Directions to Hammond Optimist Sports Complex

DIRECTIONS TO HAMMOND OPTIMIST SPORTS COMPLEX

Hammond Optimist Sports Complex is located just off of Interstate 80/94, a mile-and-a-half east of the Illinois state line, and immediately north of the Little Calumet River, which divides Hammond and Munster.

Here are specific directions from the Interstate:

From I-65 or from the Indiana Toll Road, merge onto I-80/94 West when reaching the Gary area.

Travel west on I-80/94 to Exit 1 (Calumet Avenue), which is the last set of exits before reaching the Illinois state line.

Go south on Calumet Avenue (the second exit ramp), but immediately merge into the left-hand lane.

At the very first light, immediately after merging onto Calumet Avenue, turn left onto River Drive.

Head straight east on River Drive about 0.8 miles, and you ultimately will see to your right the Babe Ruth ballfields in RiversidePark.

When you come to a “T” in the road, turn right onto a short S-curve road by the Babe Ruth ballfields that will lead to a stoplight at Columbia Avenue.

Cross Columbia Avenue at the stoplight, proceeding east on River Drive, and you will see the Hammond Optimist complex on the left (north) side of the street. Continue past the first two fields you see before pulling into the parking lot on the east side of the complex. There is ample parking in a paved, lighted lot.

REMINDER: The stretch of Interstate 80/94 heading into Chicago can back up quickly with traffic, causing delays. There is currently construction on I-80/94 near its intersection with I-65. When reaching LakeCounty, listen to WBBM, 780-AM out of Chicago for traffic reports every 10 minutes. If necessary, you can exit at Cline Avenue (exit/milepost 5), go south a few stoplights to Ridge Road, go west on Ridge Road through Highland and into Munster, turn north at the stoplight at Columbia Avenue, travel two stoplights to River Drive, turn right onto River Drive, then left into the parking lot at the Hammond Optimist complex.

For map directions to Hammond Optimist Baseball Complex:

Note to above link:The maperroneously showsthe locationbeing just south ofthe Little Calumet River on River Drivein Munster.The baseball complex is actually on north side ofthe river, on River Drive in Hammond. Click on "Aerial Map" in the upper right-hand corner of the mapquest map to view ballfields' exact location.