We now have our 2-year-old second grand-daughter in this program, and like the first one, it is…read moregiving her a great start to fitness, athletics, and sportsmanship in her life.  The program is well run and organized, and with consistent, well-trained, youthful, friendly, and energetic instructors. The negative feedback from a couple older Yelp reviews for Lil' Kickers Northbrook are 5+ years old, and look outdated along with outdated website and corporate info as well (for which I have also submitted corrections).  I may also be an overly generous old-schooler though on the rating of any toddler sports program having myself come up through the self-taught youth program provided in the side streets and alleys of Chicago with pick-up games and no coaches or uniforms...  but probably not.  I do have a lot of personal experience with various formal youth sports programs in the upbringing of my own kids.    The current toddler program here is different from 2 years ago in that the current pandemic era one is conducted outdoors only and at nice Clarkson Park at 1950 New Willow Road in Northfield.  Currently, adults need to have a mask and it's one attending/participating adult only per child.  The older grand-daughter had her Lil' Kicker soccer class at their nice indoor Athletico Center facility at 1900 Old Willow Road in Northbrook.  The current class size is 4 so the kiddos get a lot of attention.  I think the older grand-daughter's class size was about 7 back in more normal times, and it can go up to 12, and it is still a good and fun learning environment. The price for their Thumpers' classes (2-3 years old) is $17.75 per 50 minute class with a $40 annual fee, and this includes a uniform.  It's more expensive than say a Park District program, but the attention and training is a lot more personal.  Recommended!

Some things are just better in the city & Lil' Kickers happens to be one of them. Back when we were…read morecity dwellers we signed my daughter up for Lil' Kickers* at Bradley Place. She had a blast running around "playing" soccer. And we loved getting pictures of her in her adorable uniform. The class was very consistent- same instructors every week and same exact activities so she always knew what was coming next, which (like all toddlers) made her feel comfortable. A few months ago I decided to check out this Lil Kickers in the burbs. I was bummed to hear they don't give you a uniform like they do in the burbs. If you want one you have to actually buy it, but fortunately ours still fit from the city days. My husband went to the majority of the classes and said he wasn't nearly as impressed. There seemed to be a different instructor each week, there wasn't much structure and the class wasn't able to keep my daughter's attention for very long. When I finally took her to class I had to agree with all my husband's sentiments. There's not much organization here. In fact, when my stepdad took my daughter last weekend she insisted that she was in a different class than she actually is...and no one seemed to notice there that she was in the wrong class of much older kids. It definitely is a good option if you want your kid to run around for 45 minutes (especially in the winter) and for that reason I won't be opposed to giving Lil' Kickers another shot with my son when he's old enough. However, they could definitely use a few organizational tips from their city sister. * http://www.hifivesportsclubs.com/wordpress/northshore_18_months_k/northshore_lil_kickers/

This is a great place for the kids to burn off energy!…read more Nayeli and Myquall are friendly, helpful, and attentive!! I definitely recommend!

This location is great. My kids always have the best time when we come to the Deerfield Kids…read moreEmpire. They spend hours playing. Can't wait to take them back in the future.

My son is taking a multi sport class during the week. He loves the variety of the activities and…read morethe enthusiasm of the coaches. He's excited to go every week and counts down the days.

My daughter celebrated her 8th birthday with her friends and they ALL had a blast; the kids didn't…read morewant the party to end!! The coaches are all kind, patient, and kept the kids engaged. We had the facility all to ourselves and we played basketball, capture the flag, Gaga ball, and we even had a jump house! The kids moved around from station to station and had a blast participating in structured play. We even had a visit from Murphy. Thanks coaches for all of your help and your hi-fives

Convenient small park in Deerfield with a wide array of options including playgrounds, baseball…read morefields, soccer fields, basketball nets, BBQ grills, picnic tables, and pavilion. Theres also a walking path that takes a short time to walk around with exercise equipment located along the route. It is not as full featured as larger parks in the area but has enough options to do a wide variety of activities.

Maplewood Park is a nice neighborhood park that is part of the Deerfield Park District. My husband…read moreand I came here with a friend to play Frisbee. This park features a large field for soccer and baseball games. There are also walking paths, a playground, and picnic tables. The walking path also features exercise equipment. Maplewood Park is a great place to get some exercise and spend an afternoon. I highly recommend Maplewood Park!

Fantastic playground for all ages. Nicely spread out too so that kids can run around without…read moreknocking into each other. Equipment suitable for little kids, big kids and everyone in between. We especially had fun making music but I can see how that might get loud and a little more difficult if the park is crowded. We were fortunate enough to have the playground to ourselves but my sense is that is not usually the case. The park also has a nice pavilion with picnic tables, athletic fields, basketball courts and bathrooms.

Visited as part our our summer park tour. Has a small hot wheels track and a variety of other…read moreoptions for varying ages.

My friend invited me to brunch at Midtown Athletic Club (they are a member). The public can't just…read morewalk in, there are gates in the lobby and I had to scan a code (and fill out my info) before entering. I visited Midtown before as a prospective member so I know that guests can only enter a limited number of times. We went upstairs past the cardio machines (they are plentiful) and the weight area to the cafe. There are tables and booths that overlook the outdoor pool area (closed for season). It wasn't a large brunch but we had some made-to-order omelets, bacon/sausage and fruit. There was also some potatoes and pastry. When I sat down to eat I received a text from Midtown about a membership. The brunch was bottomless although one omelet was enough for me. I also had two emails from Midtown when I got home, one a waiver of liability and the other a membership offer. I didn't join as a member on my previous visit and I am not going to join now. I already have a Pilates membership that includes three studios with classes from 6am-8pm. Midtown has a Pilates studio but none of the class times work for me. They also have some reformers in the middle of the cardio area reserved for private lessons. If I have a private lesson I would prefer to be in a secluded area, not in the middle for all to see. The facility has many machines, a boxing area, a cycling studio, a theatre, a spa, a cafe, courts, pool, etc and this is a great place for those who need this. There are families who spend the morning at lessons, classes, workouts, then join up in the cafe. This is great for those who are looking for this but it doesn't fit my needs right now.

If you're a dedicated tennis player and competitive, this place is for you. Otherwise, go somewhere…read moreelse.

I remember taking all kinds of after school / summer arts, crafts, and sports activities here as a…read morekid, decades ago. Having seen inside the building, it hasn't changed a whole lot. Having been converted from a school that was built in the late 1950s,heavily renovated in the late 1970s, and only minor renovations in the 80's to present day; the building still appears in excellent condition. They host a number of Park District activities mostly for children, and some adult activities, as well as a number of all-ages events in the adjacent park. They also rent out rooms for community activities and private events, though the Highland Park Park District website. In the winter, the building is toasty warm though a teensy bit drafty near some of the windows (specifically those facing the park - maybe they're older?). In the summer, it seems like the place can get a little warm, as the AC seems to struggle a little. Still, the building is relatively comfortable for its age, and all the facilities are well maintained. The adjacent park - West Ridge Park - is very nice. There is a 0.4 mile (0.64 km) asphalt track that circles the park, with additional paths leading towards Red Oak Elementary School and surrounding city sidewalks. The parking lot is in great shape, has plenty of spots, and drains nicely. Accessible parking is near the West Ridge building. The playfields are pretty nice, though seem to flood a little bit during the rainy season. During the peak of the youth baseball, softball, and soccer season the field seems to stay dry enough. In early spring and fall, it can get a little muddy. The track also can get flooded in some spots, so walk carefully after a heavy rain. In the summer, you probably should wear a good mosquito repellent - West Ridge Park seems to have more mosquitos than other parks in the area (Woodbridge Park on Barberry Rd. or Devonshire Park at Devonshire Ct. and Winthrop Rd.), but not as bad as Larry Fink. During several weeks out of the year, Canadian geese like to chill here. I wouldn't recommend saying 'hello,' they can be a little aggressive. I frequently see whitetail deer roaming around as well. There's a playground that has equipment for 3 ~ 12 years of age, with benches around it so parents can comfortable supervise. The play area is pretty far from the parking lot, which is nice for some peace of mind, but - because there's only a little bit of cover - means you should keep an eye on the sky for rain. There are two or three water fountains around the park, a pet bag dispenser, and numerous garbage & recycling cans. There are a few porta-potties, and the park district will add more whenever there are events like movie night at the park. Aside from a few lights in the parking area, and alongside the building, the park isn't lit - best to head out before dusk. West Ridge Center offers a lot to residents of Highland Park, especially grade school to high school age kids. If you live in the area, I suggest checking out all the programs and activities they offer. Even you don't participate, the park is a nice feature for anyone needing a little time outdoors.

This is a review of the West Ridge walking/running path. During this mandatory stay-at-home order,…read moreit's still essential and okay to take a walk and get some fresh air. My hubby has been doing a great job of pushing us out the door to get a two mile walk in as often as possible. Yesterday we were about 30+ minutes away from a rain shower, so I suggested taking a walk closer to home. The truth is, the path is nothing fancy, the cement is a little bit cracked in a couple of areas, but it sure does the trick. This path is .4 miles all the way around, and it's small enough that you can keep your eye on the starting post for when you need to count your laps. There is onsite parking. It never seems crowded. It's flat and a little monotonous, but it gets the job done! Great little neighborhood walking path.