Community Recreation Center – Restoration Project
START DATE
2025
LOCATION
Community Recreation Center, Wilmette
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Restoration Project - Update
Updated - 1.23.26
Work continues to move forward at the Community Recreation Center with visible progress throughout the building. The main foyer and registration desk area have been fully demolished in preparation for a redesigned and more functional entrance, and this space is now awaiting reconstruction and installation. On the second floor and within the business office suite, new carpeting and baseboards have been installed, along with newly installed and waxed tile flooring throughout the second floor. In addition, rooms in these areas are actively being reconstructed and prepared to accommodate the full return of scheduled programming.
CONSTRUCTION UPDATE – January 23, 2026
CRC Main Foyer Partially Open 1/24 – Entrance Closed Through 1/28
Beginning Saturday, January 24, the CRC main foyer will partially reopen to the public, giving access to the elevator. However, the primary main entrance, the north entrance and west entrance will remain closed through Wednesday, January 28 as reconstruction work continues.
What This Means for Your Visit:
- The main entrance doors remain closed through January 28.
- The main foyer is partially open with access to the elevator entering the building from the East (Access Point 3)
- The Front Desk remains located in the West Wing Lobby.
- Elevator access to the second floor is available.
How to Navigate the Building:
- Fitness Club: Access point 7 and 3 (for elevator access)
- Sports Gym & Theater: Access points 1, 2, or 9.
- East Wing (Rooms 106–107): Access point 3.
- East Wing – 2nd Floor (Rooms 200–205): Access point 3.
- West Wing (Rooms 115–119): Access points 4, 7, or 8.
- Gymnastics: Access points 4 or 8.
- Early Childhood Center: Access points 4, 5, or 8.
We appreciate your patience as we complete this construction work to improve your Community Recreation Center experience.
To learn the latest information on our project timeline, visit our BLOG.
Background
On Thursday, May 22 a sprinkler head was accidentally triggered during an afterschool program on the second floor of the Community Recreation Center (CRC).
The sprinkler system’s activation automatically set off the fire alarm and the building’s fire suppression system. First responders arrived quickly, and the building was safely evacuated. There was no fire or immediate danger, but the sprinkler caused significant water damage in the fifteen to twenty minutes while it was on.
The damage was concentrated to the east side of the building on both the second and first floors. ServPro and Wilmette Park District staff are actively managing clean-up and remediation efforts. Here’s a summary of the affected areas:
Second Floor: Several multi-purpose rooms experienced water exposure, damaging select furnishings and equipment. Flooring in various areas, including carpet and hard surfaces, is undergoing removal or drying. Specialized fitness rooms and ceramics art studios were also affected.
First Floor: Large activity rooms and office spaces sustained damage primarily to ceiling tiles, flooring, and lower wall sections. Common areas, including the lobby, experienced carpet and furniture damage.
A wide range of programs were impacted, primarily through room relocations. Most programs could continue in alternative spaces, but a few requiring specific studio equipment, like ceramics and spin classes, have been canceled.
Project Overview
This project aims to restore the Community Recreation Center to full operational capacity by undertaking comprehensive repair and replacement work. This will include removal and replacement of drywall, ceiling tiles, flooring, furniture, windows, doors, and specialized equipment for fitness and arts programs.
Restoration efforts will be coordinated with ongoing cleanup and remediation managed by ServPro and Wilmette Park District staff to ensure a seamless transition back to full service.
Planning Goal and Intended Outcomes
- Return all affected areas to full use by replacing damaged structural components, finishes, and equipment to meet or exceed pre-incident conditions.
- Facilitate a smooth resumption of programs by prioritizing repairs that impact specialized spaces such as ceramics studios and fitness rooms, and by coordinating alternative program locations as needed during renovation.
- Comply with all building codes, safety regulations, and accessibility standards during renovation and replacement activities to guarantee a safe environment for staff and visitors.
- Use high-quality materials and finishes to improve the durability and visual appeal of repaired spaces.
- Complete replacement of damaged drywall, ceiling tiles, flooring (carpet, hard surfaces, tile), and lower wall sections.
- Replacement of damaged furniture, windows, and doors to ensure comfort and security.
- Full replacement of specialized fitness and ceramics equipment to reinstate all program offerings.
- Reopening of all impacted rooms and common areas with no residual safety hazards or operational limitations.
Documents and Presentations
No Current Documents at this Time
Project Timeline
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