Greenwood Fieldhouse showcases the history and the future of the town
By Amanda Stevenson // Photography by Angela Jackson
As part of its redevelopment of the former Greenwood Middle School property, the city of Greenwood preserved and repurposed the former gymnasium into a new, dynamic downtown fieldhouse. For those who may not remember, before Greenwood Middle School, the property served as the home of Greenwood’s high school.
“When people walk in, they immediately see the former court preserved on the wall,” shared fieldhouse manager Jon Schrader. “Then, you see what was the outside of the former gym with this facility wrapped around it. People tell us all the time about how their prom was on that court, or they played their last high school basketball game on that flooring.”
Named the Greenwood Fieldhouse now, the modern facility is truly designed for all ages, including
turf fields, hardwood courts, an elevated walking track, golf simulators and more – an impressive investment in the health and fitness needs of Greenwood citizens and the local community.
“This property serves as a much-needed expansion of the community center and our offerings,” explained Rob Taggart, Greenwood Parks and Recreation executive director, who added the fieldhouse is a key piece of Greenwood Mayor Mark Myers’ mission for a healthier community.
“There are still so many opportunities to expand with this space,” he said.
For example, Taggart revealed the fieldhouse will be offering an archery program soon.
Health and fitness for everyone
Located at 411 South Madison Ave., the Greenwood Fieldhouse sits on 19 acres and serves as a hub for various athletic activities, including baseball, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, volleyball, pickleball — with more to come.
The fieldhouse’s batting cages are perfect for practicing your batting swing or pitching. The 65 batting cages are available for rent by the half-hour or hour. Want to get the whole team into the cages? Rent out the entire field and ask them to drop one, two or all three cages, depending on what type of skills are being addressed. Pitching mounds, batter’s boxes and L-screens are included with the rental cost.
The fieldhouse also includes turf rental opportunities to support sports like soccer and lacrosse. Built at regulation futsal size, and with lots of natural light coming in from the expansive window wall, the indoor turf field is the first municipal field of its kind in Johnson County. A drop-down curtain can split the field in two. There is bleacher seating for nearly 200 spectators and overlook seating from the lobby is also available so fans can watch the events from the field.
“People love our soccer fields. There is such a deficit on the South Side for indoor fields and we have them,” Schrader said. “The indoor turf allows for a lot of opportunities, not just for soccer and lacrosse, but also for frisbee and flag football.”
Additionally, the auxiliary turf field is available and is fully encased in an acrylic dasher board. This smaller version of the main turf field can be used for many of the same activities and more. Rentals are available for the for half or the entire turf field and auxiliary turf field.
And they didn’t forget the courts of the main gymnasium. Sanded down and completely refinished, organizers were able to preserve the floors of the old Greenwood Middle School gymnasium. Newly lined for four pickleball courts, one volleyball court, one full-court and two short-courts for basketball, and with seating for over 300 spectators, the options for this playing surface are limitless. Rentals are available for the full-court, half-court or practice courts.
Discover the hidden gems
Schrader and Taggart agree the facility’s hidden gems are golf simulators, which are increasing usage and available daily for rental by the hour.
Have you ever wanted to play a round of golf, only to look outside and see that Mother Nature has other plans? Choose from one of dozens of available courses and play a round in one of three state-of-the-art golf simulators year-round, no matter the weather. Or you can choose one of the simulated driving ranges and break down swing statistics. All data can be saved in the about Golf app to follow your progress over time.
Looking for a fun, rainy-day activity for the kids? Let them try out Skee-Ball or miniature golf on one of the screens.
Versatile space
With its spacious layout and modern amenities, the Greenwood Fieldhouse is a gathering place in the larger community area for sports enthusiasts, athletes and those who just want to be a little healthier. Parents also like to take advantage of tot-time on the facility’s safe, indoor turf.
Nathaniel Boone of Greenwood enjoys bringing his 2-year-old son to the indoor turf for Toddler Time on Wednesdays and said, “It’s a convenient, all-weather environment where he can play and interact with other kids his age.”
The fieldhouse also hosts a range of community and business events, from local youth leagues, regional tournaments, competitions and summer camps to Greenwood’s State of the City address and United Way’s Day of Giving celebration. Rentals for the entire building are available.
“We’ve found as children age out of the Kid City space at the community center, parents are looking for a new location to host their tween’s or teen’s birthday parties,” explained Jennifer Winget, Greenwood Parks and Recreation assistant director. “The fieldhouse has the perfect combination of space with the sports
facilities the kids love at prices the parents appreciate.”
Accessible options
The fieldhouse is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Membership at the fieldhouse offers unlimited access all year to open turf times, open gym times, walking track, a discount on golf simulator and batting cage rentals. Pair it with a community center membership and save even more. Break the payments up over 12 months, or pay in full, upfront, for the biggest savings.
“Living in Greenwood, it’s close to my home, and it’s such a great venue to come, stretch and workout,” said John Tex, who enjoys using the indoor walking track.
To take advantage of the fieldhouse, several options exist like becoming a member, purchasing a day pass or coming multiple times at a discounted price with a punch pass. Annual membership prices range from $125 for residents and $300 for nonresidents for ages 18-64. Monthly membership ranges from $15/month for residents to $36/month for nonresidents for ages 18-64.
Looking to try out the space before you become a member? Only in town for a few days? Day passes are available to gain access to open turf times, open gym times, and the walking track. Adults, ages 18-64 can expect to pay $6 as a resident or $7 as a nonresident.
Discounted pricing is also available for youth, seniors and military members. Memberships and day passes are available for purchase at the Greenwood Fieldhouse. Please bring proof of residency and/or military or veteran status to receive discounted pricing. Children younger than 3 have free admission.
Learn more by calling 317-883-8066, visiting them online at www.greenwood.in.gov, or by downloading the Greenwood Parks and Rec app on your smartphone.
