Naperville Dad Seeks Approval for Son's Lacrosse Practice Spot

Vacant auto shop would become private lacrosse gym and personal training studio.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:54pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting the geometric shapes and movements of a lacrosse game, rendered in a palette of navy, green, and orange, conceptually representing the repurposing of a vacant commercial space into a private sports facility.A vacant auto shop in Naperville will soon become a private lacrosse gym, providing a safe space for a local father and son to practice their sport.Naperville Today

A Naperville resident named Bret Bonnet has purchased a vacant auto shop on Washington Street and is seeking city approval to convert it into a private lacrosse gym and personal training studio for his 9-year-old son. Bonnet says the space will allow his son to practice lacrosse without damaging his neighbor's property, and he plans to rent out part of the building to a personal trainer to help offset costs.

Why it matters

The project highlights the challenges parents face finding safe and accessible spaces for their children to play sports, especially in urban areas with limited open space. It also showcases how repurposing vacant commercial properties can breathe new life into a neighborhood.

The details

Bonnet purchased the 0.2-acre property north of Naperville's downtown and plans to use it for his son to practice lacrosse. He says the backyard of his home, where they previously practiced, has caused $10,000 to $15,000 in damage to his neighbor's property in the last six months. To accommodate the lacrosse gym, Bonnet is seeking two parking variances from the city - one to allow 9 spaces instead of the typical 26, and another to allow the parking to be closer to the building than code requires.

  • Bonnet purchased the vacant auto shop building in April 2026.
  • Bonnet presented his plans to the Naperville Planning and Zoning Commissioners this week.

The players

Bret Bonnet

A Naperville resident who purchased the vacant auto shop building and plans to convert it into a private lacrosse gym and personal training studio for his 9-year-old son.

Naperville Planning and Zoning Commissioners

The city commission that unanimously endorsed Bonnet's parking variance requests, which will now go to the Naperville City Council for review and potential approval.

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What they’re saying

“I did the math, and he's got maybe 13 more years with me and it's going to cost a lot more in damage to my new neighbor's property.”

— Bret Bonnet, Naperville Resident

“The biggest improvement for Naperville is that it doesn't look like this anymore.”

— Bret Bonnet, Naperville Resident

“It's been an eyesore forever, so I'm very, very excited to see this building get put to use.”

— Mark Wright, Naperville Planning and Zoning Commissioner

What’s next

The Naperville City Council will review and potentially approve Bonnet's parking variance requests at an upcoming meeting.

The takeaway

This project demonstrates how repurposing vacant commercial spaces can provide much-needed recreational opportunities for families in urban areas, while also improving the look and feel of a neighborhood.