Your Hive of Park District Info!

Celebrating 50 Years of Parks

As stewards of the land maintaining the parks, the team at the St. Charles Park District makes sure the grass is cut and playground equipment is in working order, as the echoes of children laugh and play while couples stroll past trees that mark the passing of time. This year the park district marks its

Mt. St. Mary Park Arboretum Honored

In addition to being a beautiful space where community members gather, walk and play, Mt. St. Mary Park in St. Charles is also officially an arboretum. The park enjoys Level II accreditation from ArbNet, an interactive, collaborative, international community of arboreta and tree-focused professionals. The Morton Arboretum in Lisle is the organization behind ArbNet, which

Prescribed Burns for Land Management

Even with outdoor temps hovering in single digits, there’s no staying indoors for Ryan Solomon, ecological restoration supervisor for the St. Charles Park District. Year-round Solomon and his crew tend to the park district’s 400+ acres of natural areas, including savannahs, wetlands and woodlands. And before the spring thaw and first buds push through the

IPRA Young Professional of the Year Award Recipient

Employee Receives State Recognition

Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Taylor Krawczyk of the St. Charles Park District was recently honored with the Illinois Park & Recreation Association’s (IPRA) Young Professional of the Year Award for her commitment and excellent service to parks and recreation. Ms. Krawczyk was recognized during the annual Soaring to New Height Conference, held at the Hyatt

Build strength, friendships at fitness classes

Flexibility, friendships and of course fun are the three staples when it comes to fitness classes offered at the St. Charles Park District. Several fitness classes in addition to monthly programs featuring educational topics, social opportunities and day trips are planned each season for those age 50 and older. One of the most popular fitness

Monarch Butterfly Taking a Sip at Hickory Knolls Natural Area

Insects’ Remarkable Journey Spotlighted in Monarchs & Mimosas

Monarch butterflies are graceful, seemingly fragile creatures. But these orange and black beauties are capable of an astonishing trek, traveling from eastern North America all the way to the mountains of Mexico in an annual mass migration. Their epic journey will be spotlighted during the St. Charles Park District’s upcoming program, Monarchs & Mimosas. Taking

Four Seats Up for Election for Park District Commissioners

Four (four-year term) positions will be up for election to the office of Commissioner of the St. Charles Park District Board on April 1, 2025. Potential candidates may pick up election information packets beginning August 14, 2024 at Baker Community Center, located at 101 South Second Street, St. Charles, Illinois during normal business hours: Monday

Teen Center Offers Connections

Imagine a rec room where teens can laugh, play ping pong and meet up with friends. There’s always someone to chat with, a comfy chair and it’s hard to be bored with games and activities around. In St. Charles, this is the STC Underground. St. Charles Park District supports the goal of having a place

Swing into Pottawatomie Golf Course for Senior Golf Days

A rolling course dotted with trees and complete with open fairways awaits players at Pottawatomie Golf Course. Dating back to 1939, the St. Charles Park District facility sits along the banks of the mighty Fox River and provides golfers with nine challenging holes. Those 60 and older who want to play through are invited to

Step Aboard for New Riverboat Events

It’s a joy to cruise the Fox River on a sunny summer day, taking in the sights on the water and along its banks, but soaking up the passing scenery from aboard an old-fashioned riverboat brings the experience to a whole new level. This season, the St. Charles Park District is unveiling several brand-new events

Summer Fun Hits the Right Notes

With live music, movies in the park and playground playdates there is always something fun and free to enjoy with the St. Charles Park District. Keep those extra pop-up chairs and picnic blankets in the car and mark the calendars for 7 p.m. Thursday nights at Lincoln Park for the St. Charles Park District’s Concerts

Seeking Before the Bell Staff

For a chance to work with a great team and start each day with a smile, join the before and after school care teams at the St. Charles Park District. St. Charles Community Unit School District 303 has implemented changes and the school day for elementary students will begin at 9:05 a.m. St. Charles Park

Aiming For Fun

Archery classes draw interest from all ages Draw back the bow, keep an eye on the target and discover the fun and challenges of archery. The sport featuring a bow and arrows has seen an uptick in interest as youth and adults. The St. Charles Park District offers beginning and intermediate archery classes taught by

Swing on in to Riverview Minigolf for Fun Events

River View Miniature Golf Course is a great place to create lasting family memories and enjoy the leisurely days and long evenings that only summer can bring. “What people enjoy most is the golf course’s stunning setting along the river, which offers a picturesque backdrop for a round,” said Cayla Greenfield, manager of the St.

Get Stuck on Parks

Drinking water is important any day of the year, but when the temperatures climb, it’s essential to reach for that water bottle often. And this summer, that hero of hydration can get a whole new look courtesy of a brand-new program from the St. Charles Park District. Inspired by a similar program from the National

More than lessons: swim safe

Swim safety at the core of swim instruction at STC pools As the summer sun pours out of the sky there is nothing more refreshing than the splash of cool water. But the allure of a backyard or community pool can quickly turn to danger for individuals who lack basic swim skills and an understanding

Active Summers Start with Sports Camps

School is out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean the learning stops. The St. Charles Park District offers a number of sports camps that focus not only on learning new athletic skills, but the importance of persistence, teamwork and sportsmanship. “With our sports camps, kids get to interact with new people as well as

Special Events Make for Summer Fun

It’s heating up outside, so that can only mean one thing—it’s time to head to the pool. Plenty of special events and theme days are on deck at both Otter Cove Aquatic Park and Swanson Pool to kick off the season. Both facilities open Memorial Day weekend. “Otter Cove’s Water Fun for Everyone tagline is

Paddle and pedal along the Fox River in St. Charles

Nestled along the Fox River, Pottawatomie Park in St. Charles has several great ways for visitors to enjoy the river without breaking the budget for fun. Get a new perspective of downtown St. Charles while paddling down the river. Plus, kayaking is a great cardio workout. The St. Charles Park District offers four, single-person kayaks

Batter Up

Softball league brings friends together on the field It started as a fun way to get together with friends once a week, and it’s become a summertime tradition. If it’s Wednesday in the summer then St. Charles residents Bethany and Ben Fowler are at the Pottawatomie Park softball fields. Since 2017 they have rounded up

Stay in the Know

These days it’s never been easier to learn about community programs or park amenities and communicate with St. Charles Park District staff. Community members seeking current details on specific activities or seasonal facilities that match their interests and lifestyle can customize their online experience with the new Follow Your Interest feature at followyourinterest.com/stcparks. The feature

Celebrating Norris Woods induction into national Old-Growth Forest Network

St. Charles Park District’s Norris Woods Nature Preserve, heralded as one of the most outstanding oak woodlands remaining in northeastern Illinois, will soon receive another accolade: membership in the national Old Growth Forest Network (OGFN), a national organization that celebrates our oldest protected and publicly accessible forests. The public is invited to attend a special

It’s Wildflower Season!

Community Members Encouraged to Help Naturalists Track Spring Ephemerals Spring shows itself in ways both big and small. One of the smallest—and earliest—signs of the season is ephemeral wildflowers that poke their heads out from beneath the brown leaves that carpet the forest floor. “Spring ephemerals refer primarily to woodland wildflowers that bloom before the

From water safety to swim team, swim school offers classes for all ages

There’s joy for a teacher to see their students excel at something they love. St. Charles Aquatic Swim School Instructor Anna Hutchinson loves to hear about swimmers helping their high school team have a great season or earning a spot on a top college swim team. She celebrates their accomplishments, even if in her mind,

Spring Events Bring the Fun

As winter gives way to spring, community members can enjoy a full roster of lively, family-friendly events from the St. Charles Park District. Families are invited to a delightful morning at Maple Magic on Saturday, March 9. This all-ages program will act as an introduction to the fascinating process tree sap undergoes to become maple

Discovering the Game

STC Parks partners with Hot Shot Sports for youth programming Run, dribble, pass and play. Registering youth for a sports class at the St. Charles Park District is a chance to learn a new sport, build skills and friendships too. This is thanks to a great partnership with Hot Shot Sports, the park district is

East Side Sports Complex Proposed Renovations

Grant funds to assist in East Side Sports Complex upgrades

The St. Charles Park District recently learned it was the recipient of a $600,000 Open Space Land Acquisition and Development grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Funds from the grant will help assist in funding a number of renovations and new amenities at East Side Sports Complex, 3565 Legacy Boulevard, off Kirk Road.

Nature’s Classroom

Featuring the joy and discovery of the outdoors Preschool is an incredible time for young ones to explore, and the staff at St. Charles Park District’s Hickory Knolls Discovery Center are excited to offer a new preschool program that invites children discover the joy of learning through a nature-based approach in an outdoor setting. Acorns

Aquatics Hiring Fair Dives into Opportunities

St. Charles Park District is making waves and building futures! The first ever Aquatics Job Fair is set to make a splash on Friday, March 1, 2024, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Baker Community Center Auditorium located at 101 S. Second Street. Chat with a Supervisor: Engage in meaningful conversations with our

When It Snows, St. Charles Parks Are the Place to Go

Winter. Tis the season to cheer up and chill out! Hibernation isn’t healthy. To avoid catching a case of the wintertime blahs, participate in a variety of outdoor activities that help release the “happy hormones” of adrenaline and norepinephrine. Even just 15 minutes’ exposure to sunlight can help supply the vitamin D necessary to build

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