Veteran's Memorial Island

0.6 mi

I actually still remember coming to this playground several times when I was a kid, and we would…read morealways go to Banana Split at some point during our time at the park. Earlier this year I had decided to bring my nephew to the playground here to play for a little while before celebrating the reopening of Banana Split for the season. Clearly the place has changed since I was a kid, with the playground being fairly new, but it stil-- in many ways--remains the same; it's small, very much a neighborhood type of park, not a city-wide mecca like Phillips Park, and very basic, with only a small playground, a few courts for basketball and tennis, and a nice expanse of open green lawn for running around or sitting in the sun. Again, it's not really like Phillips Park, which attracts people from all around Aurora and has a large property with many features, and is even smaller than the little play areas around Waubonsie Lake; and unlike Waubonsie Lake, there isn't a path for running, jogging, walking, or riding. However, it is perfect for someone who is near to it and is looking for a small, safe area for a little one to play in. I've been here four or five times this year since the spring with my nephew(s), and it's actually become one of my favorite little spots to take my nephew, fulfilling EXACTLY what I'm looking for. A small park with a small playground where my nephew has plenty of space to play and I only have a small area that I need to monitor. Parking is pretty easy, if not a little confusing at first; if you're coming off of Sheffer Road then turn left onto Sheridan and you'll find the little access road to the parking; if you're coming from Church Street then merge onto Sheridan, and if you're coming from Forest Street then it'll be right in front of you when you get to Sheridan. I can also say that the property is well maintained and very out-in-the-open so it feels very open and safe. I also have to say that having Banana Split right across the street is a pretty great selling point and makes the park more attractive. So if you're close by and need a great place for your little ones to run around and play, give this place a try, you may be pleasantly surprised by how much you like it; and if you don't enjoy your experience, you'll at least be able to salvage what's left of your excursion with a nice cold treat from across the street.

Wolf's Crossing Community Park

(9 reviews)

6.1 mi

it was so fun and it park a little boy gave out food it was good and a zipline with nice pepoleread more

Wolf's Crossing playground and splash pad are a big hit with the kiddos in the summer months. It is…read moreusually pretty crowded because it is such a fun place. But it's free fun and kids always make new friends to play with. Highly recommended for those days you can't think of anything to do with the kids, and screens are becoming a problem.

Play ground

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Spring Lake Park

(6 reviews)

4.6 mi

Very nice park with wonderful views of lake. Went for a walk around the park yesterday. Great way…read moreto get your steps in. So very pleasant and peaceful. Stopped and sat by lake to simply take in the moment. Perfect place to bring the kids.

Called to check availability and was told campground was open, and was told cost was $25 a night…read more When arrived was told it was changed to 30 a night. No big deal? Not until we saw the campsites. We found picnic tables rotted and broken. No pads to park except where the yearly rentals were. Closed restrooms unprepared sites, long grass and weeds, limbs and terrible ruts in the road. No assigned sites, just told to pick one, except told where we couldn't camp (evidently saved for long term rentals. The rest rooms that were open were filthy. Will not be visiting again. Two out of stars is being generous. Maybe use the extra 5 bucks on some cleaning agents and lawnmower gas.

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Waubonsie Lake Park

4.5

(17 reviews)

3.3 mi

Have a good jog or just have a pleasant time walking around this park in Aurora. It of course has a…read morelake in the middle of it. Waubonsie Lake Park is located in more of a residential area but it gets outsiders. A few amenities. There's a playground and a shelter. Chill place for the most part with people just walking around. It's basically just a lake with a trail around it. There's a little bit of parkland. All of this is surrounded by houses. It seems most people here are from around it. A few things for families. There's a small playground along with pretend dinosaur bones to climb on. There's also modern playground equipment like slides and swings. Also there's a shelter by the lake. This is good for picnics. Good park for exercising or playing around. It's located on Kautz Road. This is good for children, adults working out, or whoever.

Very nice & peaceful I walk here weekly basic to clear my mind and breathe fresh air a few times I…read moresee deers rabbits lots of fishing near me but I'm not here for that ..let me get my walk on buddy..

Lake

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Shelter

Lippold Park

4.6

3.9 mi

We had a little extra time on a chilly fall day and decided to check out Lippold Park because the…read moreplayground looked interesting. There is a climbing teepee (at least that's what it looks like), a seesaw, and several play areas not necessarily suitable for toddlers. There's a great little boardwalk area where you can see beavers, ducks, and other wildlife. There's also a bike path running in front i f the park with tons of parking. There's also a nice raised deck area with several picnic tables where you could enjoy a snack or meal and the nice view.

Such a cool park, I didn't even know this park was here. My sister and I decided to take our 6 kids…read morehere (ages 2-12). We hit up the obstacle course first, which all the kids enjoyed. Next we walked over to the pond area where we saw an otter, deer, frogs, turtles, and lots of tadpoles. Just about a 10 minute walk up the trail is red oak nature center, so we did that next. Lippold park has really nice bathroom and facilities. We will be back!

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Sensory Garden Playground

4.7

(26 reviews)

10.4 mi

This park is especially good for young children from 1-5 years old. There are not many parks that…read morehave this many things to do for this age range (especially the 1-3 year olds) so I was very excited about it. There were many toys that made noises, rocking horses, a large green dome with holes, and a smaller playground with slides. They are still fundraising to build a playground for children 5-12 years old. Once that playground is built I'm sure it will be even more of a hit for families. That said there are features that the 5-12 year olds will like! Two large slides, an obstacle to climb on, and a glider swing. There are also several walking trails. My son loved this park! We will definitely be back.

Finally a park designed for kids with Autism or special needs. Great for all kids but this one is…read moredesigned for there safety. There so much to do that you can spend hours here. There is plenty of shade as well. The park is very hidden but if you see the horses head your in the right spot. There is a bit of a walk to get there but you'll be amazed once you reach the park. Plenty of spots for strollers and they have larger porta potti's. There are two playgrounds that are for older kids that I wouldn't recommend for kids 3 and under but everything else the younger kids can do.

One of the 4 play grounds

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Nike Sports Complex

4.4

(12 reviews)

8.3 mi

Nice little place to walk. When the kids are not in the soccer field using it, I usually walk…read moreinside but around the perimeter as in behind the nets and I don't go on the field or anything but I do like that the artificial turf has to give to it it's easier to walk that so I do that they also have several paths to all the ballfields and the little facilities.

It's a great place for my team to practice Field Hockey and sometimes we do struggle to get our…read moreturf time but coming early in the morning works best. Although workers were driving by to roll the turf and they kept on driving near us instead of saying anything and checking us out. I don't know what's that about but overall I highly recommend cuz it has all the fields you need. It's also located right next to a residential homes, for elders to walk by.

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Oakhurst Forest Preserve

2.5 mi

Such a relaxing spot to hike around. It's very peaceful and scenic, and I love being able to step…read moreaway for a bit and hang out there during the day. Highly recommend if you want a change of scenery while staying in the neighborhood.

Large forest preserve with a bit of everything, including hills, picnic areas, wildlife viewing…read moreareas, trails, and marsh. After heavy rains, the trails can get a bit flooded, otherwise it's a fun place to walk around and enjoy nature. It's important to note that the trails are each around 1 to 1.5 miles, with some that run around Lake Patterson, so plan accordingly and bring enough sunscreen and water. This lake is also one that has motorboat access with a ramp, which is not common for the area. When the trees are filled with leaves, it's quite pleasant to sit around and enjoy nature with some shade as well.

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Village Green Park

4.7

(10 reviews)

13.1 mi

Fun little park for kids but not a lot to do for toddlers (1,5 year old). The aesthetic of this…read moreplayground is amazing (space theme) but wished they had more for the youngest kids.

This park is fun. My older kids love it. Not the best for littles because it's hard to climb to the…read moretop if your kids are smaller.

Space themed playground area

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Fabyan Villa Museum & Japanese Garden

4.4

(39 reviews)

6.7 mi

My husband and I went to the Fabyan Villa Museum and Japanese Garden with some friends. This is…read morelocated in a forest preserve in Geneva along the Fox River. This entire land used to be owned by George Fabyan and his family. It was given to the town of Geneva and the Cook County Forest Preserve after his death. Tours of the mansion are available only on certain days and certain times. The home was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is very interesting to see. I recommend going on the guide lead tour to learn more about the history and the family that lived there. There are a lot of artifacts to be seen throughout the mansion. The Japanese garden is definitely worth the visit. The grounds are well maintained with many varieties of flowers and trees to see. There are a couple of different paths you can take and a challenging bridge to traverse. For a fun afternoon out, I highly recommend Fabyan Villa Museum and Japanese Garden!

Very underwhelming. If you do not live nearby, it's not worth the drive. Took only about 5 to 10…read moreminutes to walk through the garden. The positives are that garden and parking is free.

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Harold Hall Quarry Beach

(23 reviews)

5.0 mi

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

Great place for the kiddies to play.

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Snack shack....takes cash only

Wolf's Crossing Community Park

(9 reviews)

6.1 mi

it was so fun and it park a little boy gave out food it was good and a zipline with nice pepoleread more

Play ground

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Moore Park Spray Ground

4.8

(4 reviews)

8.6 mi

This is a great place to go when you have a little bit of time and don't want to make it to the…read morepool. There's not just the spray pad, but a playground, swings and covered picnic area with tables and benches. There are lacrosse fields right next to it so more open space for the kids to run around. It's run by the Geneva Park District and the stay pad is open from June to September, typically. All of our kids love to be there. From infants up through elementary ages for sure will enjoy it. There's also a lot of shade here!

These are becoming really popular but I count myself lucky this one is so close by. This is top…read morenotch water play area for young children (2+). There's plenty of grassy space with trees for shade, so bring a blanket and snacks. It's a public park, so it should not be a surprise that the public port-a-john is kind of gross. Bear in mind, this place gets super busy when it's warm/hot out and a lot of kids from the neighborhood seem to be there unsupervised. Nevertheless, this place is great.

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Veteran's Memorial Island - landmarks - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Veteran's Memorial Island also viewed

Batavia Riverwalk

I love playing Pokemon Go here because it's downtown Batavia so there's stops and gyms everywhere.read more

This is a nice place to stroll but the big draw to me is the giant frog statue (it's large enough…read moreto dwarf an adult); I just love its unimpressed expression. Check it out the next time you are in town!

Oakhurst Forest Preserve

Jon J Duerr Forest Preserve

(8 reviews)

I have mixed emotions about this Kane County forest preserve…read more On the one hand I love it because it's very "birdy" and for those who love to watch and count birds it is special. On the other hand I hate the bikes that go whizzing by and rattle the bridge just as I'm capturing a melodic or mournful bird song. There are some who politely slow down and call out "On your left" but some really seem to get a kick out of almost knocking someone over. If you walk over the two bridges and go down the path to the right along the opposite bank of the river you will be in Tekawitha Woods, a twofer! Bikes cannot go through there.

Decent forest preserve a really nice running trail in the morning. Perhaps not as taken care of as…read moreother preserves. Beware of yellow jackets in late summer-early fall. I've gotten stung in this preserve a couple of times just minding my own business and running.

Veterans Park

I had no idea this place even existed. As I was biking the DuPage River Trail with my husband the…read moreother day, we came across it. Hidden in plain sight. As you can see from the pictures we took, it's a beautiful park and memorial dedicated to all veterans. There is a parking lot directly in front of the memorial. From there you can jump on the DuPage River Trail or sit and enjoy the park as there are benches throughout. Very clean and well maintained by the City of Naperville, and very quiet and serene because I'm not sure many people know it's here!

Joliet Iron Works

3.8

(4 reviews)

Here's a great historical site to explore in Joliet. It's free, and it's all outdoors. Back in the…read moreday, Joliet was one of the leading iron/steel manufacturers in the United States, as it provided several locals with jobs. Many of those people were immigrants who had trouble speaking English. You'll learn about the history of Joliet Iron and Steel Works by walking the nearly one mile trail. I didn't spend more than 45 minutes here, but I felt like I learned a lot. I also didn't walk that far on the trail, but I was more than impressed with what I saw. There are lots of ghost structures of the old remains. Obviously, it is not recommended for anyone to go near them (or behind the fenced area). But they're great for photography either way. And of course, you can get your exercise on the trail, which connects to others. Make this a must-see if you're in the area.

First time coming here the other day. This place is amazing for urban explorers, people fascinated…read moreby history or something for the average walker to do to get their daily 10,000 steps. Parking is a bit tricky if your not familiar with the area. It's got a picnic table, restrooms and water. The path heads straight to the I&M trail as well but you'll see remants of a former Joliet in its prime. It's one of the few things that are actually fun to do in this boring city. (no offense) definitely check it out. The path is great and unique. Definitely check out the brick path. I only wish they described more of what the buildings and paths were originally used for with pictures provided.

Wildflower Park

(2 reviews)

Found this spot after having dinner with my grandma. Great 1 mile walk after a meal. Well…read morefrequented by friendly people in the area.

This park offers a bit of variety for kids who have seen the same old thing at other playgrounds…read more The fact that this park has a walking trail along the lake as well as a playground with swings and spinning equipment is great! This is a nice contrast to school parks which lack variety. The equipment was in good condition, although it could use some fresh wood chips. Here are some of the highlights: -Sheltered gazebo with a few picnic benches. Nice for a picnic or small party, or just to read while your kids play. -Benches around the park with plenty of sun (for those chillier days) -Swings for older and younger kids -Well paved path going around the lake for a nice walk -Doggie pick up bags and trash can to keep the park clean Other things to note: -No drinking fountain -No nearby bathrooms -Because of the location, there didn't seem to be many kids around in the early afternoon. We went on a school holiday as well, so it seemed like there should have been more kids out and about. Overall, this is a great place for kids and deserves more attention and recognition than it gets.

Fermi National Accelerator Lab

4.3

(21 reviews)

No where does it say it's closed to the public on the website. When we pulled up asking to see the…read morebison the security guard very rudely said "nope. We're closed. Turn around".

The weird building where all these lectures tend to occur needs an update IMO…read more The topics and speakers get me there... adding a 45min trek to the boonies after work... But the chairs in the lecture hall... who knew dwarves and hobbits liked going to Fermi? I mean, if you are over 5' tall its like hell... or economy on Spirit with 12" legroom. Dunno about you, but I am NOT a FAN to have 2" distance between your knees and someone's scalp. And VV for my scalp. BONUS: You get cookies and milk/juice after each lecture. AND there is free WiFi (2x) access!

Shabbona Lake State Park

3.8

(13 reviews)

Shabona Lake is a relaxing place to enjoy nature. It's nice to walk by the lake on the paved side…read morewalks & stop at the different picnic tables & benches for just a little rest or bring a picnic to enjoy ... sunny or shadey options. Also WheelChair friendly!

Tried to make reservations online but because I'm within 72 hours I must do walk in 1st come 1st…read moreserve. I showed up to camp and found out the park has different rules than idnr or the reservation website and do not allow walk in for prime sites. All sites not registered online must sit empty. So my family was turned away, the site along with many other prime sites are going to sit empty all weekend. I even offered to pay double and I spoke to the deputy director of the park. Sad to see the park turning away money over a 72 hour online only policy

The Kendall County Historical Society

Huge property well kept historical landmark buildings. Barn type hall great for large receptions…read more Wonderful place to get married!

Charles B Wells House

3.0