Fairview Heights unveils ‘Field House’ as part of major parks and rec project
The city of Fairview Heights has announced the official name for its upcoming indoor sports and events facility: Field House.
The Field House will be built adjacent to The Rec Complex at 9950 Bunkum Road, which opened in 2019. The new center is part of a $14 million project that also includes a complete revitalization of Pleasant Ridge Park. Work on both projects is expected to begin in early 2026 and be completed by October of that year.
“It’s best to knock it out at once,” Mayor Mark Kupsky said. “We’re moving forward with our bonds plan. We’re excited about it. We’ve been talking about it for months.”
The 13,500-square-foot Field House will feature multipurpose space for events, meetings and recreation programs, as well as 10 courts for indoor, semi-outdoor and outdoor pickleball.
Kupsky said that bids have been received. “We will be reviewing the bids during the next month, and provide details,” he said.
The new event space will have capacity for town hall meetings, community events and wedding receptions. “It’s something we haven’t had the space to do,” he said.
Kupsky noted recreation and fitness center attendance has remained strong since the original complex opened, with popularity among both residents and nonresidents. Day-passes have also been in demand.
Holland Construction Services is serving as the construction manager, and Millennia Professional Services is also part of the project team. Holland Construction Services was also the manager for the original 58,000-square-foot Rec Complex, which includes an aquatic center, gymnasium, fitness center, running tracks, childcare and various amenities.
The original complex was funded through municipal bonds, revenue from the city’s food and beverage tax, and user fees. Similar funding sources will be used for the expansion and park improvements, with the addition of cannabis tax revenue.
Pleasant Ridge Park Renovation
Pleasant Ridge Park, 95 acres in the city’s north, has served Fairview Heights since 1973, after farmland was purchased from the Kinsella family. Their 1850-built log cabin remains preserved onsite.
The park currently features picnic areas and tables, four pavilions, a playground, trails and two restrooms. Sledding is available during winter months.
Renovation plans include three new restrooms—one open year-round—three new pavilions and updated playground equipment. The park will be closed for the duration of the project.
“This is something that is really needed for the community,” Kupsky said.
According to the park’s 2024 master plan, Pleasant Ridge Park is in poor condition and requires significant upgrades. The plan recommends preserving natural areas, converting a former road to a walking path, and modernizing restrooms, pavilions and playgrounds, all of which are described as outdated. Most shelters require replacement, and bathrooms are not ADA compliant. The city’s only natural hiking trails are slated for design and maintenance improvements.
An off-leash dog run, a comfort station, a shade pavilion and parking upgrades were all favored in the plan. A re-imagined pavilion area will be designed to enhance special events and weddings without interfering with other park activities. Warming pits will be added to the sledding hill area.
The city is applying for grants, including Park and Recreational Construction (PARC) and Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD), administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to help finance improvements.
Liberty and Bunkum Road Trails
Kupsky said that in an effort to expand the 40-mile St. Clair County bike trail network, a ribbon-cutting is planned for Nov. 6 at the new Liberty Trail, which will extend from Union Hill Road to St. Clair Road and Grant Middle School.
“We’re grateful to the St. Clair County Transit District for their continuing trail drive in Fairview Heights, and to Caseyville Township. This was a collaborative effort between the county, township and city,” Kupsky said.
A separate, much-anticipated trail and bridge over Interstate 64 recently received a $3 million state grant and will take several years to complete. Kupsky said the project will connect Fairview Heights to the county’s 39-mile bike trail system. The 10-foot-wide path will run about a mile, linking city hall, the police and fire departments on the south side to the Rec Complex on the north.
“The ability to soon offer a direct connection to the MetroBikeLink System by way of the new Bunkum Road Trail is a huge win for the community,” Kupsky said.
Ken Sharkey, managing director of the St. Clair County Transit District, said the grant is meant to support “smaller scale, but critically important projects that provide and support connected alternate modes of transportation.”
“Without the grant, that trail wouldn’t be done. It’s just too cost-prohibitive for us to be able to take on that all on our own, with our own resources. So, when you get a grant like that, it just really makes the project viable,” Sharkey said.
The transit district is finalizing total costs for the new trail and bridge. Construction is expected to begin next spring and could take three years.
Among other projects, a new connection is being planned to join Fairview Heights and Swansea to the St. Clair County Transit District’s main 14-mile trail that runs adjacent to MetroLink.
“Fairview Heights isn’t really seen as a walking town, but there is a big push to be healthier. People want to get out more, looking at living a healthier lifestyle,” Kupsky said.
This story was originally published November 6, 2025 at 6:00 AM.