Value to our Community
Impacting the Quality of Life in Our Community
The Park District of Park plays a vital role in enhancing people’s lives, building strong families and a more connected community. We protect and preserve our environment and positively impact our local economy. The following information outlines the important role the Park District of Oak Park plays in our community and the many benefits of parks and recreation enjoyed by our residents.
Introduction
The mission of the Park District of Oak Park states “In partnership with the community, we
enrich lives by providing meaningful experiences through parks, programs and facilities.”
Since 1912, the Park District of Oak Park has provided park and recreation experiences to the
citizens of Oak Park and in doing so, has made and continues to make a positive impact on our
community. Our Park and Recreation services make significant contributions to the physical
and mental health of our residents, the quality of the environment here in Oak Park and the
economic growth of our community.
Statistics
The Park District owns and operates 24 facilities that occupy 84 acres of parkland within the
Village including:
• 7 neighborhood recreation centers
• 18 parks including the unique urban forest Austin Gardens and our village green Scoville
Park
• Dole Center – Owned by the Village of Oak Park, this historic building houses Park District
fitness and martial arts classes and many cultural arts programs and is also home to the Dole
Library, a branch of the Oak Park Public Library system.
• 3 historic properties (Cheney Mansion, Pleasant Home, and the Oak Park Conservatory)
• 2 outdoor swimming pools (Rehm and Ridgeland Common)
• 1 indoor, year-round ice rink (Paul Hruby Ice Arena at Ridgeland Common)
• 1 Gymnastics and Recreation Center
• 1 Environmental Education Center in Austin Gardens
• 6 special facilities including Stevenson Park Active Sport Area featuring basketball courts
and skate park, Longfellow Park basketball courts, Barrie Park sports court, Rehm Trains,
The Cubhouse preschool play area, and the Hedges Administrative Center.
Pleasant Home is designated a National Historic Landmark. Scoville Park and the Oak Park
Conservatory are named by the National Park Service to the National Register of Historic Places.
Cheney Mansion and the Oak Park Conservatory were granted Oak Park Historic Landmark
status
In 2018, the Park District served 36,746 participants in 3,000+ recreation programs which meet the recreational needs of infants up to seniors throughout Oak Park. We sold 16,467 passes for the outdoor pools, skating rink, Preschool Playtime, Dog Parks, Fitness classes and The Cubhouse. We also offered a number of free activities such as summer concerts and movies, open houses at the Conservatory and Cheney Mansion, Walk with a Doc and Astronomy Nights and the ever-popular Rehm Park trains. Our Conservatory staff planted nearly 90 flower beds in the parks and at various school locations. The results of a 2014 attitude and interest survey showed 94% of survey respondents visited a Park District of Oak Park park in the past year which was 14% higher than the Illinois average. That same survey showed that 91% of responding households rated the quality of programs as good or excellent with 90% of the households rating the quality of parks as good or excellent.
In 1976, the Park District of Oak Park along with the River Forest Park District founded the
West Suburban Special Recreation Association which provides year round recreation programs
for individuals of all ages with disabilities. WSSRA is now a partnership of 13 communities.
Individual Benefits
You may perceive the programs we provide as just fun and games but the Park District
contributes so much more to the quality of life here in Oak Park. Games children play, whether
it’s in a sports league or summer camp, encourage the development of socialization skills. Play
involves teamwork, learning to be a leader and sharing with fellow teammates. Children develop
motor skills through sports and games and improve their coordination and self-esteem. We
provide outlets for creativity and self-expression. We offer a solution for the child obesity
problem plaguing our nation by keeping kids active in swimming lessons, gymnastics classes,
summer day camps, karate, floor hockey and many other recreation activities. We provide
recreation opportunities during high risk times between 3pm and 7pm such as youth sports, arts
& crafts, cooking and “The Clubhouse” afterschool program which give kids healthy alternatives
while giving parents peace of mind. All of these factors contribute to developing resilient and
confident children who grow up to become responsible and well-adjusted adults.
For those residents who cannot afford Park District programs or services, we offer a scholarship
program funded with monies received from the Youth Services division of the Oak Park and
River Forest Township ($8,000 in 2018) and through the use of Park District non-resident fees.
Total scholarship funds awarded to participants in 2018 totaled $67,057 65,316.17 compared to
65,316.17 in 2017.
Scholarship funds were used for swim passes, recreation center programs, day camps, tennis
lessons, gymnastics classes, family trips and more. Park District patrons have an opportunity to
contribute to the scholarship fund through the Park District’s registration form. Scholarship
eligibility is aligned with the free and reduced lunch programs through School District 97.
For teens we offer outlets for adventure with trips to skate parks, climbing walls and
campgrounds. The Stevenson Park Active Sport Area, a joint effort of the Village of Oak Park and the Park District, opened in fall 2004 featuring outdoor basketball courts and a skate park
area. This facility, well-received by area youth, is certainly a creative use of a 2.5 million gallon
water reservoir. The Park District helps our young adults become tomorrow’s leaders with junior
counselor and junior lifeguard programs which prepare them to enter the workforce. We are the
number one employer of youth in our community providing ample opportunities for personal
growth as teens learn to take responsibility and develop important decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Adult program participants can get in shape and stay in shape, explore local and distant
destinations, and learn new hobbies such as gardening, ceramics, cooking and yoga. With our
fast-paced society, the Park District provides individuals with a valuable balance between work
and play and an opportunity to connect with nature.
We provide a safe haven for seniors who can make new friends and learn new skills through
trips, classes, workshops and drop-in opportunities. We have many popular fitness classes
designed for older adults that help seniors improve their physical and mental well-being. A wellknown quote in the parks and recreation field states, “We do not cease playing because we are
old; we grow old because we cease playing.”
Family & Community Benefits
Not only do individuals benefit from parks and recreation, but so do families. It is true that
families that play together, stay together. Breakfast with Santa, Family Swim and Skate, as well
as Daddy Daughter and Mother and Son events are just some of the recreation opportunities we
provide to build strong family bonds.
If you have ever been to WinterFest, a summer concert in Scoville Park, Fall Fest or the Day in
Our Village summer carnival at Rehm Park, you know how the Park District can bring our
community together and show our community spirit while building community pride. The two
most important factors people look at when considering relocation are schools and parks. We
help in attracting new families and businesses to our community.
Economic Benefits
Economically the Park District impacts our community through increased home values. We
bring in tourism dollars by operating regional facilities such as the Oak Park Conservatory,
Cheney Mansion, Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex and Pleasant Home. Over 45,000
guests visited the Oak Park Conservatory in 2018 from around the world. Scoville Park and
Austin Gardens also increase tourism in Oak Park by hosting a variety of special events. For the
past 42 years, the Park District has been host to the Frank Lloyd Wright Races which in recent
years brings 2,100 registered walkers and runners as well as their families and friends to Oak
Park from around the Chicagoland area. And as mentioned earlier, we provide jobs for youth as
well as for people of all ages and abilities. Park and Recreation Agencies build Illinois’ small
businesses. 73 cents of every dollar spent by Illinois Park and Recreation Agencies stays in
Illinois.
Environmental Benefits
Let’s not forget the environmental impact of parks and recreation. We preserve open space and
in doing so, help to keep our air and water clean. Park visitors can enjoy a walk through passive February 2019 and natural areas in Austin Gardens, Lindberg, Taylor, Euclid Square, or Maple Parks. The Oak Park Conservatory allows visitors to enjoy a variety of plant experiences all year long. In 2016
the Park District opened the Austin Gardens Environmental Education Center which is home a
nature preschool, nature preschool camps, and numerous programs and nature workshops for all
ages. Certified as a Platinum LEED facility, the AGEEC has been recognized by the Village of
Oak Park and the Illinois Association of Park Districts for the many green amenities it features
including a geothermal system, solar panels, green roof, storm water harvesting, rain gardens and
an energy efficient building envelope and mechanical systems. The Illinois chapter of the
American Institute of Architects placed the AGEEC on the list of Illinois’ 200 Great Places in
2018.
Park and recreation opportunities provided by the Park District are affordable and convenient for
everyone in our community. More importantly, the Park District does not meet the needs of one
particular demographic group but rather strives to serve the needs of every age and demographic
within our community. We aim to positively impact the health and well-being of all of our
residents
Fostering Partnerships
In order to maximize recreational opportunities while running an efficient operation, the Park
District fosters valuable partnership agreements with local organizations including the Friends of
the Oak Park Conservatory, Pleasant Home Foundation, Baseball Associations, Oak Park Dogs,
West Suburban Special Recreation Association, Festival Theater, Dominican University,
Fenwick High School and, of course, other governmental entities including the Village of Oak
Park, Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park Township and School Districts 97 and 200. A
cooperative effort between the Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation and the Park
District resulted in the receipt of a $220,000 Access to Recreation Grant from the Kellogg
Foundation in fall 2007. A portion of these monies was used for accessibility improvements at
Longfellow Park and to initiate an endowment for future community accessibility projects. The
Good Heart Work Smart Foundation partnered with the Park District in 2009 to install an
elevator at Longfellow Center. The renovated park and center were officially re-opened on
Saturday, May 30, 2009. All-weather fields were installed at Irving Elementary School in 2014
in partnership with the Irving School PTO, District 97, AYSO and Chicago Edge Soccer. Allweather fields at Julian and Brooks Middle Schools, installed in 2015, were made possible
through the cooperative efforts of District 97, Good Heart Work Smart Foundation, AYSO,
Chicago Edge and Oak Park Youth Baseball/Softball.
Historic Property Transfer
An historic moment for the Park District took place on April 6, 2006 when the Village of Oak
Park transferred the ownership of five recreation centers to the Park District. Due to water
reservoirs at Barrie and Stevenson Centers, the Park District has 99 leases for these properties.
Previously these facilities were owned by the Village but operated by the Park District.
Planning for the Future
In April 2005 the citizens of Oak Park approved a Park District referendum to address a serious
deferred parks maintenance issue and to fund the newly developed Capital Improvement Plan
which is updated and implemented annually. To keep a pulse on the community, an attitude and
interest survey is conducted every 5 years. A Strategic Plan was developed in 2012, updated in
2015 and once again in 2018 setting specific goals for the agency for the next three years.
In 2014 the Park District worked with consultants to develop a Comprehensive Master Plan,
which included a community attitude and interest survey. This plan sets the course for our
agency’s future for the next 10 years.
Since the referendum passed, site master plans have been completed and significant
improvements have been made to all District parks and facilities. New facilities have also been
an important focus of the District. A “Dogs in Oak Park” Plan was developed in 2006 and since
then, dog parks have been established at Ridgeland Common and Maple Parks. The Rubinstein
Garden Project at the Oak Park Conservatory was completed in early summer 2011. After years
of planning, construction of the Gymnastics and Recreation Center was completed and the doors
were opened on October 5, 2013. An Existing Conditions Study was completed for Ridgeland
Common in 2007 and the Park District completed the Ridgeland Common master planning
process in July 2008. After continued planning and a 15-month construction project, the new
Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex opened on June 14, 2014.
In 2013 the Park District began the process of revisiting and updating all site plans. Park
improvement projects are ongoing with the renovation of Lindberg Park completed in 2014 as
well as ball field improvements at Carroll, Fox and Longfellow. The Park District purchased the
property at 947 South Ridgeland Avenue in July 2014 to be used as outdoor storage for the
buildings & grounds department. The 218 Madison facility, which houses buildings & grounds
operations and administrative offices, reopened in April 2015 after a 6-month renovation to
expand B & G into the former gymnastics center space and update offices. In partnership with
the Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory, the land to the east of the Oak Park Conservatory was
transformed into the Elsie Jacobsen Discovery Garden which was dedicated on September 12,
2015 with help from members of the Jacobsen Family. Construction of the Austin Gardens
Environmental Education Center was completed and the doors were opened in June 2016. Major
renovations to Maple Park were completed in December 2016 and to Euclid Square Park in
August 2017.
The Park District has actively pursued alternative revenue sources to fund ongoing park
improvement projects including Open Space Land Acquisition and Development Grants
(OSLAD) through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Since 2006 the Park District
has secured over $5 million dollars in IDNR grants including an award of $400,000 in February
2019 for future renovation of Stevenson Park. Pleasant Home was notified in January 2013 of an
$80,455 grant award for the much needed renovation of the summer dining porch which was
completed in summer 2014. An IDNR Museum Grant for $146,000 was awarded for
construction of the Elsie Jacobsen Discovery Garden.
Developing a long-range vision for park and recreation programs and services in our community
has allowed the Park District of Oak Park to continue to provide the many individual,
community, economic and environmental benefits that enhance the quality of life here in Oak
Park and make our community a great place to work and play.
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