This is a pretty nice community center, and there's so much that it offers Des Plaines. There's what you might expect from a park district community center, such as a quite large fitness center. There's at least one gymnasium. I know that somewhere in the building is a pool since this is where they host their swim program. There are studio spaces. In another area of the building, connected but not in the same building, is Prairie Lakes Theatre which hosts various suburban arts organizations and other events. read more

Ive been going to this community center for 4 years now to play pickleball. They offer it on the basketball courts Mon., Wen., and Friday from 8:30 till 11:00. When we arrive there used to be 3 courts set up and we had to set up the other 3 as they just left the nets aside the court. They offer no balls or a place to put our rackets like other community centers do. This year we arrive indoors once it gets cold and they haven't put up any nets, 6 are available. The friendly guy at the front desk said the nets are there and you can set them up. What happened to your maintenance man and good customer serve. I asked perhaps I should get a discount for setting thing up for you. I complained to the manager last year and nothing happened. Oh did I mention that when the kids are off from school we get kicked out early. Guess seniors aren't a priority at this center. read more

This is a very nice large and well-maintained community center located in a quiet section of Des Plaines. I've been here several times mainly to enjoy their 300 seat theatre which I have reviewed separately as the Big Noise Theatre. I did walk through here once in our early days of relocating into this area, and they do also have among other things a fitness center and a second floor walking track. There are other amenities here as mentioned in the other reviews and it's a mighty fine community asset. I also particularly enjoy their large, convenient, and well laid out parking lot. read more

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I come here mostly for the theatre, but I'm impressed with the variety of different services, the size and layout of the facility, the spacious parking, and other aspects of this community center. This facility also offers a wide variety of fitness options (both indoor and outdoor), kitchen, lounge areas, and meeting rooms. In terms of theatre, Big Noise Theatre makes this facility their home. This is a local company which provides quality entertainment at very affordable prices. Some of the recent shows include Chicago, The Odd Couple, Wizard of Oz, and The Last Five Years. read more

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They just opened the aquatic center a few weeks ago and my daughter and I thrilled! We even got to spend sometime with grandma on the splash pad! This is such a great place I'm so happy it's open. read more

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Ok an update on my review from four months ago which I gave two starts Current staff is top notch Very friendly and accommodating Building is kept very clean Numerous activities plus great workout room read more

Discrimination. I signed my son with high-functioning autism up for a day camp program here and they kicked him out with no warning after 4.5 days. They even specifically told me on the phone that they were not kicking him out, then when I showed up to pick him up, ambushed me with the expulsion. They said they just wanted what was best for my son, but had not even a single referral for me to another program that might work better for him. My son is a child with a disability and he was not given the chance to acclimate to and succeed in the program. I advised them that they were violating Title III of the ADA and they still kicked him out. I am a Des Plaines property owner and taxpayer and now my taxes are going to pay for a program that my child is barred from participating in. It isn't right. read more

Nice place. Love the indoor track, so I can get my two miles in if the weather is bad. Nice friendly staff too!

Great community center. Everyone in the neighborhood helps keep it clean and beautiful. Doggie poop bags, water fountains and more make this place a great part of Des Plaines. read more

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As far as municipal recreation centers go, Prairie Lakes has nearly everything I want. I take my daughter here for park district classes, I've used the equipment in the workout room, and I run on the track pretty frequently in the icy winter months when running outside can be dangerous. The track here is free (!!!) for Des Plaines residents, and it's open until 10:30 four of the seven days a week Prairie Lakes is open. The nice thing about the track here is that it's above the basketball area rather than around it, like at some other area community centers. You don't have to worry about dodging people or sports equipment while you're trying to fall into a good pace. The parking lot here is large enough that you can get a spot easily even during peak hours, and the water fountains have a special device on them to help you fill your water bottle without getting water all over the place. It sounds like a small detail, yes, but in the winter time, it's nice to not have to worry about getting water on your coat. They have lockers here, but the locker rooms are a "members only" type deal. If you're a cheapskate like me and you don't want to pay to use them, the free hall lockers (bring your own lock) have plenty of room for a reasonable amount of stuff. I usually find the facility clean and well-maintained, even on very slushy days, and the staff is friendly and helpful. The only exception to this is that the bathrooms seem to run out of toilet paper more than I would expect. Bottom line: this place is more economical than a health club membership and less crowded than a health club, too. read more

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This review mainly focuses on the gym. I was a member for about a year in high school, took about a 5 year break (lol) and got back into running a few months ago. I have tried out other gyms, such as planet fitness on Golf and Cardinal Fitness on Oakton, but I still prefer this gym. Pros: 1) No meat heads. Probably my favorite thing about this gym. Mostly older people and just ordinary people from town. Not many younger people. Planet fitness is just packed with them. So it has a very laid-back vibe, with mostly regulars. 2) Assuming most members are residents of Des Plaines, it is very local. I don't have to travel far to get here, and actually ride my bike if it is not raining. 3) No contract or sign-up fees. They offer a monthly gym membership, so you have peace of mind knowing you are not financially committed to going if you can't/don't want to. They also offer great 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year memberships for a cheaper price, as well as dual memberships, for people you live with, at a cheaper rate. 4) If you are more of a runner, this gym is great for its outdoor trail when you feel like getting some fresh air and looking at the pretty scenery on your walk/run, as well as an indoor track upstairs that is free to use. This allows you to change up your running routine to indoor and outdoor. 5) This gym and the locker rooms are very clean. The locker rooms are usually empty so you get lots of privacy. 6) The staff is really friendly. They know me by name and make me feel like a member of a community, instead of a paying customer. Con's: 1) As most people are aware, the gym is small. This has never been a problem for me, because I don't need a diverse amount of machinery, but if you are into weights, you may feel like there are not enough options. There are many people at this gym, however, who do nothing but weights, and they still have many options. I don't really see the point of have 100+ machines that are barely used as opposed to just the essentials, but I am not into weights, so I am not a good authority on the subject. I will say, though, that there is a GREAT ab machine there that I use every time. You sit and rotate from one side to another, and Cardinal Fitness does not have this machine (not sure about planet fitness) It is really effective. They have a machine for every muscle, just not 100 of them. 2) Because of the size of the gym, I am in a daily battle to get a good treadmill. There are four advanced ones, and I believe 3 lame ones that don't have a screen. Waiting for one to open is not all that uncommon, which is extremely annoying. Still, eighty percent of the time there is no wait or a very short wait, and it is frustrating, but hasn't led me to go to another gym. I just force myself to get over it because the positive things about this place make it worth it. 3) The monthly membership fee is a bit pricey. I believe 32 a month for a resident. You can obviously go somewhere like Planet Fitness for half the price, but you get what you pay for. What I love is solitude, and going later in the day guarantees the place is never crowded, so I am willing to pay a little extra. *I am not sure if this is a common concern, but this gym is NOT a Maine West reunion. I barely see anyone I knew from school. Planet Fitness, on the other hand, is like school all over again. And the majority of people there are not the ones I want to be reunited with. If you are looking for a simple gym that is local and you are not sure if you are willing to commit to a long-term membership, give this gym a try! read more

Prairie Lakes Community Center - Community Centers Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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This is a nice facility. There a few courts. A big court where you can play basketball, soccer, or volleyball. The others courts can be used for Wally ball , or Racket ball. We come here every Thursday to play Wally ball. This place is always neat. There a guy that works there that can be a little hostile when it's closing time, which is understandable. When it's time to go it's time to go! I don't live in Desplaines , so sometimes there's a fee that you have to pay. Overall it's a great place. read more

My niece participated at a theater performance this past weekend, the Lion King and it was held at the Prairie Lake Community Center. The place is nice and has a good seating area. The stage is also very nice as well as the lighting and the sound. The people taking the tickets were volunteers. read more

Prairie Lakes Community Center - stage is a good size - Community Centers Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

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Great air conditioned indoor track outdoor track available too! Friendly employees too. Especially Joe D. The gym attendant. He was very helpful and knowledgeable about the facilities at Prairie Lakes. read more

Prairie Lakes Community Center - Indoor air conditioned track. Great for humid weather. - Community Centers Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

I am very disappointed in the service and the customer care that happened here at the prairie lakes community center. Don't buying a membership to play open gym or other activities you will get kicked off. Everyone that works here doesn't understand what is going on, you get told one thing on the phone and another in person they can never get the open gym times right and everyone that works here is confused on when things go on or open I wouldn't recommend coming here the service is bad and the workers don't know how to talk to people there is one lady that works here that is very disrespectful and dosnt have any care on how to talk to people please report this place and don't come here have a nice day read more

I go here to run in the Free indoor track. The facilities are consistently clean and the staff is super friendly. It is really cool that they have a filtered water bottle station. They also always have the perfect temperature for indoor running! The best things in life can be free! read more

My cross country team would always run on the outdoor track for specific workouts. And I am proud to say that the team has made it to Sectionals. If you run here, I think that you could keep track of the miles you run better than just running around the neighborhood. read more