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Playtime in Plainfield

Established in 1966, the purpose of the Plainfield Park District is to provide quality park sites and facilities, as well as recreation programs and services to meet the needs of all district residents. More than 15,350 people participated in 1,110 programs in FY 2005-06, and classes and events are continuously being added and expanded to meet the growing needs of the community.

The Park District encompasses all of Plainfield Township and portions of Wheatland Township in Will County and Na-Au-Say Township in Kendall County, including areas of Bolingbrook, Crest Hill, Joliet, Plainfield and Romeoville, as well as some unincorporated areas. The Park District covers more than 40 square miles and serves a population of more than 100,000 people, making it the 9th largest park district in the state of Illinois based on population served.

The Park District maintains 78 parks consisting of more than 1,400 acres. Community parks include:
• Eaton Preserve, on 135th Street just east of Route 59. The 76-acre area hosts a playground, two picnic shelters, a sand volleyball court, beautiful natural areas and a canoe launch.
• Four Seasons Park, on Lockport Street just west of I-55. The 134-acre park contains five lighted baseball fields, seven unlighted baseball fields and three football/soccer fields.
• Mather Woods, on Renwick Road just west of the DuPage River. The 67-acre natural area contains woods and restored prairie, and a 1.25-mile wood chip walking trail winds through the site with interpretive signs describing the foliage located along the path. The site also houses two picnic shelters with barbeque grills and an interpretive pavilion with restrooms and signage displaying maps of the park and descriptions of the natural areas.
• Northwest Community Park, on 127th Street just west of Route 30. The 30-acre park contains a playground, picnic shelter, tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball fields, football/soccer fields and a skate bowl.
• Renwick Community Park, on Renwick Road just west of Route 59. The 48-acre park houses a skate park, playground, picnic shelter, basketball courts, three unlighted baseball fields and three football/soccer fields.
• Van Horn Woods, on Lily Cache Road just north of Caton Farm Road. The 82-acre area features playgrounds, three picnic shelters, walking trails, two unlighted baseball fields, six football/soccer fields and a dog park.

The Park District also operates the following facilities:
• Recreation/Administration Center, 23729 W. Ottawa Street (formerly 100 W. Ottawa Street). Opened in 1988, the center houses the Park District’s administrative offices and hosts the Park District’s Board of Commissioners meetings.
• Normantown Trails Equestrian Center, located on Normantown Road, just north of Route 30. Opened in the summer of 2005, the six-acre center offers group instruction, private and semi-private lessons for riders of all ages and levels, as well as beginning and intermediate riding camps. The center has several school horses and lesson ponies to accommodate beginners as well as more advanced riders. The center offers pony rides for children by appointment and children’s birthday party packages subject to schedule availability. Boarding for horses is also available.
• Ottawa Street Pool, 23820 W. Ottawa Street (formerly 111 W. Ottawa Street). The outdoor facility, open June through August, is located across from the Recreation/Administration Center near downtown Plainfield. The 200,000-gallon L-shaped pool is equipped with high and low diving boards. The facility also contains a 3,000-gallon wading pool, ship-shaped children’s play area and men’s and women’s locker rooms. The Park District offers group and private swim lessons, as well as other classes and special events at the pool. It is also available for party and rental packages.
• River Edge Recreation Center, located along the DuPage River just west of I-55 and south of Caton Farm Road. The center sits on 17.4 acres of wooded landscape and houses many of the Park District’s teen and senior programs. The location includes an outdoor picnic shelter with grill, as well as indoor facilities such as a kitchen and game room. The building is also available for party and meeting rentals.
• Streams Recreation Center, located in the Streams subdivision just south of the intersection of Route 59 and Fraser Road. Opened in the fall of 2005, the 3,000-square-foot facility features a dance room, two multi-purpose rooms and a room designated for fitness classes, as well as an outdoor playground area.
• The Park District also provides its Great Adventures program for pre-schoolers in leased space at St. John Lutheran Church in Joliet.

For more information on any Plainfield Park District park, facility, program or event, call (815) 436-8812 or visit www.plainfield parkdistrict.com.

C.W. Avery Family YMCA, 15120 Wallin Drive, at the southwest corner of Route 126 and Route 30. The YMCA is one stop fun for kids of all ages. The branch has an indoor pool, gymnasium, family locker rooms, saunas, child play area, teen room, wellness center and indoor family aquatic center (coming Fall 2008). Adults will enjoy fitness classes, playing full-court basketball and swimming laps in the pool. Children can enjoy playing in the pool and gym with friends. Younger children can hang out with staff while mom and dad workout. A large variety of programs are offered for all ages, including swimming, karate, sports, camps, before and after school, and family fun nights. The YMCA is a great place to host your child’s next birthday party or hold your company or group’s next outing. See www.jolietymca.org or call 815-267-8600 for more information. Financial assistance is available to those in need.

The Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve is one of the largest protected heron nesting sites in Illinois. Co-owned by the Forest Preserve District of Will County and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the site provides protected nesting sites for egrets and herons. The Forest Preserve District’s Renwick Road entrance to Lake Renwick Heron Rookery Nature Preserve allows public viewing on Wednesdays and Saturdays between May and August, after the birds have established their nesting sites. www.sparklink.com/rookery/

History and train buffs alike will enjoy the newly restored Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Depot. Rotted boards in the floors, eaves and roof, asbestos shingles and peeling paint gave Historical Society volunteers plenty to do to restore the EJ&E Railroad facility to its original condition. The Depot, in use until the early 1970s, is available for tours by appointment during weather-permitting seasons and will also be open during events in town.

The Links at Carillon is a beautiful, privately owned and operated, semi-private daily fee golf course that features a championship 18-hole layout and a regulation 9-hole course. The highly-rated facility also has a “Links Learning Center,” pro shop, restaurant and banquet facilities for up to 300 guests. www.carillongolf.com

Especially for Seniors
The Plainfield Park District provides many programs for seniors, including fitness and yoga classes, rules of the road courses and senior safety presentations, blood pressure screenings, pot luck lunches, game days, bridge lessons and games, and trips. Plainfield Township offers senior citizens many services, including a medical loan closet (815-436-8308) and senior shuttle (815-436-1112). In addition, a senior expo held each spring provides information and activities to benefit seniors and their families, and a free holiday lunch and summer picnic are hosted each year for township resident seniors. For more information on senior programs and services, call the River Edge Recreation Center at (815) 439-7943.