Your Hive of Park District Info!

Where Imagination Comes to Life

Swings, a slide and a large climbing structure are the basics of nearly any playground. However, if you ask a 5-year-old, they’ll tell you these objects are much more. The swings blast off like rocket ships and the ladder to the tower will lead to a secret headquarters that can only be escaped by facing

Norris Recreation Center Offers Indoor Rowing Sessions

Staying active is a key component to a healthy lifestyle. Indoor rowing offers individuals a chance to not only build strength but endurance and cardiovascular health all at the same time, no matter the weather. The St. Charles Park District is offering coach-led rowing sessions at Norris Recreation Center so those interested can explore the

Make Way for Acorns

Forest cleanup efforts helping oaks thrive They’ve been called mighty oaks, their long branches reaching out across the canopy of trees. But since the time of European settlement oaks have been harvested, had to compete with introduced species and are less common as landscaping trees, as communities planted parkway trees like the non-native pear trees

In the Eyes, Ears of the Beholder

Return of Sculpture in the Park brings new, fun art to explore It’s time to stroll among the sculptures and explore art creations with the return of the annual Sculpture in the Park at Mt. St. Mary Park in St. Charles. This summer marks the 17th year for the annual outdoor art exhibit that features

From care to sports conditioning

STC Parks welcomes Smith PT to Sportsplex There’s a new neighbor tucked inside the St. Charles Park District’s Sportsplex facility. This summer Smith Physical Therapy opened the doors to a new clinic on the second floor at the Sportsplex. Founded seven years ago in Crystal Lake, Smith PT owner Denise Smith recently added a St.

Hooked on fishing

Whether the sun is shining, or the sky is covered in a blanket of clouds, there’s one thing Ryan Solomon knows for certain, every day is a good day for fishing in St. Charles. “I’ve been fishing since I was 3, 4 years old. It’s something I’ve always done and now I still find quite

Free Fitness Stations in Pottawatomie Park

Experience a Fit Summer with these Free Outdoor Activities

The sunny days and long evenings of summer provide the perfect conditions to get active outdoors. The St. Charles Park District offers a multitude of opportunities to break a sweat and have some fun. Pickleball is the nation’s fastest growing sport, and park district facilities are here to serve those seeking to try out or

Grant funds to assist in Primrose Farm Park upgrades

Pickleball courts, an adult challenge course and more are on tap for Primrose Farm Park in St. Charles thanks to a state grant. In early March, the St. Charles Park District 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

Pickleball Interest Continues to Grow

Just follow the sound of the dinks to find the hottest game in town, pickleball. Once considered an obscure gym class activity or a sport for older generations, pickleball has had a surge of interest in the past few years, gaining popularity for players who enjoy the sport for recreation and competition. St. Charles resident

Honoring Fur-ever Friends

No matter their size or breed, our pets leave footprints on our hearts that are immeasurable. Their love and loyalty are the inspiration behind the St. Charles Park Foundation’s Dog Memorial at Delnor Woods Park. Dog owners may honor their pets by hanging tags upon the sculpture Timeless Tags at the Dog Memorial. This scruffy,

Revamped Tennis Program Scores Points with Players

Whether they are just slightly taller than their tennis racket or building skills to play on their high school team, players of all ages will find opportunities to hone their skills and have some fun with the St. Charles Park District’s tennis program at Norris Recreation Center. Recently, the Junior Group Tennis program for ages

Rebuilding the Land Seed by Seed

Sometimes even Mother Nature needs a hand. And while a park district is often thought of for its playing fields and playgrounds, the St. Charles Park District has a small team devoted to the care and conservation of 500+ acres of natural area with the three most well-known areas including Ferson Creek Fen Nature Preserve,

Teacher fosters connections, preschool readiness with early childhood classes

As Heather Holland’s youngest prepared for the big leap into kindergarten, the mother of three felt she wasn’t quite ready to let go. But not in the way one would expect. Holland, a veteran parent of the St. Charles Park District’s early childhood and preschool classes, wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the welcoming, nurturing

Discover the Joys of Golfing at Pottawatomie in St. Charles

From the crisp green grass beneath one’s shoes to the still cool morning air under a brilliant blue sky, there’s something pretty special about stepping out on Pottawatomie Golf Course in St. Charles. The course is like a small to-do list with each hole presenting obstacles that are checked off at completion before scooping up

St. Charles Parks Tailormade for Fun

Explore the parks in your backyard and beyond without breaking the bank. Parks owned, operated and maintained by the St. Charles Park District are free for the entire community and offer an abundance of fun this summer with activities and amenities for the whole family. One of the newer playgrounds is at Lincoln Park with

Primrose Farm Receives Grant Funding from Illinois Museum Program for Improvements

The St. Charles Park District was recently awarded a $750,000 matching grant to construct a new Agricultural Lab at Primrose Farm from the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grant program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and funded by the Rebuild Illinois capital program. The state grant program will distribute a total of $19.7

St. Charles Park District Receives Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency Award

St. Charles Park District has been recognized as an Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA). The award was presented to Park District representatives at the Annual Parks & Recreation State Conference Luncheon on Friday, January 28 downtown Chicago. The two statewide

Golf Course Closes Dec. 23, but Play Goes On with Pro Shop Simulator

Don’t put your golf clubs away just yet. Pottawatomie Golf Course is giving residents plenty of reason to keep golfing this winter. Open through Dec. 23, golfing the 9-hole course this month has many benefits, including a more leisurely game with less crowds. “Take a few clubs and enjoy golfing and strolling from hole-to-hole in

Make a Playdate for You and Your Dog

Treat your four-legged friend to some great exercise with a trip to one of St. Charles dog parks. The St. Charles Park District provides three locations in town for pups to play. Each one features a different experience and provides plenty of room for you and your pooch to take a break from your regular

New Park Site Officially Opened

The St. Charles Park District Board of Commissioners, staff and neighbors gathered on October 4 for the grand opening of the newest park site in the Anthem Heights subdivision, located at the corner of Woodward and Cardinal Drives. The celebration included a ribbon cutting ceremony and complimentary Culvers frozen custard. The Park District strives to

In Memory of Carol Glemza

69 Years of Service to St. Charles Park District Carol Swanson Glemza, 97, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2021. She began her St. Charles Park District career at a very early age, worked for 69 years and continued as a volunteer well into her retirement. She holds the record for the most years of

Pottawatomie Golf Course Recognized for Environmental Excellence

Pottawatomie Golf Course has retained its designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program. Denise Gillett-Parchert, Golf Course Superintendent, led the effort to maintain sanctuary status on this course. Pottawatomie Golf Course was designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 1997, the

Discover tasty treats and nature insights aboard river cruises

Enjoy a relaxing cruise along the Fox River, a delicious treat and learn about the local history and wildlife of the waterway with a pair of fantastic cruises hosted by the St. Charles Park District. The park district’s nature ambassador Pam Otto, author of the weekly Good Natured column that appears in the Kane County

New Outdoor Courts Celebrated at St. Charles Park District

St. Charles Park District recently opened six new outdoor pickleball courts and a basketball court with six hoops on the west side of James O. Breen Community Park. The Park Board of Commissioners hosted a ribbon cutting celebration on June 14, 2021. Local pickleball players are pumped. “We are really, really excited,” said Cris Anderson,

Visit the new playground in Pottawatomie Park

Come one, come all to the new sensory garden and all-inclusive playground in St. Charles! Located at Pottawatomie Park, this new park amenity features a host of inviting landscape features to appeal to all your senses and an array of engaging play spaces. Included in the area are native and sensory plants, a vine tunnel,

Wanted: Volunteers — Park district offers various ways to give back

Volunteers are the backbone of the St. Charles Park District, and while COVID-19 has restricted many of the special events where volunteer opportunities abound, the need for residents to continue lending a hand has not gone away. To help motivate individuals to volunteer, Volunteer Coordinator Lara Piner said the park district has recently implemented an

St. Charles couple sets out to visit every local park

Kathy and Bill Swedberg have lived in St. Charles for more than 45 years, but until a few months ago, they had never realized how many parks were located within the city. The St. Charles Park District owns and manages 1,450 acres of open space within the community, and the Swedbergs are out to visit

Make a family field trip to feed the critters

Discover what Blanding’s turtles eat for breakfast and how to prepare a meal for a bearded dragon at the St. Charles Park District’s Feed the Critters Program this winter. The program, new this year, invites visitors in small, private groups inside the Hickory Knolls Discovery Center to prepare and feed meals for the center’s animal

Park District earns award for natural land preservation

While it’s the recreation that often gets the spotlight the St. Charles Park District recently earned accolades for its conservation and care for open lands. The St. Charles Park District was awarded the Best Green Practices Award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts. The award recognizes the park district’s efforts to maintain 11 natural

Telling Nature’s Story — One Zoom Call at a Time

Naturalist Pam Otto launches ‘Good Natured Hour’ variety show Pam Otto believes every organism has a story to tell. And for the past 12+ years, the St. Charles Park District’s outreach ambassador and naturalist has been telling those stories to residents: from seniors to preschoolers; to members of civic and social organizations; and to readers

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