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Parks and Recreation

HOFFMAN ESTATES PARK DISTRICT

“Park recreation services were originally governed by the Village through park committees and park commissions,” stated Dean Bostrom, Executive Director for the Hoffman Estates Park District. “But in 1963 and 1964, the Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates park districts were established as separate entities to advance and provide leisure opportunities for their respective residents through the acquisition of parks and the development of recreation services and programs.”

The formation of the Hoffman Estates Park District happened on January 22, 1964, after a public meeting was held in order to consider the developments of parks and recreation services for the Village and its residents. “A steering committee was established to meet regularly on the issue, and due to the great support of the committee, homeowners association, women’s clubs and the Village residents, petitions were circulated and filed,” related Bostrom.

A referendum was put to vote and passed on May 2, 1964, leading to the creation of the Hoffman Estates Park District. Today, through comprehensive planning, strategic partnerships and public contributions, the award-winning Hoffman Estates Park District currently serves a population of approximately 53,000 individuals.

Children, teens, adults and seniors can take advantage of a long list of programs and several modern recreational facilities through the park district. People of all ages can keep their bodies active through athletics programs, sports leagues, dance, fitness and ice-skating programs, while keeping up with their hobbies through classes such as drawing, sculpting and music. The park district also hosts a wealth of year-round special events, such as the Scarecrow Festival (first annual event was held in September 2008), Free Movie Nights and Party in the Park.

The park district’s Community Center & Ice Arena (CCIA) not only houses the district’s administrative offices, but is also equipped with two NHL-sized ice surfaces, a fitness center and indoor track, dance studio, art studio, a large gymnasium, a gymnastic shelf, the Adult Activity Center for active adults aged 50+ and plenty of meeting space and conference rooms for rent. CCIA also offers a National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)-accredited preschool program, while also serving as the training center for the Chicago Wolves hockey team.

The district’s Willow Recreation Center provides similar amenities as CCIA, along with a racquet club, skate park, teen/family game room and more. The center also features the half-acre Willow Dog Park, which provides our furry friends an open space, fully enclosed by a five-foot high fence, to run around with other dogs in the community.

A state-of-the-art fitness facility, Prairie Stone Sports & Wellness Center spans more than 100,000 square feet of cutting-edge amenities. A one-ninth-mile indoor running/walking track, a 40-foot climbing wall, a 25-yard lap pool, three full-size courts utilized for basketball and volleyball, three United States Tennis Association (USTA) tennis courts, more than 150 pieces of cardio and fitness equipment and the Kids Korner nursery compose this modern facility. Personal training, various exercise classes and athletic leagues round out the offerings.

The Hoffman Estates Park District also operates the ever-popular Seascape Family Aquatic Center. Situated upon 11.5 acres along Moon Lake Boulevard, Seascape’s award-winning facility is comprised of a zero-depth entry pool, a 25-yard lap pool, water slides, a diving area, a wet sand play area and a water playground for children.

Adding to all of this are 63 exceptional park sites that spot the landscape of Hoffman Estates. Playground equipment, baseball/softball fields, basketball courts, outdoor tennis courts, soccer and football fields, walking/jogging/biking paths, picnic areas, swimming pools and open spaces are just some of the features that make up the Park District’s well-maintained parks.

The new, nearly 11-acre Vogelei Park is notable, offering a butterfly garden and water bog garden, as well as a safety town course for children. “Vogelei CARES (Collection of Active Resources for Education & Stewardship), our latest project, is a new concept providing hands-on, interactive learning experiences for all ages in a predominantly outdoor setting,” said Bostrom. “The programs and events, play areas and even the landscaping have been designed to provide visitors with both passive and active opportunities to foster awareness in our environment and heritage.”

Plans for the park district’s newest park, the 28.67-acre Black Bear Park, are underway. “Supported in part by a $325,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant, the park, located within a natural, diverse area with open water and natural wetlands, will offer recreational opportunities while maintaining the natural features through ecological stewardship and preservation,” explained Bostrom.

Since its establishment, the Hoffman Estates Park District has grown by leaps and bounds. “The park district has increased the amount of walking paths by more than 20 percent, adding four additional miles of new paths,” said Bostrom, adding, “We have also seen a 30 percent increase in fitness memberships in the last five years and, in 2003, we had 649 acres of land in our care—a number that is currently up to 1,059.66 acres.”

On account of these superior offerings, the Hoffman Estates Park District earned recognition as one of the top four parks and recreation agencies in the nation among cities with a population of 50,000-100,000 by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) in 2008.

TEEING OFF IN HOFFMAN ESTATES

The Hoffman Estates Park District oversees the premier Poplar Creek Country Club. The 18-hole championship course is composed of tree-lined fairways, lakes and other natural elements, providing a challenge to players of all skill levels. Complementing the picturesque course is the Learning Center where golfers are afforded the chance to hone their skills. The facility is characterized by 55 lighted stations (featuring both grass and synthetic turf options), four target greens, a short-game green, a sand bunker and a putting green. PGA professionals are readily available to offer their expertise in private, group or videotaped golf lessons, and a contemporary clubhouse houses a bar and grill, as well as ample banquet space for a variety of events.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones and constructed in 1970, Hilldale Golf Club provides golf enthusiasts with a challenging 18-hole, 6,432-yard course featuring water hazards on more than a dozen holes and a few intimidating bunkers. The course is steeped with local history, as it was once a sportsman’s club and owned by famed retailer, Marshall Field. Accompanying the well-kept course is a pro shop, a practice facility with all-grass hitting stations, a short game area with bunkers and chipping and putting greens, a newly renovated clubhouse home to C.K. Mulligan Bar & Grill and banquet space, and an outdoor grill on the 10th tee.

Maintained by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, Highland Woods Golf Course completes the golf offerings of Hoffman Estates. This 18-hole championship course is complete with rolling hills, tree-lined fairways, water hazards on six holes and a total of 52 sand traps. In addition, the course is equipped with a lighting driving range with 48 hitting stalls and a PGA professional on the staff ready to offer some golfing expertise.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Today, more than 33 percent of the land area in Hoffman Estates is dedicated to forest preserve land—with a total acreage of 4,080. This area is overseen by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, which has established two major forest preserves located within the community. Trail systems wind through these wooded areas, providing fantastic opportunities for walking, jogging, biking, in-line skating and horseback riding. There are also options for birding, picnicking and fishing.

The Village, in conjunction with the Northwest Municipal Conference and the Village of Schaumburg, is currently devising a plan to institute an integrated pathing system that will welcome walkers, joggers and bikers. This is a multi-year project, so keep posted!