The Woodridge athletic recreation center (ARC) opens Jan. 2 after a year and a half of construction. The 76,291 square foot center is located at the Janes Plaza Shopping Center.  The center includes an artificial turf field, multi-court gymnasium, indoor track, fitness center, program rooms, and a ropes course. Programs specifically geared towards teen athletes will begin soon after the facility opens.

“We’ll be offering a lacrosse program geared for boys’ lacrosse, but we plan on expanding in the future. We also have soccer training and a volleyball program,” athletic supervisor Brad Keene said. “We decided that an open gym will be offered three days a week to kids 8-17.  There will be small courts and they will have access to the turf during open gym.”

The ARC is meant to benefit the community and has been designed to include many of the things that community members have asked for, most prominently the indoor track. Making sure that this center is opened was a priority for everyone involved. The location of the ARC was chosen to make that block a recreation hub.

“This facility is going to give the community so many opportunities that the park district has never been able to give them due to the limitation of our facilities,” ARC facility manager Angie McGrath said.

More information about the ARC can be found at www.wpdarc.org.