunately, the damage can be repaired.
How much it will cost is still in question.
“At this time an amount has not been determined,” he said, noting that it is still unknown if insurance will be adequate to cover the losses.
Meanwhile, he said, “Programs have been relocated to other district facilities where feasible and to the township Community Center in Crete.
“The Willard Wood Park Center is a recreation and rental facility,” he added. “Our administrative offices have been at 737 W. Exchange since 2021.”
At the time of the storms, Biesterfeld said the park district is “committed to moving this process along as quickly as possible to regain the use of this wonderful facility for our residents.”