Recreation
The St. Charles Park District has been rated one of the Best in the Nation, serving a population of 20,000-50,000 residents
The St. Charles Park District is an award recipient of the prestigious National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. This award identified the St. Charles Park District as one of the Best in the Nation, serving a population of 20,000-50,000 residents.
The Park District, established in 1911, preserves and protects numerous park sites including neighborhood parks, community parks, athletic fields, wetlands, woodlands, and high-quality natural areas. The Park District also maintains playground units at ten St. Charles school sites and the tennis courts at the Haines/Thompson Middle School Complex. In total, the Park District owns or manages nearly 1,500 acres of park land where residents can enjoy leisurely walks, running, bicycling, golfing, picnicking, boating, fishing, skating, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis, swimming, and much more!
The Park District has built an excellent reputation by offering a variety of well-established and creative programs. The widely-acclaimed preschool program gives children a great start to their schooling years.
Youth can enjoy athletics, dance, gymnastics, nature workshops, fine arts, swimming lessons, and much more. Teens participate in special programs such as Friday Live!, skateboarding classes, educational workshops and numerous seasonal trips.
Fitness classes and athletic leagues are just a few of the many programs designed for teens and adults. Ages 50+ are welcome to drop in at Pottawatomie Community Center to play bridge or bingo, watch movies on designated days, or take an adventure on one-day or overnight trips.
Bike & Pedestrian Trails
With miles and miles of trails throughout St. Charles connecting to adjacent communities, there is ample opportunity to explore the Fox Valley area. Trails include:
- Great Western Bike Trail
- Peck Road Bike Trail
- Fox River Bike Trail
- River Bend Bike Trail
- Randall Road Bike Trail
Natural Areas
St. Charles Park District residents are fortunate to own several natural areas. People of all ages can have enjoyable experiences by participating in Park District-sponsored programs, or by taking walks to explore and discover the community’s remaining natural landscapes. These rare places contribute greatly to the quality of life of Park District residents.
- Norris Woods is a dedicated 73-acre Illinois State Nature Preserve.
- Ferson Creek Fen is a dedicated Illinois State Nature Preserve located adjacent to Route 31 north of Main Street.
- Delnor Woods Park is a 23-acre park adjacent to Route 25 north of Main Street. nb
- Persimmon Woods is 30 acres in size and located adjacent to Keim Trail, which can be reached from Fox Chase Boulevard.
- West Side Community Park’s Hickory Knolls Natural Area is located on the far west side of West Side Community Park the park and south of Campton Hills Road and covers 131 acres.
- Otter Creek Bend Wetland Park, located on Crane Road between Bolcum and Silver Glen Roads, is a 69-acre restored wetland.
Parks
The Parks Department works diligently to maintain quality parks, natural areas and athletic fields. Throughout the community, numerous park sites are evaluated and updated on a continual basis. Most parks are open from dawn to dusk unless otherwise designated. Parks with lighted facilities close at 11pm when in operation. The Park District is committed to managing all of your parks to conserve and enhance their value to the community. Enjoy all of the beautiful park settings. For more information on the St. Charles Park District, please call 630-584-1055 or visit stcparks.org.