The familiar shine beneath sneakers at the Palos Park Recreation Center is the result of careful preservation rather than replacement, as crews recently completed a comprehensive maintenance project on the building’s original maple gymnasium floor.
The work, overseen by the Village of Palos Park Recreation and Parks Department, focused on extending the life of the historic floor through sanding, repainting athletic lines, and resealing and refinishing the surface. The project was part of the village’s regular maintenance schedule and coincided with additional upgrades to the gymnasium, including fresh paint and new lighting. Updates to the basketball hoops are planned once the floor has fully cured.
“This floor is not new. It is the original maple floor, and that is something we are proud of,” said Stephen DeFalco, director of recreation and parks for the Village of Palos Park. “The goal was to take care of what we already have, protect the investment made decades ago, and make sure it is safe and ready for the community to use for many more years.”
DeFalco said routine maintenance like this is essential to preserving both the function and character of the space.
“When you stay on top of sanding, sealing and repainting, you significantly extend the lifespan of the floor,” he said. “It is not flashy, but it is necessary work that keeps the gym usable for programs, leagues and open play.”
The gymnasium is housed within the Palos Park Recreation Center, formerly known as the Community House, located at 8901 W. 123rd St. in Palos Park. The building is a historic village landmark with deep roots in local life. It was constructed in 1938, replacing a 1903 community clubhouse at the same site, and was dedicated in 1940. Designed in the Colonial Revival style by Palos Park architect Edward M. Tourtelot, the structure was built using locally quarried Athens Limestone.
Its two-story, open concept design allowed the Community House to serve multiple purposes over the decades. At various times, it housed the Village Hall, public library and police station. It also played host to numerous community events, from school spring festivals in the 1940s and grade school graduations to Friday night teen dances in the 1950s and the Teen Center’s Last Resort in the 1970s.
Generations of local organizations have gathered within its walls, including the Palos Village Players, Palos Garden Clubs, Palos Fine Arts Association, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, the Palos Woman’s Club and neighborhood homeowner associations.
Administrative offices relocated to the Kaptur Administrative Center in 2001, and the Community House transitioned into its current role as the Palos Park Recreation Center, serving as the operations facility for the Recreation and Parks Department.
“For a lot of residents, this building holds memories going back generations,” DeFalco said. “Maintaining the gym floor and making these updates is about respecting that history while keeping the space functional for today’s community.”
With the maintenance complete and final updates on the way, village officials say the refreshed gymnasium will continue to serve as a centerpiece of recreation and community life in Palos Park, just as it has for more than 80 years.