Came here for a birthday party for my step sister. Nice picnic area, relatively clean water, and…read morefriendly, fun staff. My goodness was the water cold! Shocking but refreshing :) Plenty of picnic tables and grassy area with nice shade to enjoy large group parties and a nice patch of sun behind the bathhouse to tan with privacy or away from the noise. Nice and clean bathrooms, and nice hot water for the bathhouses.

Very clean and safe beach for littles, we can't wait to go back for another beach dayread more

My son went here with his friends and I only stayed for a little while to make sure he was settled…read more From my perspective, the facility is well run, with the check-in process smooth for guests. The center was clean from the inside lockers to the pool area. I think the biggest complaint is that it was very crowded, but it was a really hot 90-degree day, so I get it. It's worth a visit.

Overpriced, crowded, only one entrance & exit, highschool kids working with no supervision or…read moredirection, and not enough chairs.

This is my favorite pool/mini-water park in the area, and we've been to a good 10-12 of them. For…read morestarters, the slides, rides and diving boards set Otter apart. They added two more tube/slide rides this year which gives them a total of four now. They also have two low dives and two short tube rides that accommodate any age. The smaller pool at the top of the hill is 5-6ft deep with three separate lap lanes. They also have a larger pool for the smaller kids that ranges from an inch of water to maybe 2ft, including a new side area where they've installed a water-basketball hoop. The yellow tube slide feeds into their lazy river, which can also be accessed without going on that ride. This one has been our favorite slide in the park since it opened. Otter has an abundance chaise lounge and low sitting chairs to camp out on. There's never a shortage. They also have a huge area of grass space if you want to throw blankets down. The fee here is about the same as every other water park in the area, but the amenities are far better at Otter. Last but not least, this place is always spotless clean. Several water parks in the area don't pick up trash very well, Otter makes this a priority. Enjoy!

It was a big area with a nice variety of things to do for multiple ages. The only thing I had an…read moreissue with was the cleanliness. We got there at 11:15 when there were that many people there yet and there was already a less than clean feel to it. The life guards were very good at reminding people to walk and be mindful but there were diapers and underwear on the floor that I'm sure people dropped but there were other questionable things along with very stained chairs.

Loved to go fishing there 40 years ago. Used to catch some…read morenice fish. A place of peace and quiet, silent reflecton.

I talked to someone at Cook County Forest preserve. Everything was removed because of vandalism,…read morepeople not getting a permit for groups of 25 or more and not obeying the rules and regulations for the forest preserves. So once again everybody has to pay the price for other people's lack of respect. It is very very sad..

The campus rec is a great resource if you are a student since it comes with your tuition! I do not…read morehave much experience with many other gyms (the only other gym I have gone to has been the YMCA) so it is hard to compare; however, I think they have a great selection of machines and free weights. They also have tennis, volleyball, and basketball courts. The rec does get busy usually after 5-6pm until they close, but it's never too bad! I especially like that they have a lot of cardio machines- treadmills and ellipticals as well as a track.

I work for NIU and find it really convenient to go straight to the gym since I am on campus…read morealready. The month fee is only $20 and faculty and staff, once a member can take ANY work out classes for no additional charge. I am not sure about others. The rec does get filled up at night since most students do not want to wake up at 6am but if there are no machines available you could also try the Field House across the street. Membership covers the workout room in there-basic equipment (no free weights).