ELMHURST PARK DISTRICT
Richard Grodsky, Executive Director
Administrative Office (Wilder Park), 225 Prospect Avenue
630-993-8900 • fax - 630-993-8913
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Registration Office (Abbey Leisure Center)
407 West St. Charles Rd.
630-993-8989
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Registration Office (Wagner Community Center)
615 North West Ave.
630-993-8901
Hours: Weekdays, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon
www.epd.org
The Elmhurst Park District has 29 parks covering 439 acres, two community pools, a sprayground, a golf course, a sports and fitness center, The Hub with batting cages and miniature golf course, the 37-mile Prairie Path and the Great Western Prairie (a “living museum” of indigenous plants and animals).
In the center of town is Wilder Park - voted Best Suburban Park by Chicago magazine. Wilder Park encompasses the city’s impressive library, formal gardens and conservatory, a Veterans’ Memorial and several museums.
For more than 85 years, the Park District’s mission has been to provide our constituents with opportunities for lifetime enjoyment.
The Park District offers programs and services which provide benefits including fun and play, skill development, health and fitness, and community benefits such as protecting and improving the natural environment, beautification, fostering community pride, and building strong families. (top)
Our Parks and Facilities
The Abbey Leisure Center (407 West St. Charles Road) – The Center offers a variety of exciting leisure activities, social service programs, informational seminars, classes, day and overnight trips, and many more activities. Join The Abbey and take advantage of member benefits.
Playgrounds – The neighborhood playgrounds in Elmhurst have unique qualities to offer that exercise imagination.
Courts Plus, A Center for Health, Sports & Fitness (186 South West Avenue) – Courts Plus features a two-floor facility offering a full array of workout options and excellent court areas to encourage safe and fun exercise. Courts Plus offers a 75-foot, five lane, indoor lap and exercise pool, a four-lane, indoor jogging/walking track, a free-weight training area, advanced exercise equipment, climbing wall and much more. Call 630-833-5064 for membership information.
Norman P. Smalley Pool ( 665 South York Street) and East End Pool ( 863 Schiller Street) – The Park District has two pools for summer enjoyment, Norman P. Smalley and East End. Both pools offer state-of-the-art pool technology. Call 630-993-8989 for registration information.
Sugar Creek Golf Course (500 East Van Buren, Villa Park) – A beautiful 9-hole, par-32 golf course owned and operated by the Elmhurst Park District and Village of Villa Park, Sugar Creek’s course features large, smoothly contoured Penncross bentgrass greens, a 3-acre pond coming into play on four of the nine holes, excellent turf for golf, driving range and expanded clubhouse. Reservations are available all day, every day, from 6 a.m. to closing. Call 630-834-3325 for reservations and fee information.
Wilder Park Conservatory – The Park District Conservatory offers adult education classes, children’s programs and horticulture information. The Conservatory is open 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. daily and is filled with a variety of floral displays. A horticulturist is available to answer questions about plants, conduct tours and give lectures to community organizations. Call the horticulturist at 630-993-8909 for an appointment.
York Commons Skate Park ( 665 South York Street) – The skate park has provided thousands of teens with a place to safely skate with their friends. The skate park has seven different ramps that vary in level and skill for the wide range of skaters.
Safety Town – Learn about safety from bicycles to streets and from trains to first-aid. Children must be 4 years old to participate in the program.
Wagner Community Center (615 North West Avenue) – The 25,000 square foot Community Center houses two dance rooms, 13 classrooms for preschool, music and general interest classes, program registration and recreation staff offices. A 7,000 square foot gymnasium was completed in the winter of 2004 for the District’s gymnastics program.
Elmhurst Great Western Prairie – One of the few prairie remnants, the Elmhurst Great Western Prairie is located within Wild Meadows Trace just north of the Prairie Path between Spring Road and Salt Creek. Come out and contribute to the community as a prairie volunteer or just enjoy a walk through the prairie. An informational display case is located near Berkley Avenue and Prairie Path Lane.
Environmental Areas – Trails are available on the Salt Creek Greenway, which runs from Ben Allison to Eldridge Park, and the Shooting Star Trail, which runs along the north side of the Great Western Prairie.
The Hub at Berens Park – The Hub at Berens Park has an 18-hole miniature golf course with water feature, a 6,000 square foot sprayground with nine exciting water features and two big squirt filling stations, batting cages with baseball and softball settings, and the Lee A. Daniels Pavilion, which is a 35,000 square foot facility available for party rentals. Call the party coordinator at 630-993-8186 for more details.
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FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT OF DUPAGE COUNTY
D. "Dewey" Pierotti, President, Board of Commissioners
3S580 Naperville Road
Wheaton, IL 60187-8761
933-7200
www.dupageforest.com
Founded in 1915 for the purpose of conservation, education and recreation, the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is comprised of more than 24,000 acres and 59 forest preserves.
More than 100 miles of trails extend the beauty of nature to hikers, bikers and cross-country skiers. Picnicking, boating and camping are enjoyed seasonally while fishing, dog exercise and wildlife watching are available year round. Permits allow model enthusiasts to enjoy aircraft fields and a boating area. Many trails and facilities are accessible to visitors with special needs.
The district also operates three golf course–Oak Meadows (formerly Elmhurst Country Club) in Addison, Maple Meadows in Wood Dale and Green Meadows in Westmont–and two banquet facilities.
Willowbrook Wildlife Center (Glen Ellyn), Fullersburg Woods Environmental Education Center and Mayslake Peabody Estate (both Oak Brook), Kline Creek Farm (Winfield), Danada Equestrian Center (Wheaton) and Tri-County State Park (Bartlett) are the district’s six educational facilities.
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PEOPLE FOR ELMHURST PARKS
Pete Goworowski, Board Chair
P.O. Box 1303
Elmhurst, IL 60126
www.epd.org/pep
People for Elmhurst Parks (P.E.P.) is an independent group of concerned individuals working in partnership with the Elmhurst Park District to provide opportunties for lifetime enjoyment of present and future generation.
A not-for-profit organization, P.E.P. raises funds for many park and recreation projects, including Wilder Mansion, Recreational Assistance, Wagner Scolarship, Safety Town, Lightening Prediction System, Prairie Path lamppost lighting, land acquisition, athletic equipment, and other park and pool amenities.
These projects are financed by P.E.P. through various special events – including the Sugar Creek Open, a May golf outing co-sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst – and through the generous support of Elmhurst residents.
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ELMHURST YMCA
Maureen McCarthy, Executive Director
211 West First Street
834-9200 • fax - 834-9221
www.elmhurstymca.org
Hours: Weekdays, 4:45 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday, 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
The Elmhurst YMCA, founded in 1952, has served the community and our children for more than 50 years. The YMCA has a heated swimming pool for water fitness and swim lessons, and a full-size gymnasium for basketball, volleyball and fitness classes. Unique is the outdoor ice rink with hockey leagues and ice skating lessons for all ages.
The YMCA also provides programs and activities for preschool, youth, teens and seniors. The Health Enhancement Center boasts free weights, cardiovascular equipment, personal training, spinning classes, Life Fitness and fitness classes.
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THE MORTON ARBORETUM
Gerard Donnelly, Director
4100 Illinois Route 53, Lisle, IL 60532
968-0074 • fax - 719-2433
www.mortonarb.org
Hours: Daily 7 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Daylight Savings, 7 a.m.- 5 p.m., CST
Admission: Members and Children 2-Under, Free
Adults (13-65), $5.00
Seniors (Over 65), $4.00
Children (3-12), $2.00
The Morton Arboretum offers an exceptional look at more than 3,400 kinds of trees, shrubs and other plants in woodlands, wetlands, gardens and a restored native prairie. Visitors access the 1,700-acre outdoor museum by hiking 14 miles of trails or driving nine miles of scenic roads. Visitor programs, seasonal celebrations and education opportunities advance the future of biodiversity. Open-air tram rides, guided walks and trailside information signs held visitors learn.
Special events include a Fall Color Festival, Arbor Day Celebration and Yuletide Celebration.
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