A multimillion dollar recreation and event space touted as a game changer not only for Crown Point but for the region officially opened Friday as officials cut the ribbon on Bulldog Park.
Crown Point’s new $11 million downtown park sits on a 2½-acre site along West Street next to Col. John Wheeler Middle School and came to be after the city acquired the property in 2017 from the Crown Point Community School Corp.
Joining Mayor David Uran at the ceremony was Speros Batistatos, president and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, who assured not only officials on site but the large crowd already enjoying the park’s amenities that this kind of investment means more visitors and an quality of life improvement.
“It is going to change the landscape of businesses on the square and the value of what goes on in your community,” he said. “And we look forward at your direction and partnership to be able to sell this for sports events, for whatever space we can, because we know visitors are going to want to come down here and spend their money in Crown Point.”
Uran pointed out that no residential tax dollars were used for the facility and credited the more than $5 million donation from the Dean and Barbara White Family Foundation to making Bulldog Park a reality.
Franciscan Alliance is sponsoring Bulldog Park at $100,000 for 10 years in what amounts to a $1 million partnership. CEO Daniel McCormick said before the ribbon cutting that remembers being at the spot when it was just dirt.
“What it has transformed into now for the city of Crown Point is absolutely fantastic,” he said. “It is something else to put Crown Point on the map and keep it there.”
The new park’s amenities include a two-story multifunction event center, an Olympic-sized ice rink, splash pads in addition to the amphitheater for concerts and theater performances.
The park’s ice rink made its debut Dec. 22. Uran said during holiday break in December and January that more than 10,000 skaters used the rink.
Officials at Friday’s ceremony included State Rep. Lisa Beck, D-Crown Point, who called the collaboration to get the park done “amazing.”
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Beck grew up in Crown Point and remembers a Tasty Freeze was once at the site would kids and families would like to hang out.
“Now it is kind of neat that is going to continue so I am really excited about it,” she said.
Michael Conquest, a member of the plan commission and board of works in Crown Point, also recalled the site being a blighted area.
“This is awesome for Crown Point,” he said. “This is a project you see in Chicago and not in Crown Point and this is just a cool thing for the city.”
Live music followed the ceremony and the park is hosting its first Farmers Market on Saturday.
The city’s annual corn roast moves to Bulldog Park Friday through Sunday.
Rob Earnshaw is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.