By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — Forest Hills Diamonds, a destination for competitive softball for decades, announced its closure on Thursday after years of financial losses.
The four-diamond complex next to Forest Hills Lanes at 7742 Forest Hills Road announced its closure, effective immediately, on its website and social media. It had operated for roughly 50 years.
“We kept the facility open as long as possible because we wanted to continue supporting the northern Illinois softball community, even while operating at a deficit. Unfortunately, the mounting losses no longer make it feasible to continue,” the announcement reads. “Forest Hills Diamonds has been more than just a facility – it has been a special place where many lifelong friendships were formed and countless memories were created.”
The complex opened its gates to softball enthusiasts in 1976, according to the United States Specialty Sports Association. It hosted high school and college teams, national tournaments, and competitive slowpitch softball leagues including the long-running Rockford Industrial Athletic Association games. It also hosed the National Junior College World Series and the USSSA men’s and women’s 16-inch World Tournaments in 1982 and 1983 before it added a fourth diamond in 1991, according to the USSSA.
The complex was inducted into the Illinois USSSA Hall of Fame in 2010.
“It is likely that anyone that played competitive softball during the 1970s and 90s, they played at Forest Hills, as the diamonds have been mentioned very often in many Hall of Fame speeches at the state and national levels,” USSSA Hall of Fame says on its website. “Forest Hills has left a lasting impression of quality and enjoyment for thousands over the years, as it has crowned hundreds of champions locally, statewide and nationally, while leaving a lasting memory for everyone that had the opportunity to play at the ivy laced diamonds.”
The closure was forced by steadily rising operating costs and several consecutive years of operating at a loss, according to the owners’ announcement.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to the softball players who called Forest Hills Diamonds home, the umpires, the league directors, the ground’s crews, the concession workers, the many tournament directors and to everyone who supported Forest Hills Diamonds over the years,” the announcement reads.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at [email protected] or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas
