News
& Events
Safety Town Open Road
Looking for an opportunity to teach your child safe biking skills in a fun environment? On Thursdays from June 18-July 30, children ages 4-6 with tricycles and helmets can ride through Safety Town Village free of charge. Qualified Safety Town staff is on hand to help children walk, bike, and practice being “safety smart.”
All ages are welcome, but no two-wheeled bikes (with or without training wheels), roller blades, roller shoes or skateboards are allowed. There is a $5 fee if you would like to rent a bike and/or helmet. Safety Town Open Road is held weather-permitting, and will not be open on July 2.
Safety Town Elmhurst is a miniature representation of the Elmhurst community, and is designed to teach children the importance of safety. Located at 511 S. York, Safety Town includes miniature buildings, street signs and lights, sidewalks, railroad crossing, and a distinctive residential and downtown area. For more information, contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Wagner Community Center Summer Hours
Wagner Community Center’s summer hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Wagner will be closed on Saturdays from June 13 through July 25, and is closed on Sundays.
For those who would like to purchase a pool pass, up to two daily pool admission receipts can be applied toward the purchase of a season pool pass during weekday business hours (8 a.m.-9 p.m.) at Wagner. Picnic permit applications are now available at online and can be downloaded and faxed to Wagner at (630) 993-8929. For more information, contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Elmhurst Garden Walk and Faire
Sunday, July 12, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
On Sunday, July 12, 11 a.m.to 4 p.m. enjoy a tour of seven spectacular private gardens, as well as tea under the tent in the Herb Garden in Wilder Park. The Faire, also in Wilder Park, consists of a garden related boutique and “Ask the Experts” resource tables. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the walk. For more information, please contact the Elmhurst Garden Club.
Battle of the Bands!
Sunday, July 12, 2009, 1 – 5 p.m.
On Sunday, July 12, the Elmhurst Park District will rock out with the 2009 Battle of the Bands competition. Local teen groups will perform at the Addison Street parking lot beginning at 1 p.m. Bands will be performing on stage for prizes and a chance to compete regionally in July or August. A $5 donation per person will be requested to help benefit Kids Helping Kids. T-shirts and concessions will be for sale at the concert. Call the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901 for more information.
United States Air Force Band of Mid-America
Friday, August 14, at 6:30 p.m.
Join the Elmhurst Park District and Elmhurst College in welcoming the string sounds of the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America. Catch the patriotic spirit as the band’s 45 talented musicians tell the inspiring air force story through music. The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America is commanded by Major Daniel L. Price. This event is free to the public and will be held at Elmhurst College Mall. For more information, please call (630) 993-8923.
Head To The Hub At Berens Park
Nothing beats eighteen holes of mini-golf in the summer—except mini-golf with a run through a sprayground. Featuring 6,000 square feet of space, The Hub’s sprayground boasts nine exciting water features and two Big Squirt filling stations. It’s the place to be on a hot summer day.
Afterwards, hone your hitting skills at The Hub’s four batting cages with varying speeds and settings for baseball and softball. If you’re game for more baseball, Berens Park features five lighted ball diamonds. The park also boasts three irrigated natural grass soccer fields, two lighted synthetic turf football/soccer fields, and an 8 ft. wide walking/running path 9/10th's of a mile in the West and center sections of the park.
The Hub is open during the summer from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. every day. For more information, please call (630) 782-4955.
Wilder Park Conservatory
Brighten up your summer with a visit to the Wilder Park Conservatory. With displays of exotic foliage and flowering tropical plants, the conservatory’s natural beauty transports visitors to another era. Open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. seven days per week. For more information or to request a guided tour, please contact our horticulturist at (630) 993-8909.
2009 Summer Camps Sign Up Now…Pay Later!
For only $50 down we’ll hold your child’s spot in the following Elmhurst Park District summer camp programs: Camp Get-A-Long, Camp Wet and Wild, Camp Fun Seekers, and Camp Water Wonders. The $50 deposit will be applied to your first session fee and the remaining amount will be charged to your credit card one week prior to each registered camp session. For more information, please call the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
Discover the Prairie Path
Come explore the Elmhurst stretch of the Illinois Prairie Path. Take a leisurely stroll along the tree-lined trail, or try to identify the countless plant species that adorn the path. Enjoy the sweeping prairie vista of the Elmhurst Great Western Prairie, a narrow six-acre section of original Illinois prairie thousands of years old. The Prairie Path is the perfect place to jog, bike, cross-country ski, or just daydream.
Interesting Facts about the Illinois Prairie Path:
- The Prairie Path is a 62-mile multi-use limestone trail 25 miles west of Chicago
- Built in the 1960s on the right-of-way once occupied by the Chicago, Aurora and Elgin electric railroad, the Prairie Path was the first “rail-to-trail” conversion of its kind in the country.
- The Elmhurst stretch of the Prairie Path is maintained by the Elmhurst Park District.
Lifetime Enjoyment Doesn’t Have to Cost A Lot For Elmhurst Park District Residents
The Elmhurst Park District’s mission is to provide lifetime enjoyment, and we’ve always believed that lifetime enjoyment shouldn’t come at a high cost. Now more than ever, you and your family need the opportunity to recreate and spend time together—which is why we are offering Elmhurst Park District residents a 10% discount on select 2009 Park District programs. Additionally, season-long pool passes are now only $20 for Elmhurst Park District residents.
The discount is effective March 3 for Courts Plus programs and March 7 for recreation programs. Discounts will be applied at registration, and credits will be applied to accounts and appear on registration confirmation receipts. Pool passes are available beginning March 2 at Wagner Community Center, 615 N. West Ave., Elmhurst.
Financial assistance is available through the Elmhurst Park District Recreation Assistance Fund program. For more information on the discount, pool passes or the Recreation Assistance Fund program, please contact Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901 or Courts Plus at (630) 833-5064.
Indoor Facility Study
In 2008, the District hired SRBL Architects to conduct an Indoor Facility Study to develop a comprehensive work plan for addressing future facility needs for both the District and community. SRBL completed and presented the Study to the Park Board this past February and the Board approved it in March. Click here for more information and to review the study.
Summer Pool Passes Now On Sale
Beginning March 2, The Park District is selling pool passes to Elmhurst residents at a season-long rate of $20 per person. A pool pass may be used for general admission to East End Pool, Norman P. Smalley Pool and the Spray Ground at The Hub at Berens Park. Pool Passes may be purchased in person at the Wagner Community Center, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information, please contact the Wagner Community Center at (630) 993-8901.
The Salt Creek Greenway Trail Update
A New Trail in Elmhurst Tune up your bike and get your walking shoes ready - there's going to be a new trail in town! The Salt Creek Greenway Trail will be ready and waiting for residents once it is completed summer.
This project has been 13 years in the making for the Park District and seven local agencies. The 30.6 mile-long regional trail that will extend from the Busse Woods Forest Preserve in NW Cook County, through NE DuPage County to the Chicago Portage National Historic Site at 47th and Harlem. The trail will provide access to forest preserves, local parks, Brookfield Zoo, historic sites and Oakbrook Center, among other sites. Public meetings were convened during the planning stages of the trail to provide community input and the Park Board has reviewed and approved all phases throughout the process.
The Park District looks forward to the addition of the trail to Elmhurst, as it will be another available area for residents to enjoy their favorite recreational activities. Once completed the trail will be ideal for just about all outdoor activities, whether it be biking, jogging, hiking, roller-blading, or simply taking a leisurely stroll. "The District has remained committed to this project for a number of years and it will be exciting to see the concept become a reality when the trail is used by residents and visitors beginning this summer," say Jim Rogers, deputy director of parks and recreation. Construction of Elmhurst's portion of the trail is currently underway as contractors and surveyors have begun staking out the trail, removing trees, installing silt fences, and constructing trail bridges. The majority of work will take place over the winter/spring and the project will be completed this summer.
While construction is on going, the existing wood chip trail will be closed from Madison Street south to Eldridge Park. The contractor's work hours will conform to city construction regulations. The trail will begin in Elmhurst at the intersection of Thomas Street and Monterrey Avenue, it will proceed to the Illinois Prairie Path over Route 83 and continue south to and through Eldridge Park.
The Park District has had funds for the project set aside for a number of years, taxes will not be increased to pay for the project. More than 80% of the funding of the project is coming from grants from the Illinois Department of Transportation, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and from the DuPage Mayors and Managers Transportation Control Measures Program. The overall cost of the Park District's segment of the trail is $2,700,000, while the actual cost to the District is just over $500,000 with the remaining $2,200,000 coming from the grant funds.
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