Randy and Lisa Grace

Owner

(217) 202-1081

Randy and Lisa Grace opened The Launch Pad at 111 N. Long St. in Tolono in January. The facility has two batting cages and a workout area.

"People are always looking for a facility to work out in, in bad weather," Randy Grace said. "High school gym space is hard to get, and a lot of teams have to go in at 6 a.m. in order to work out."

The Launch Pad gives athletes a place to work on their game in the off-season. It also provides a venue for travel teams in southern Champaign County that otherwise wouldn't have a place to practice.

Hours are 3:30 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, but use is by appointment only.

Instructors are also available for private lessons on hitting and throwing.

Grace said the building originally housed a Case tractor dealership and later a hardware store, but sat empty for eight years until the Graces bought it last fall. They made a number of improvements to the building, and The Launch Pad occupies about half the 9,000-square-foot space.

In coming up with a name for the facility, the Graces considered the local high school team, the Unity Rockets, and how to develop young athletes.

"We kicked around the question, 'How do you get a Rocket off the ground?'" Grace said. "We thought 'The Launch Pad' was the best."

Finding The Launch Pad shouldn't be difficult for out-of-town visitors, he said. Just take U.S. 45 to the traffic light in Tolono, and The Launch Pad is on the southwest corner.