Since 1998, Coach Rich Fornuto has signed up over 2000 young men (and girls) to our gym, making it not only the best boxing program for juniors (ages 8 and up) in the state, but in the entire mid-west region. The Scottsdale Park Boxing Team has developed several nationally ranked and US Champions that have fought all over the country in the last 10 years, with many of our boxers competing in all-e
xpenses paid trips outside of the US (England, Ireland, Poland, Puerto Rico, etc.). The Chicago Park District sponsors over 19 shows at each participating boxing park from February to December each year and has their annual tournament at Curie Park each March/April during clean-up week. Coach Rick will try to pre-match at least 2 of our boxers at each show getting them their much needed experience. At Scottsdale’s very own show (February), we use attendance as a guide and showcase 12 of our most promising and dedicated boxers in front of over 300 friends and family. Finally......Any boxer wishing to further his career and participate in boxing shows or advancing tournaments (state, regional, national) sponsored by USA Boxing, must 1st obtain a USA Boxing passbook which sells each year for $43. You can play football, baseball, & basketball etc. You don’t PLAY Boxing! It all starts here!
********** BOXING PREPARES YOU FOR LIFE!**********
Coach Rick Fornuto - Head Boxing Coach - Scottsdale Park 1998 - Present
*Illinois Junior Olympic Chairman 2001 - 2005
*USA Boxing Junior Olympic Elite Camp Asst. Coach - 2002 Northern Michigan University
*USA Olympic Team Asst. Coach - USA vs Ireland - March 2003 / USA vs Italy March 2010
*USA Olympic Team Asst. Coach - 2005 Elite Team / 2010 Great Lakes Regioanl *Coach - Colorado Springs, CO
*Chicago Golden Glove Team Coach vs England, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Mexico
**********History Of Scottsdale Playground Park**********
During World War I, Ashburn Flying Field, a pilot training facility and Chicago's first airport, was established in the sparsely-settled Ashburn community. By the late 1940s, the area's population was beginning to surge, but residents had few recreational opportunities. In 1952, builder/developer Raymond Lutgert subdivided the old air field, creating the new community of Scottsdale, named for Lutgert's son, Scott. Among the significant institutions in the quickly-growing subdivision was St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Parish, which built a temporary church at West 83rd Street and South Scottsdale Avenue before the end of 1953. Only a year-and-a-half later, St. Bede Parish had outgrown its first home, and the Bishop of Chicago sold the church property to the Chicago Park District for park development. The park district soon remodelled the temporary church for use as a recreation building, and improved the site with playground equipment, a softball diamond, and a basketball and volleyball court. In 1979, the park district demolished the original church structure to make way for a new fieldhouse, dedicated in September, 1981. More recently, the park district added a combination football/soccer field and a new soft surface playground.
