Now, you can get all the USA Cricket updates via Facebook.   Also follow us on Twitter via @dreamcricket

Still new to Naperville (Ilinois) the English sport of cricket has attracted dedicated players who enjoy devoting weekend hours to the game from May through September.   In fact, Naperville was among the first to recognize the groundswell of interest in cricket and the city's Park district actually runs an immensely popular league for cricketers.

Pic (Right): Wolves win 2010 Naperville Cricket Cup.

“The Naperville Park District is the only park district that operates a cricket league,” said Program Manager Gary Foiles. “We have seen tremendous interest in the sport and are looking forward to the opening of the District’s second cricket pitch at Nike Sports Complex in late 2011.”

Naperville, which was ranked the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006, is home to numerous corporate headquarters including Tellabs and BP Amoco Labs.  Over the years, the city has attracted a healthy share of immigrants.   The city has a median family income well over the national average and its residents include a sizable population of immigrants from cricket playing countries.  

The 20-acre expansion of the existing Nike Sports Complex, which once was one of 18 U.S. Army Nike air defense system sites in the Chicago area, will result in 20 more acres for community sports play and recreation - nearly doubling the current facility's 25 acres.  

Speaking about the expansion, Sarti Krishnan, Manager of the Wolves cricket team that plays in the Naperville league said, "People are going to come to play their sport of choice but they will also sign up to play other sports because they will be exposed to them at the facility. This is a major advantage of a multi-sport facility and serves the community well. The new facility will keep up this great tradition of the park district by producing sports stars of the future."

In the 2010 season, 9 teams competed in the Park District cricket league.  Foiles anticipates that the size of the league will double when the new facility opens.  Foiles and Sarti Krishnan plan to present what they have learned about park district cricket leagues and facilities to other interested park districts at the annual conference of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association in Chicago in January, 2011.

This year the coveted Naperville Cricket Cup went to the Wolves who defeated the Titans on September 26, 2010 at the Commissioners Park.

To learn more about the Naperville Park District and it programs and facilities, please visit www.napervilleparks.org or call 630-848-5000.