So Tinley park has this massive storm water reservoir with a lake at the center that they turned into a community park. They have a couple of large parking lots there to stash your vehicle while visiting. One of the main entrances is right past one of the Tinley Park fire stations. Many paved trails to walk around the lake, with a high route and a low route to vary up the scenery. On the high elevation they have a number of picnic tables and the like for those that want to have a meal. They also have a large playground there for the kids to keep busy while the parents chill. The lower route is mainly for jogging and walking ... although you'll find a lot of bikes in the area also. At the other end you'll find baseball and soccer fields, skateboard, and basketball too. They also have a little dock off which you can fish. Be forewarned - no dogs allowed, which is good for some people and not so much for others. This is a sort of difficult kind of place to find, but that keeps it a treasure. read more

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So peaceful. People really seem to be respectful and take care of the property for the most part. Trash usually isn't all over. I really enjoyed my evening out it was restful and gave me a sense of calm even though this is in the the middle of a really busy suburb. Didn't hear any cars, horns, sirens or anything like that. There was some noise from the ball fields but that was also far enough away that that wasn't crazy loud either. Check it out when you have a chance read more

Centennial Park - Parks Near Me - Tinley Park, Illinois

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I'm basically in agreement with Sol D: Activities, pond, trail, picnic tables - nice stuff! They also have some nice gardens throughout the walk. It's definitely a nice place to walk around that's found right inside a little neighborhood. The fact that they don't allow dogs is the only thing that I don't like about this place. I mean, I get it... but there's no point for me to walk if my dog can't join in on the fun. read more

Beautiful park, great trails and a lovely place to walk, jog or go for a ride! We went for a walk around the lake every morning while we were on vacation and the fellow walkers were friendly. Playground for kids is a nice area as well. Sorry to see that dogs aren't allowed, but we didn't have ours with us so that didn't affect us. read more

Centennial Park - Parks Near Me - Tinley Park, Illinois

Love this park! It's got a soccer field, baseball friend, playground, swimming nearby and in the back a very nice area to see nature (lake, trees and open glass area). There are kid nature play classes starting up soon which will be awesome. Love this park and bring my kids here often. Not super easy to get to though if you don't know the area because you have to go through a neighborhood. read more

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One of my all-time favorite parks. It's not far from where my mother lives in the southwest Chicago 'burbs. I first discovered this amazing 118-acre space on my bike, back in the days when I would ride all day & cover great distances. I used 167th Street to avoid traffic (it cuts through a residential neighborhood) on my rides from Oak Forest to Orland Park. I traveled through forest preserves as much as possible, with side streets as my second choice. So anyway, when I first spotted the park from 167th, it was a beautiful sight. The 12-acre lake is at the bottom, in a valley, and the park surrounds it. The landscaping is gorgeous.....trees, bushes, flowers, a footbridge. And natural plants galore at water's edge, so it's not too sterile-looking. This review needs photos! Next time I go back I will take 50 or so, haha, at least. The lake is stocked with fish, and there are piers for the fishermen. There are covered picnic areas, and playgrounds, basketball & volleyball facilities, and even a skatepark (so I am told but I've never seen that section of the park.) My favorite thing is the walking path that circles the lake. In some areas, the path is way up at the top of the hill, and in other places it curves down to the water. There are seating areas in prime spots. I loved to walk & bike that path. One time I took my mother to the park, not long before I left Chicago almost 9 years ago. She was in her 70's at the time & I was amazed at how she was almost running up and down the grassy hills! Jeebus! No lack of energy there, probably she keeps in shape by climbing ladders to clean her gutters and digging out weeds by their roots. The day I was there with my mother was a time of year when the milkweed was going to seed. Anyone from the Midwest must remember scattering milkweed as a kid. I guess I was still a kid nine years ago because I was picking stalks of milkweed in Centennial Park and waving them into the air to watch the silky white seed-carriers fill the early Autumn sky. There's nothing like it. They sail far and high, who knows how far those things travel. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Milkweed1.JPG My mother was trying to make me stop, telling me the park would not appreciate me seeding milkweed all over the place. It's considered a nuisance in most gardens. To hell with that, I say. As I recall, those caterpillars I used to see on the milkweed plants turned into Monarch butterflies, and that's not a bad thing at all. I think a visit home is in order, just in time for Autumn leaves & milkweed season. Mom, put on your walking shoes......I got my new camera ready. read more

We live right by this park and utilize it almost daily. Great little gym hidden in the area. 1+ mile track around the retention pond, plus alternate routes you can run to increase that. Lots of wildlife and stays pretty clean. read more

Great path around the lake. There is a dock to fish. Tons of wild flowers so it feels really outdoorsy. There is even a couple picnic tables with one grill and one fire pit! 1.17 miles all the way around the lake. No dogs allowed. Park closes at dusk. read more

Great for walking around the lake. Fishing Basketball court Skateboard Baseball cages an fields. Swings adult exercise and plenty of picnic tables read more

It's a nice park, but I don't like the "no dogs" and keep off grass signs. What kind of park is it??

Nice park but not a fan of the no dogs rule. Its a park!

Soccer, volleyball, various playgrounds, a lake to walk around, bridges, picnic tables, grills, clean bathrooms - what more do you want?! Perfect for family gatherings/parties, reserve the covered areas and be sure to have the permit handy (cops come to check). Also give map when inviting guests, a little hard to find especially if you're new to area. read more