Homewood Estates Park got its official reopening on July 19 when members of the Homewood Rotary Foundation joined with park officials to unveil Rotary Fields, celebrating with an ice cream party.
The Homewood-Flossmoor Park District gave the park, at 18200 California Ave., a complete makeover using a $70,000 donation from Homewood Rotary. The park district got a $292,700 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources “that was like doubling our money,” said Brent Bachus, park board president. The local funding on the project was $224,700.
Mary Hollie, president of Homewood Rotary, said the organization was happy to support the park district initiative because the Rotary’s work is “about kids, about family, it’s about connections and what better way to do that than at a park. We wanted to be a part of this wonderful project. This way we could really touch the heart and the soul of Homewood.”
Millie said the ball fields’ blue sign with white lettering and the Rotary logo, is more than a recognition of a donation.
“Really our sign is about welcoming people to come to the park, connect and feel that sense of belonging to the community,” Millie said.
In 2019, the park board selected Homewood Estates Park for an update and solicited feedback from the community.
“We just had an amazing turnout from the community with feedback and input on what they wanted this park to look like,” Bachus said. The district hired Upland Design Ltd. to design and oversee the work. The Homewood Rotary Foundation’s gift allowed the park district to redesign the baseball fields by reducing them from three to two, and adding a pond to the landscaping.
The playground area got all new equipment, the youth soccer field was upgraded, a new permanent shelter replaced a portable tent.
Parks Executive Director Debbie Kopas said one feature that is getting plenty of use is the redesigned walking path.