Discover summer fun with these great specials and more at The Hub. Kids 18 and under receive half off batting cage tokens and mini-golf admission June 1-3. During Cross Town Classics games (June 11-13 and 25-27) anyone wearing a Cubs or Sox jersey receives half off batting cage tokens. Celebrate the first day of summer on June 21 with $1 spray ground admission and $5 Big Squirts! On July 7 enjoy Vacation at the Hub – drop off the kids for a day of mini-golf, batting cages, spray ground, lunch and a Big Squirt! for only $15. Join our mini-golf tournament July 19-23 for great prizes. August 12-15 take advantage of our PGA Championship and play mini-golf for just $3 a round. Round out the summer with the Labor Day Last Hurrah! With $1 Spray Ground admission and concessions specials. On September 6. For more great Summer Specials at The Hub call (630) 782-4955.
2011 Entertainment Book - A Year of Great Deals!
Purchase your 2011 Entertainment Book today and aim for huge discounts all year long. Through a partnership with the Elmhurst Park District, the People for Elmhurst Parks Foundation is selling Entertainment Books containing coupons and discount offers for everything from retail and services to entertainment and dining for a total of over $15,000 in savings. All proceeds from 2011 Entertainment Book sales go to benefit the People for Elmhurst Parks Foundation which funds projects and services such as the Wagner Scholarship Program, Recreation Assistance Program, Wilder Mansion Historic Preservation Endowment Fund and more. Entertainment Books are available for purchase for $25 at the Wilder Administrative Office, Wagner Community Center, and Courts Plus. Only cash or check will be accepted. For more information call (630) 993-8900.
90 Days Of Summer Specials At The Hub
From June-August, enjoy 90 days of summer specials at The Hub. Sundays half–price mini golf after 5 p.m. Mondays free spray ground admission with the purchase of a Big Squirt! Tuesdays buy one/get one free mini-golf admission. Wednesdays cool off with $1 off Big Squirt. Thursday $3 hot dog combo meal. Friday free spray ground admission for Elmhurst residents after 3 p.m. Saturday $1 spray ground admission. For more information contact The Hub at (630)782-4955.
Wilder Park Tennis Courts Closed For Improvements
Beginning September 7, the Wilder Park tennis courts will be closed for an update complete with new fencing, resurfaced courts, and handicap accessibility. The tennis courts should be finished before November 1.
Let The Hub Cater Your Party!
Let us do all the work while you enjoy your event! Host your party at The Hub at Berens Park. Our staff will set up, cook and serve for you and your guests. Perfect for family and school reunions, company picnics, and other events, the package includes hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, chicken breasts, potato salad, chips, ice cream, soda and all condiments. Catering fee is $10 per person with a 50-person minimum. The Hub rents for $60 per hour with a $20 setup charge. Call (630) 993-8186 for more information.
Wagner Community Center Parking Lot Resurfacing
From August 16 through September 7, the Wagner Community Center east and west parking lots are being repaired and restriped. During this time, please park at the Berens Park lot or along Oaklawn Avenue.
Touch a Truck at Berens Park Saturday, September 11, 10 a.m. – Noon
Come join Elmhurst Park District for Touch a Truck on Saturday, September 12 at Berens Park East parking lot. Touch a Truck gives kids and adults of all ages the opportunity to touch, feel and climb through a variety of trucks and vehicles. (For safety, some trucks are only available for viewing). This year’s inventory includes a fire truck, rescue truck, back hoe, dump truck and an array of interesting vehicles*. This family event is sure delight all. A $1 donation is recommended per family. Special thanks to the City of Elmhurst Public Works Department, Fire Department, Police Department and the Park District’s Parks Department for their support with this event.
*Vehicles are subject to change based on availability.
CHARACTER COUNTS! Back-to-School Splash Bash Sunday, September 12, 12 – 4 p.m.
On Sunday, September 13 CHARACTER COUNTS! in Elmhurst is partnering with the Elmhurst Holiday Inn to provide a special Sunday afternoon fun family event. Families can enjoy admission into the wonderful Mayan Water Park, pop and pizza. Registration is required at the Wagner Community Center and all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Pre-registration is required. The fee is $10 per person. For more information visit CHARACTER COUNTS! in Elmhurst.
Perennial Plant Swap Saturday, September 18, 9 – 11:30 a.m.
Bring your perennial plant divisions or rooted cuttings in pots, boxes or bags with labels containing names and/or colors at 9 a.m. to the Wilder Park greenhouse garage. You will then receive tickets for your plants. Return at 11 a.m. to redeem your tickets for new and different plants. This is a great opportunity to discuss plants and to exchange some of your favorites for new ones. For more information, please contact Dave Price, Elmhurst Park District Horticulturist at (630) 993-8909.
Fishing Derby Saturday, September 25, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
On Saturday, September 26 come to the Elmhurst Park District’s 8th Annual Fishing Derby at Eldridge Park pond. Children registered and up to the age of 14 are allowed to fish for prizes, and all children must have adult supervision. Participants must provide their own fishing pole. Concessions will be available for purchase. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Safety Town Family Fall Fest Saturday, October 9, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Come celebrate Safety Town’s 11th annual Family Fall Fest at the Depot/Safety Town. Safety Town is the perfect place to celebrate fall, while creating a wonderful family tradition. Join in celebrating a safe Halloween with trick-or-treating in the Safety Town village. Additional activities include pony rides, a petting zoo, moon jump and more! This event is in cooperation with York & Vallette Business Association and the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Halloween Rock Divas Disco Friday, October 22, 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Girly Girlz great new class celebrates Halloween Disco style! Each participant ages 5-11 should dress-up for class in their best Rock Star attire and spend the night in a modern disco. We will be doing a craft with stamps, paints and embellishments for flair. Each girl will design a crystal bracelet with rock girl charm and cool pattern beads. Our dark disco begins to glow jewelry, disco lights and awesome music. Limbo, Freeze Dance, YMCA are just some of the dances we rock out to! Refreshments and snack provided. Bring your friends! Fees are $32R/$39NR for each child. For more information contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Fall Flower Show at the Wilder Park Conservatory November 1–28, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
Don’t miss the spectacular Fall Flower Show in the Wilder Park Conservatory. This month-long display will showcase many varieties of chrysanthemums including the large football mums and the feathery spider mums - all in a wide range of color combinations. For more information contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Mother and Son: WANTED! Cowboys Friday, November 9, 6:30 – 7:40 p.m.
Moms, Glitzy Girlz is looking for cowboys ages 3-7 to adopt adorable horses who need a family. In this creative class each couple brings to life a 16 inch lovable horse friend. They will design a personalized horse outfit bandanna with stamps and cowboy embellishments. They will decorate a ‘crate’ home for their horse with cowboy beads and barbwire cording. Make some edible ‘horse’ food snack for everyone with a cold root beer. Make sure your little boys come dressed in their best Cowboy Get-up! Fees are $31R/$39NR first child; $28R/$35NR each additional child. For more information contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Old Fashioned Tree Lighting Thursday, December 2, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Join the holiday spirit in an old-fashioned celebration at Wilder Park. Enjoy the holiday sounds from local choral groups, schools, and a visit from Santa Claus. Trees are available for purchase for $40. Register at Wagner Community Center to pick out your tree location. Registration deadline is December 1. For more information, contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Daddy and Daughter: Holiday Jewelry Friday, December 3, 6:30 – 7:45 p.m.
Moms-Take advantage of this very requested class. Sign up your daddy and daughter pairings to make you gifts and share a unique night out together. This meaningful holiday jewelry-making class is designed for dads and their special darlings to design gifts as a team and surprise family members. Glitzy Girlz will provide glass faceted crystals in a large array of colors, holiday/love related silver charms and dangles, clay beads and custom bead designs. Each couple will make a necklace, bracelet and two zipper pulls. Enough gift-giving and a special one for our designer to wear as well! Each couple completes the surprise with designing their very own gift bags, tissue and tags. No peeking! Holiday music and a festive mood provided. Fees are $33R/$41NR first child; $29R/$36NR each additional child. For more information contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Winter Flower Show at the Wilder Park Conservatory December 4 – January 9, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily
Visit the Wilder Park Conservatory this holiday season and enjoy the numerous varieties of poinsettias on display. It is a great opportunity to take pictures or just enjoy a quiet respite during the busy holiday season. The show is especially beautiful when seen at night under the lights. For more information contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Club Wilder: Roaring 20’s Night Saturday, December 4, 2010
The People for Elmhurst Parks Foundation is proud to present Club Wilder: Roaring 20’s Night at the Wilder Mansion on Saturday, December 4. Doors will open at 6 p.m. The evening will feature food, drinks, fun, dancing and casino games. Proceeds will benefit the Wilder Mansion Endowment Fund to help maintain the historic integrity of the building. Ticket sales will begin Monday, August 1 at the Wilder Park Administrative Office. For more information, Please call (630) 993-8925.
Polar Express Sunday, December 5, 11 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. and 3 – 4:45 p.m.
All aboard!! Don’t miss the holiday magic as we journey to Elburn on a Metra train. We will enjoy cookies and refreshments while a storyteller reads the wonderful story, ‘Polar Express’ by Chris Van Allsburg. Santa will be awaiting our arrival at the North Pole (Elburn) and will journey back to Elmhurst on the train with us. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Parent and Me Holiday Reindeer Friday, December 10, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Calling children ages 2-12, moms and dads! Kreative Kreations has found the most adorable reindeers for you and your child to create. Each participant will stuff his or her own reindeer, add a star to make a wish, decorate a holiday tee shirt, and create a rhinestone collar. Birth certificates are also provided. This class is especially designed for parents and their children. Space is limited so if you’re looking for fun filled holiday activity, sign up today! Fees are $33R/$40NR for each child. For more information contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Breakfast with Santa Saturday, December 11, 9 – 11 a.m.
Join us for breakfast with Santa at the Wilder Mansion! Come into our winter wonderland where Santa will fill the morning with fun, food and entertainment. Children, ages 3 and up, can tell Santa their holiday wishes. We will capture the moment in a photo of your child with Santa. Pre-registration is required. For more information, contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Discover the Prairie Path
Come explore the Elmhurst stretch of the Illinois Prairie Path. Take a leisurely stroll along the tree-lined trail, or try to identify the countless plant species that adorn the path. Enjoy the sweeping prairie vista of the Elmhurst Great Western Prairie, a narrow six-acre section of original Illinois prairie thousands of years old. The Prairie Path is the perfect place to jog, bike, cross-country ski, or just daydream.
Interesting Facts about the Illinois Prairie Path:
The Prairie Path is a 62-mile multi-use limestone trail 25 miles west of Chicago
Built in the 1960s on the right-of-way once occupied by the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin electric railroad, the Prairie Path was the first “rail-to-trail” conversion of its kind in the country.
The Elmhurst stretch of the Prairie Path is maintained by the Elmhurst Park District.
Recreation Assistance
Here’s your chance to give back to the community: The District provides assistance for residents faced with financial hardship through the Recreation Assistance Fund, and is seeking donations. In 2009 alone, the Recreation Assistance program provided 68 families and 146 individuals the opportunity to participate in programs. Factors defining need include family income level, an extenuating financial situation such as medical bills, or current participation in public aid, food stamps, school lunch, or subsidized housing programs.
The People for Elmhurst Parks Foundation has raised over $25,000 in the past five years for Recreation Assistance through the Sugar Creek Open, its annual golf outing with the Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst. For more information on the Sugar Creek Open or donating to the Recreation Assistance Fund, please call (630) 993-8923.
Elmhurst Park District Featured On LandscapeOnline.com
The Elmhurst Park District’s park planning efforts were featured on landscapeonline.com as an example of Chicago-area landscape architecture. The article highlights the Diana Nicholas Memorial Gardens, East End Pool, Eldridge Playground, and The Hub Miniature Golf Course. For more information, or to read the article, click here.
Indoor Facility Study
In 2008, the District hired SRBL Architects to conduct an Indoor Facility Study to develop a comprehensive work plan for addressing future facility needs for both the District and community. SRBL completed and presented the Study to the Park Board this past February and the Board approved it in March. Click here for more information and to review the study.
The Salt Creek Greenway Trail Update
A New Trail in Elmhurst Tune up your bike and get your walking shoes ready - there's going to be a new trail in town! The Salt Creek Greenway Trail will be ready and waiting for residents once it is completed summer.
This project has been 13 years in the making for the Park District and seven local agencies. The 30.6 mile-long regional trail that will extend from the Busse Woods Forest Preserve in NW Cook County, through NE DuPage County to the Chicago Portage National Historic Site at 47th and Harlem. The trail will provide access to forest preserves, local parks, Brookfield Zoo, historic sites and Oakbrook Center, among other sites. Public meetings were convened during the planning stages of the trail to provide community input and the Park Board has reviewed and approved all phases throughout the process.
The Park District looks forward to the addition of the trail to Elmhurst, as it will be another available area for residents to enjoy their favorite recreational activities. Once completed the trail will be ideal for just about all outdoor activities, whether it be biking, jogging, hiking, roller-blading, or simply taking a leisurely stroll. "The District has remained committed to this project for a number of years and it will be exciting to see the concept become a reality when the trail is used by residents and visitors beginning this summer," say Jim Rogers, deputy director of parks and recreation. Construction of Elmhurst's portion of the trail is currently underway as contractors and surveyors have begun staking out the trail, removing trees, installing silt fences, and constructing trail bridges. The majority of work will take place over the winter/spring and the project will be completed this summer.
While construction is on going, the existing wood chip trail will be closed from Madison Street south to Eldridge Park. The contractor's work hours will conform to city construction regulations. The trail will begin in Elmhurst at the intersection of Thomas Street and Monterrey Avenue, it will proceed to the Illinois Prairie Path over Route 83 and continue south to and through Eldridge Park.
The Park District has had funds for the project set aside for a number of years, taxes will not be increased to pay for the project. More than 80% of the funding of the project is coming from grants from the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and from the DuPage Mayors and Managers Transportation Control Measures Program. The overall cost of the Park District's segment of the trail is $2,700,000, while the actual cost to the District is just over $500,000 with the remaining $2,200,000 coming from the grant funds.
