New sports complex coming to O’Fallon. Here’s what amenities the facility will include

The Barn, a new recreation and sports complex that will feature indoor and outdoor baseball facilities and an outdoor sand volleyball court, is being developed in O’Fallon at 5628 Old Collinsville Road.

Applicant Steve Judiscak of Jude Fam Sports has proposed a 50,000 square-foot building that will include a modified baseball field, batting cages and throwing lanes. Additionally, there will be offices, storage and a mezzanine with seating and concessions, including alcohol. Inside, seating would be for 150 visitors and employees.

The two outdoor baseball fields are in the southwest portion and will be constructed with synthetic turf and lighted. The site plans show bleachers and a press box area, as well as restrooms and concessions for the outdoor area.

Founders are businessman Judiscak and his wife, Dawn Judiscak, who are known for coaching and mentoring others. Steve played college baseball and has an extensive coaching history. He is currently the vice president and director of coaching for the O’Fallon Bombers. Dawn Judiscak has coached youth soccer and is the president of JudeFam Sports.

An ordinance proposing the planned use and preliminary plat has advanced through the Planning Commission and Community Development Committee and will be on the O’Fallon City Council agenda for first reading on Feb. 21.

The development could have additional amenities including a playground area between the two fields, walking trails throughout the site and a picnic area by the lake.

Judiscak, a longtime civil engineer, described his vision on his website.

“It is our vision that The Barn will be a place where the work gets done,” it said. “Our experienced and passionate staff, with the support of the athlete’s parents and coaches, will help guide young athletes to reach their full potential, on and off the field.”

He said the idea came during the pandemic in 2020 when finding indoor training space became even more difficult when school gyms and multi-purpose rooms were no longer available.

According to The Barn’s website, the batting cages and pitching lanes are currently open.

“Phase I construction is complete and includes 2 batting cages and 2 pitching lanes. The existing tee-box structure has been enclosed and converted into 2 batting cages (55ft and 70ft) and 2 pitching lanes (55ft and 70ft), the entire building has high ceilings, new lighting and is ready to go,” said Steve Judiscak.

He has scheduled a demonstration and Q&A session on Sunday, Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. He is inviting coaches and trainers for an LED target Smart Mitt demonstration from its founder, Tom Frenz.

For more information, call 618-280-2276 (BARN) or register at: https://www.judefamsports.com/.

Proposed hours of operation will be 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. during weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends.

Several conditions must be met

The property surrounding the proposed development is a mixture of residential, commercial, institutional, and park uses. To the north is Gateway Gymnastics and Lake St. Ellen Villas, to the east is the Saint Ellen Mine Park, to the south is Fairfield Place apartments and Bristol Hill single family subdivision (Swansea), and to the west, Centerfield Park.

The site’s 36.41-acres needs to be rezoned to planned community business district for the improvements that cover 16.82 acres. It was previously a driving range, which has been closed. The clubhouse, tee boxes and parking lot remain on the site, and would be converted into throwing lanes and hitting cages. About 10 acres is an existing lake on the northeast portion.

Community Development Director Justin Randall said the staff recommends approval but with several conditions to be met.

He said the final traffic study must be incorporated in the development and any improvements to Old Collinsville Road must be approved by St. Clair County.

Closing time quandary

Randall said the staff recommended a 10 p.m. closing time for the outdoor fields to reduce the impact of lighting and noise around surrounding residential uses, but several aldermen on the Community Development Committee recommended adjusting time on weekends to allow for tournaments, which might not be finished until 11 p.m.

This development is located within the Richland Creek Watershed. Randall said the old driving range was developed without any storm water detention, but the new development will provide detention in accordance with city codes.

Randall said the property has a ditch along the south side running toward the existing storm sewer system of the Bristol Hills Phase 2 subdivision.

The existing Bristol Hills Phase 2 storm sewer is inadequate and was undersized, and the design engineer is working to include private storm sewers throughout the parking lots that will drain into proposed detention areas at the eastern edge of the proposed improvements that will discharge into the existing lake on the property.

More about The Barn

Randall said the development will grade ditches to direct runoff away from adjacent properties and towards outlet areas. He said actual detention pond sizes, grading, pipe sizes, and inlets will be engineered for the final plat phase. All drainage plans must be reviewed and approved by the Public Works Department.

Randall said the St. Clair County Transit District is working on a shared use path along Old Collinsville Road, and the plan is for a 10-foot-wide walking path throughout the proposed development. The proposed walking path connects to all parking.

A spokesman for the developer said the Southern Illinois Select Baseball League will likely use the facility for games.