$1.4M Schon Park Expansion Adds 8 New Sports Courts Ahead of Fall Opening

A major expansion at Ray M. Schon Park is nearing completion in Glen Carbon, bringing eight new sports courts and a significant addition to the Village’s recreational amenities.

Schon Park Phase 3 includes four dedicated pickleball courts, two tennis courts and two basketball courts. The approximately $1.4 million construction project also includes new sidewalks, fencing, drainage improvements, landscaping and other infrastructure surrounding the new court complex.

Construction began earlier this year, and the Village of Glen Carbon currently lists the project for an estimated fall 2026 completion. More recent reporting indicates the courts are expected to be completed and ready for use by the end of October.

Eight New Courts Coming to Schon Park

The new court complex represents one of the largest additions to Schon Park since the park began developing more than a decade ago.

According to Glen Carbon’s Parks and Trails Master Plan, the court complex includes:

• Four pickleball courts

• Two tennis courts

• Two basketball courts

• Connecting paths to the existing park system

The sports courts were identified as part of the recommended improvements for Schon Park during the Village’s long-term parks and trails planning process. The master plan also found support for additional sports facilities, with pickleball specifically mentioned among the amenities residents were interested in seeing added.

The courts are being constructed north of the park’s existing restroom facilities, according to Village communications. Recent construction updates have described the work as taking place on the eastern portion of the park.

Construction Contract Tops $1.4 Million

The Glen Carbon Village Board approved the construction contract for Schon Park Phase 3 in September 2025.

Byrne & Jones Construction was awarded the project with a low bid of $1,418,466.58. The contract was approved by the Village Board on September 23, 2025.

The project involves considerably more than applying new court surfaces.

The Village’s original construction bid documents call for site grading, post-tensioned concrete court slabs, court surfacing, nets and basketball goal systems, perimeter fencing and gates, concrete flatwork, stormwater improvements, vegetation restoration and new landscaping.

Post-tensioned concrete is being used for the court slabs rather than a basic asphalt surface. The construction method is commonly used for athletic courts because the concrete system can provide a stable playing surface while helping manage cracking over time.

The project also includes the supporting infrastructure necessary to integrate the courts into the rest of Schon Park.

$750,000 in Grant Funding Supports the Project

A substantial portion of the project is being supported through outside grant funding.

Glen Carbon received a $600,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant for Schon Park Phase 3. The OSLAD program is administered through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and helps local governments acquire and develop land for public outdoor recreation.

Village records show Glen Carbon pursued the grant specifically for the next phase of Schon Park improvements. The funding can reimburse eligible project costs, subject to the requirements of the state program.

The project also received $150,000 in regional park funding, bringing total grant support associated with the construction to approximately $750,000. The balance of the project is being funded locally.

Construction Has Made Significant Progress

Although the construction contract was awarded in fall 2025, substantial on-site work began around March 2026.

By midsummer, the concrete slabs for the pickleball and tennis courts had already been completed. Crews were also working on the basketball court subbase as construction continued across the site.

As of September, the courts are being described as nearing completion.

A September 12 update from Glen Carbon Mayor Bob Marcus referenced the new basketball, tennis and pickleball courts among the community improvements approaching completion at Schon Park.

The Village’s May 2026 State of the Village report continues to list Phase 3 for an estimated fall 2026 completion, while project updates have identified the end of October as the more specific target for the courts to be ready for public use.

As with any active construction project, the final opening date can depend on remaining construction, weather and final site work.

Tennis Returns as a Dedicated Glen Carbon Amenity

One notable part of the project is the addition of two dedicated tennis courts.

Glen Carbon Public Works Director Scott Slemer previously said the new Schon Park courts would become the Village’s dedicated tennis courts after former tennis courts at Miner Park were converted for pickleball use.

Schon Park will now provide dedicated spaces for both sports rather than requiring the same courts to serve multiple uses.

The four new pickleball courts also represent the largest portion of the new court complex by number of courts, reflecting the sport’s growing role in local park planning.

Basketball will round out the development with two new courts.

More Improvements Are Happening Around Schon Park

The new sports courts are not the only work underway at the park.

Glen Carbon has also moved forward with a separate shade canopy over the existing playground. Village records show Byrne & Jones will install the canopy while crews are already working at Schon Park, although the shade structure is a separate project from the $1.418 million Phase 3 construction contract.

The Village received a $35,000 Madison County Park Enhancement Program grant to assist with the playground shade project.

Glen Carbon’s spring Village Communicator also identified the shade structure alongside the coming tennis, pickleball and basketball courts as part of the broader improvements residents would see at Schon Park.

Separate trail maintenance is also taking place this fall.

The Village began sealing trails in Schon Park and Greenspace East on August 24. That work includes trail cleaning, crack sealing and sealcoating and is expected to continue into October.

Part of a Longer-Term Plan for Schon Park

Ray M. Schon Park opened in 2013 and has continued to develop in phases.

Today, the park includes walking paths, pavilions, benches, a pond, playground facilities and open green space. The Village continues to describe Schon Park as a work in progress as additional amenities are added over time.

The 2024 Parks and Trails Master Plan identified the sports court complex and connecting pathways as recommended additions to the park. Other concepts shown in the broader planning document include potential athletic fields, pavilions and additional recreational facilities.

Those longer-term recommendations should be distinguished from what is currently under construction. The confirmed Phase 3 project centers on the four pickleball courts, two tennis courts, two basketball courts and the infrastructure needed to support them.

The new courts also arrive as Glen Carbon continues expanding pedestrian and bicycle connections around the community. A shared-use path along Glen Carbon Road now provides additional connections toward Schon Park, further integrating the park into the Village’s growing trail network.

What Happens Next

For now, construction continues as crews work toward completing the eight-court complex.

The Village’s official schedule calls for Schon Park Phase 3 to be completed this fall. Recent project reporting has placed the target around the end of October 2026.

Once opened, Schon Park will add four pickleball courts, two tennis courts and two basketball courts to a park that has steadily expanded since opening in 2013.

With a construction contract of approximately $1.42 million and significant state and regional grant support, Phase 3 represents another major step in the Village’s long-term buildout of Schon Park and its recreational facilities.