The Elgin Sports Complex occupies land that was once part of the Elgin Mental Health Center, a state-operated facility whose mission evolved over the years to include treatment for mental illness, tuberculosis, and care for veterans. After World War II, the hospital grounds—including a patient-run farm—expanded to 1,139 acres, with the patient population peaking at 7,700 in the mid-1950s. From 1993 to 2008, many of the older, long-abandoned buildings were demolished due to disrepair.

In 2013, the City of Elgin purchased a portion of the property to expand the Elgin Sports Complex, originally developed in 1981. Today, the complex features ten lighted softball diamonds, ten soccer fields (four with lights), a BMX track, two sand volleyball courts, and the Highlands Golf Course. It hosts local, state, and regional tournaments, as well as youth and adult recreational programs from March through November.

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