We reserved a park rental for my son's first birthday near the ARC and it was the perfect venue for…read morea June birthday. The weather was 70 degrees on the day or our rental and our guests had a blast for a golf-themed birthday party. The park was very clean and the nearby playground was great for the younger kids. The Woodridge Park District is well organized and I have had a wonderful experience with them over the years, looking forward to many more events in the future! Best, Charlie

I can't say enough good things about the Woodridge Park district. They're one of the few park…read moredistricts that leave their nets up during the winter. They offered to leave the lights on for us during November. Thanks, Woodridge Park district

Fantastic park. New playground, four new tennis courts, a little baseball diamond, water…read morefountains, and some open green with plenty of trees for shade on hot days. Spent some time playing frisbee here, watching some tennis matches, sitting with the dog, running along the paths... All really wonderful, sunny moments.

Gone are the teenage days of looking for a local place to hang out with friends, which first led me…read moreto this fine park. Approximately 20 years ago was the last time I stopped at this park as an 18 year old, and since then it has really changed! Nowadays I like to bring my children here. The actual park has been re-built slightly more south, with a toddler mini park as well as a bigger kid area. They have really expanded the rest of the park. There are two beautiful ponds which have fountains in the middle of each. In addition, there is a beautiful gazebo which is perfect to take pictures in as the backdrop of the fountains are perfect. Both times I have visited there have been both wedding and prom pictures being taken. There are also plenty of photogenic ducks just waiting for a photo opportunity!

This park is real nice. Quiet. Peacefull an modern 1st time here. Deffintally not the lastread more

Nice grassy park in Oak Park for jogging or just walking the dog. The Cicadas are out and about on…read morethe trees, so keep a look out!

A nice hidden and peaceful gem located in Oak Park. Austin Gardens is sometimes referred to as "The…read moreSecret Garden" it is hidden in a quiet residential neighborhood. Nice area to enjoy a nice quiet and relax day. Atmosphere is calm. We came here on a Thursday evening for a Shakespeare in the park "Much Ado about nothing. I absolutely enjoyed the evening. The whole night was amazing. I felt very comfortable and relaxed. It's a nice park to enjoy nature and serenity. You can enjoy a nice picnic or just sit on one of the benches and take in some fresh air. Go online and check out some of the programs and events throughout the year. The park has many great features for you to enjoy. A field house, restrooms, walking paths and picnic areas.

I discovered the Dorothy and Sam Dean Nature Sanctuary earlier this year…read more What a hidden gem! (I didn't put this comment on the first line so that it can continue to be somewhat hidden. lol) I happened to be looking at local launches for my kayak and discovered a beautiful little park. Dean nature sanctuary is right on salt Creek and therefore also runs along salt Creek Trail. It has a beautiful pond and an old barn among many other things Here are some of the other highlights: Kayak/canoe launch Accessible fishing pier Gravel, dirt and paved trails Dog friendly. Bag/garbage station Separate recycling bins Gazebo and picnic tables I've been here several times this year, but of my photos are from April 2024. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how it looks during the winter months. My dog loves walking here and it's such a peaceful place to enjoy nature.

Beautiful park with a large variety of birds. If bringing a small dog there beware of coyotes. We…read moresaw one lady's small dog being chased by two good size adult coyotes. She was able to pick up the dog and after several shouts the coyotes finally left. We did call the oak brook police that showed up immediately with animal control. This happened on Mother's Day 2025

Cool spot that I didn't realize was in the area. Looking for a good meeting spot to meet friends…read morefor a walk, found Sagawau. On the day of my visit, we saw this black netting/screen. Curious, we stopped to ask staff. It turns out on Sundays they do bird banding. This was very interesting how they catch birds, take data, and release back into the wild. I recommend! The nature center was well kept and had clean bathrooms. They close the area at 4 pm daily. Check it out for a nice walking and educational opportunity.

Sagawau is waaaaaay out in Lemont, so pretty far from me, and it's also bit confusing to find when…read moreyou get there. But I really enjoyed it so I'd say it's worth it, and now I'll know where I'm going in future! Word to the wise: There's the large parking lot, and what looks like a driveway is not. Park in the lot and use the wide paved path to get to the nature center. The purpose of the first preserve system was to both preserve and conserve, but also to provide natural areas in which people could recreate. They also have a nature center here with exhibits, as well as a variety of programming. I came for a program. A land acknowledgement was provided to connect the land to its history, and the people who once called this land home. I came for a hummingbird program, which took place in the hummingbird garden. The garden had quite a few bees and some wasps, but those insects are actually invasive in this area so you may see traps out for them so they don't take over the hummingbird garden. There are hummingbird feeders around to bring the hummers out. But nectar isn't their only source of food; they'll eat insects and invertebrates. Most importantly, they need pesticide-free habitats to survive. It was interesting to learn that hummingbirds live only in North, Central, and South America. When colonizers came into contact with hummingbirds, they thought they had no feet and that is where their scientific name is derived. Hummingbirds are surprisingly loud! The ruby-throated hummingbird is only ruby throated for the males. Juveniles and females have a white throat. But the color only comes out with the light, as it's iridescent, so the males may look black. Ruby throated is the only native one in Illinois. The juveniles are about the weight of a penny. In migratory season, they try to double their weight in order to sustain their migratory most fly over the Gulf of Mexico, which is a single flight of about 600 miles. They can do that flight in 16-24 hours. Hummingbirds fly with a figure eight pattern, which allows them to be one of the few birds that can fly backwards. It also allows them to hover! Migration is hard, so why do they do it? At least in part, it's because there's less competition. Apparently day length is a trigger to let birds know when to begin migrating, and the plants and flower on which they rely for food usually coincides to their migratory season. The nesting behavior of hummingbirds draws a direct line between environmental stewardship and habitat protection. They line the nest's outside with lichen and plant scale, and line them inside with soft things like dandelion fronds. Air pollution won't affect the hummingbird directly, but it will affect lichen and thus the integrity of their nest and subsequently their success in breeding. They will use spider webbing to bind their nest, which makes spider conservation important too. How fascinating how these things all connect! Whilst visiting Sagawau, I learned that this preserve is a licensed bird banding station--not just for hummingbirds. Banding allows us to gather much of the information that we have about birds in general. The information gleaned from banded birds can tell us about their migratory patterns, lifespan, and so on. I believe they have some events during the year where you can observe this process. In addition to their great programs, they have a nature center with exhibits related to the natural history of Sagawau and the region. One of the things that makes Sagawau so unique is it is a dolomite prairie, of which only about 500 acres exist in the world--over 100 of those acres being here. There are several trails to walk, and they have maps showing these to help guide your way. And this site turns into a cross-country ski location in the winter! In that season, walking is not permitted on the trails because they're used for skiers. They have lessons and equipment rental, but you can also bring your own gear--you just need to call first to make sure it's open for skiing, dependent upon the snowfall. I saw more open acknowledgment of snakes here than at some of the other preserves, which may make me nervous to visit very soon--snakes in just about any capacity (cartoon, real, image, etc.) creep me out more than anything. But, Negin is the employee that led the hummingbird chat, and she was really great. Welcoming, inclusive, knowledgeable, and friendly. I'd love to attend more of her programs.

Beautiful area along the river. Great for picnics,walking,birding etc. Plenty of parking and picnic…read moretables. Paths are crushed limestone or grass.

I never knew these lush, gorgeous woods were here! I work just 5-7 minutes away by car, and came by…read moretoday to Churchill Woods, on my lunch hour. I regret missing out on the last few years of lunch time walks here!! I will definitely come by more often. The hiking trail is off the far end of the parking lot. The lake is to the right as you pull into the lot. I saw ducks and bunnies and heard all sorts of other animals along the path in the woods. The path can be a little rugged in some parts, requiring you to step over tree roots, or duck under a fallen tree branch, but is mostly easy to navigate. There were only 3 people at this lot at noon on a Wednesday. Perhaps the crowds pick up on the weekend?

If you find yourself in the Southwest side of Chicago, come visit McKinley Park. You can't even…read moretell you're in the city anymore because it's so calm and serene. Add to it all the lush greenery complete with a nearby lagoon and it's the ideal place for fun and relaxation. A friend of mine introduced me to this nice little oasis. It's the perfect stomping grounds for leisure and exercise. There are plenty of trails to partake in a walk, run, bike or rollerblade. This park is huge and there is plenty of space for outdoor picnic and sport. While walking with my friend, we came across folks taking part in tennis, soccer, basketball, baseball, football and fishing. There is something for everyone here and you can make an entire day out of it. They also have a large public outdoor pool with splash pad for the kids. Another plus is the plentiful street parking within the park's perimeter with a dedicated parking lot near the pool grounds. In the wintertime, I think they have an outdoor ice rink too. Check out McKinley park. It's a gem of a park in the city's southwest side.

we are only allowed 45 min to swim and the don't even give us the full 45 min . the kick is out…read morealmost 10 min before the time is up. I believe we should have the full 45 min then we wait 15 for them to open again for 45 min. as I asked why we getting out early they because people take long to get dressed. like that not my fault