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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

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

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