The Des Plaines Park District
Steeped in Tradition and Looking to the Future
The Des Plaines Park District was created in 1919 with two small parks. In the subsequent decade, even through the hardships of the Great Depression, eleven more parks were acquired and opened for the community. The 1930s saw the development of the Rand Park softball fields, tennis courts, fieldhouse, and pool. The 50s introduced South Park (renamed Arndt Park in 1982) and West Park, which provided Little League baseball fields and additional fieldhouses for the community. In 1959 the pivotal purchase of Lake Park was made from the S.J Groves Construction Co. for one dollar. Chippewa and Iroquois pools were opened in the 60’s. In 1978, the Park District purchased Maple Elementary School on Birch Street and turned it into the Administrative & Leisure Center. The grand opening of the Prairie Lakes Community Center and adjacent Mountain View Mine Adventure Mini-Golf commenced in 1992; this complex features the Prairie Lakes Theater and Fitness Center. The Mountain View Adventure Center had a grand re-opening in 2005, bringing a Skate Park, BMX Bike Park, and batting cages to Des Plaines residents.
The 2006 renovation of Rand Park Pool was completed in June 1996, and it reopened as Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center. One of the largest water parks in Northern Illinois, it quickly became a favorite destination for families throughout the Chicagoland area. It boasts two 37-foot slides, drop slides, a 550-foot lazy river, a zero-depth leisure pool, and a Beluga Beach area designed for toddlers.
The Park District continues acquiring additional land and buildings to renovate its facilities and playgrounds. One such acquisition was made in September 2000, with the purchase of the Golf Center Des Plaines. This state-of-the-art complex is a premier golf destination for golfers across the Midwest. The Park District maintained the facility’s excellence, upgrading equipment and turf in 2006 and refurbishing the interior in 2008. The Golf Center is open 364 days a year, making it a golfer’s dream come true.
In June 2012, the North Lake Park area (located at Lee and Howard) was officially opened. This land was purchased from the nearby church in 2007, and the addition allowed the Park District to connect the space to the rest of Lake Park and expand the amenities and open space provided to the residents of Des Plaines.
2019 marked our 106th Anniversary, and we continued to grow our programs, update facilities, and look for opportunities to purchase land to create additional park space.
Our 100th Anniversary brought exciting special events every month. The dedicated staff continued to protect our open spaces as we finished significant projects across the district, including the July 4th opening of the new Centennial Park.
In 2020, the Park District employees navigated the COVID-19 pandemic by continuing to provide innovative recreational opportunities to Des Plaines residents. On August 29, 2020, the Prairie Lakes Aquatic Center officially opened, and much to the delight of Aqua & Fitness members, this facility includes an 8-lane, 25-yard competition & lap pool, Wellness Pool, Splash Pad, Party Room, locker rooms, and family changing rooms. Later that year, on October 30, 2020, the DPParks Interactive Mobile App was launched. This app connects patrons to real-time updates, news, events, and promotions happening across the Park District.
In 2021 the “Connecting People, Neighborhoods, and Communities” Campaign was launched by the Park District to strengthen the foundation of the Des Plaines Community. The first project was a bike path bridge connecting Cumberland Terrance and Des Plaines Manor Park over Weller Creek. It was dubbed Yates Crossing in memory of Commissioner William J. Yates, who served on the Des Plaines Park Board of Commissioners from May 1999 until March 2020. The year after, on May 5, the Park District purchased the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Howard Avenue, making the Park District the proud owner of all the 75-acre property at Lake Park.
We’re meeting the challenge of creating new and exciting programs for a more culturally diverse audience to ensure that all residents of Des Plaines can enjoy recreational activities, leisure time, educational and cultural opportunities, classes, and events that enhance their lives. The Des Plaines Park District is second to none, and we invite everyone to join us and Be Active! “Enriching lives every day” is our vision and our constant goal. We hope you are inspired to Come Out & Play!
