Founders Facility – Gym Update

The Frankfort Park District has experienced a facility issue at the Founders Community Center gymnasium.  The issue has resulted in a disruption of use of the gymnasium. Park District staff discovered an issue in the gym ceiling. The Park District immediately took the facility out of service. Engineers conducted an initial structural review. Access to the gym remains unavailable for programs and rentals. The Park District is conducting a robust engineering review of the gym structure. Park district programs and rentals that utilize the gym have been moved or cancelled. The park district is awaiting cost estimates for the repairs. It is estimated that the Founders Center gym will be out of service for approximately six months. Park District staff are working closely with the school districts and community groups to find alternative space for programming to limit cancellations of programs. The Founders Community Center was formally the Frankfort Middle School, the gym was constructed in 1959. The Park District administrative offices and programs have been housed at the Founders Community Center since the 1990’s when it acquired the property from District 157C.