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Recreation in Mattoon

Mattoon’s location in Illinois makes it a perfect place for recreational opportunities. Several parks, two extensive lakes, apple orchards, golf courses—you name it, Mattoon and its neighboring communities have it.

The Mattoon Area Family YMCA offers members an up-to-date facility, adult and youth sports and an array of classes, programs and special events. The YMCA facility includes: a fitness center with a recently updated cardiovascular area; a multi-purpose room allowing for various classes such as aerobics, dance and more; a gym equipped with six basketball hoops, the availability of two volleyball and tennis courts and a one-mile track for walking or jogging; and a six-lane, 25-yard pool—with expansion forthcoming.

Created in order to regenerate and maintain the state’s significant native habitats, the more than 65-acre site of the Douglas-Hart Nature Center is equipped with more than two miles of winding trails and observation stations. Situated on the eastern side of Mattoon, the facility’s Visitor’s Center is open throughout the year and features educational exhibits, displays, programs and guided educational walks.

Residents have access to both Lake Mattoon and Lake Paradise. Lake Mattoon, situated in the southwest corner of Coles County and stretching into both Shelby and Cumberland Counties, has a surface area of 1,065 acres and is fed by the Little Wabash River. Not only does the lake supply water to the city, it is also a site for boating, fishing, camping and relaxation along the public Lake Mattoon Beach. The vast Lake Shelbyville, a Corps of Engineers lake located 32 miles west of Mattoon, is a popular spot for recreation—approximately 1,500 campsites are available around the 11,000-acre lake, boating access from several ramps span the lake’s borders, hiking trails, fishing spots and much more.

Along with several park areas—Lawson, which boasts four new tennis courts, Lytle, home to one of the largest public pools in the state, and Peterson—affording a host of recreational opportunities, the Mattoon area has access to pumpkin patches, apple orchards and strawberry patches.

Baseball continues to be a strong pastime in Mattoon, the “Baseball Capital of the United States,” with more than 10 percent of residents currently participating in over 160 organized baseball, softball and teeball teams. The community is fortunate to have top-rate athletic fields and facilities at Lawson Park and Peterson Park, as well as the Roundhouse Complex, as host to a number of games and tournaments during the season.

Three well-manicured golf courses are also available in Mattoon, offering courses for both the beginner and the expert. The Mattoon Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole, private golf course stretching over 6,690 yards from the longest tee for a par of 72. The facility also offers a 15-tee driving range. Meadowview Golf Course, home to the Mattoon high school golf team, is also an 18-hole, public course spanning over 6,900 yards from the longest tee. Golfers can find a challenge here with several water hazards, narrow fairways and large greens. And Rogala Public Links, located just west of Mattoon along Route 16, is a public, nine-hole course measuring 6,138 yards from the men’s tees. Rogala, a top spot for beginners, can be played as an 18-hole course as well, offering a par of 72. Additionally, two driving ranges are situated in the area. Recreation is plentiful in and around Mattoon and is sure to please every interest.