Parks

Gurnee Park District is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael “Mike” Szpylman as its new executive director, effective May 1.

Whether it’s the anticipation of baseball season, your child’s countdown until spring break or summer, the planting of your garden, or getting back on the golf course, there is so much to look forward to. 

Bring your child to the Joliet Public Library for a day of fun activities on Saturday.

Registration for activities featured in the for the Glen Ellyn Park District’s 2025 Spring Playbook and Summer Camp Guide begin Feb. 1 for residents and Feb. 8 for non-residents.

Foundation to hold Jan. 29 public investment meeting for planned riverfront park.

Among the project highlights will be a new playground chock-full of features, plus amenities that add shade at various sites in the park.

At Westwood, The Lab provides various features that are universal to all sports, yet designed specifically for the biomechanical and physiological demands of each individual’s sport.

Crystal Lake's Lippold Skate Park could possibly move to Woodscreek Park as part of the renovation construction expected to start in August. The park district is seeking input.

The Dixon Park District’s Page Park ice rink is open for business. The rink opened at noon Saturday, Jan. 11, closed for a short time after, but reopened Monday.

Gurnee residents are invited to Community Input Meetings at 6 p.m. Jan. 15 and 16 to help shape the future of Viking Park, 4374 Old Grand Ave.

Hikers will meet at 1:30 p.m. at Bridge 37 at the Geneseo Campground, 22978 Illinois Highway 82, where they will be shuttled to Bridge 34 to begin.

The Sterling City Council swore in two new police officers and two new firefighters during a City Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.

The Lombard Park District has formally acquired the cleared site of the former Helen Plum library along Lilacia’s south side.

The dusting of snow, coupled with 20-degree temperatures and a stiff wind on Friday, provided enough of a base for sleds and one snow board to slide down the hill.

Last week’s smattering of snow wasn’t much to make a fuss about for northern Illinois residents, but for a Florida family visiting Morrison it was all that and more when they visited the sledding hill at Morrison's Winter Park on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.

The Sterling City Council has hired Matt Hughes from the lobbying firm MRH Solutions to assist in securing a designation that, if approved, could provide millions of dollars in additional funding for city development.

2024 has been a big year for Sterling, with several projects and plans that will shape the city’s future underway.

The money comes from the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant from the state of Illinois. The splash pad project will be located on the AFC school grounds in Ashton, along Highway 38.

The primary objective is to provide unique recreational amenities for the southwest region of the Plainfield Park District.

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources wants outdoor enthusiasts to start the year off on the right foot with a First Day Hike at an Illinois state park on Wednesday, Jan. 1.

Sterling’s Park District is set to receive $600,000, while Morrison will get $81,500.

Pam Otto: "After 25 years of living the dream as a naturalist, I’m stepping away from full-time employment to chase after a few other dreams and goals I’ve set for this next chapter."

$100,000 grant award announcement Monday night coincides with council’s acceptance of newly completed strategic plan.

The park district so far has completed about 1.55 miles of its planned 2.75-mile multi-use trail that will connect Hoover Park to Sauk Valley Community College.

A lighted holiday display will open Friday, Nov. 29, at Centennial Park in Rock Falls.

Sterling’s Riverfront Commission met Wednesday to discuss updates for Sterling’s $300 million multi-phase Riverfront Reimagined project.

The new park at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill site is phase one of Sterling’s $300 million Riverfront Reimagined Project.

Friends of Illinois Nature Preserves host volunteers to help restore sunlight to the woodland floor for Oak trees to reproduce by clearing invasive Maple trees and brush in Pilcher Park in Joliet on Sunday, Nov. 10.

Park District of La Grange officials are expected to discuss specific plans for various parks now that voters have approved a property tax hike referendum

The village of Algonquin is looking to residents to help create a renovation plan for Willoughby Farms Park at an open house Saturday.

Mt. Morris officials hope to have Zickuhr Park renovations started — and completed — next year. In January, the village of Mt. Morris received a $152,600 OSLAD grant to redevelop Zickuhr Park; the total cost of the project is $305,200.

Northern Illinois University’s Media Relations Department confirmed Sept. 23 that the 141-acre facility will permanently close Dec. 15.

What is now empty green space off Bloody Gulch Road, between the city’s Gateway development along South Galena Avenue near Interstate 88 and a neighborhood known as Overlook Gardens, will soon be a gathering space complete with a multi-use path, fishing piers and picnic areas.

Joliet and state officials on Wednesday celebrated park improvements funded through state grants made available along Route 66 ahead of the historic highway’s 100th anniversary year in 2026.

It might be an uphill swim, but Dixon Park District’s executive director believes the time is right to build an aquatics center.

Mayor Diana Merdian and Riverfront Reimagined commissioners met Wednesday, Oct. 16, to discuss the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Act, which is legislation encouraging economic growth through redevelopment and revitalization projects found typically in areas along waterfronts.

The Joliet City Council will vote Tuesday on plans to move ahead with a city park on North Center street originally conceived as a potential deterrent to an apartment housing sex offenders.

The city held a rededication of Joliet’s Gardens and Arbors on 129th Infantry Drive Tuesday, thanks to a $25,000 grant from Canadian National.

Rock River Valley Bike Club, with permission from the Dixon Park District, has been expanding and maintaining bike trail systems throughout the city’s parks. The park district allows the bike club to use their land to create and map bike trail systems. RRVBC then maintains them.

After years of planning and preparation, Sterling broke ground Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, on a riverfront park plan at the site of the former Northwestern Steel and Wire.

The first phase of a $7 million revamping of the Inwood Ice Arena in Joliet is completed. These are the first major improvements to the facility that was built in 1993.

The new park at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill site is Phase One of Sterling’s $300 million Riverfront Reimagined Project.

NIU: The aging infrastructure, including a wastewater treatment facility that has exceeded its functional lifespan, would require millions of dollars of investment to bring it to modern standards.

The Sterling Park District is hosting its 32nd annual Pumpkin Dash from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5; Haunted Train Walk on the Dillon Home grounds is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct 19.

There are big plans for La Grange parks if voters approve referendum on Nov. 5

The city of Joliet acquired land two years ago to create a park that could force sex offenders in nearby apartments to move.

Crews took down playground equipment Wednesday at 28th Street Park in Peru and are adding lighting to Sunset Park. 28th Street Park is getting a new playground in October.

The new park along the Rock River at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill site is Phase One of Sterling’s $300 million Riverfront Reimagined Project.

Nearly every parking spot was full along Dixon's Custer Avenue on Tuesday as community members gathered at Vaile Park to celebrate the grand opening of the Larry and Louise Reed basketball courts.

The newly refurbished park, originally called 10th Avenue Park or School Park, has been under construction for the past few months.