80 Years of Play

In 2026, the Downers Grove Park District proudly celebrates 80 Years of Play, honoring eight decades of parks, recreation, and community connection. Established in 1946, the Park District was born from the vision and determination of a group of concerned citizens who recognized the importance of creating a park and recreation system to serve the residents of Downers Grove. Their efforts culminated in a successful local referendum held on June 15, 1946, when voters approved the creation of the Park District by a margin of 130 to 82. Since then, the Downers Grove Park District has grown alongside the community, enriching lives through parks, programs, facilities, and shared experiences that continue to inspire play, wellness, and togetherness for generations.

Celebrations kick off at the Summer Concert Series!

Tuesday, June 9, at 7PM

Join us for an evening of outdoor music, fun and a special 80th anniversary giveaway (while supplies last)!

Learn more about the Summer Concert Series

Discover our history

	Parks & Playgrounds In 1948, the Downers Grove Park District purchased its first three parks from the Village: Prince Pond, Gilbert Park, and Randall Park. By the District’s 10th anniversary in 1956, it managed six parks spanning 35 acres. Today, the Downers Grove Park District serves approximately 49,500 residents across just over 14 square miles. The District owns or leases 47 sites, and together its parks, natural areas, and golf properties encompass nearly 600 acres.
	Recreation Programs In 1952, the Park District created its first Recreation Department, taking over recreation programming from the Village. At the time, only eight summer programs were offered. Today, 2,655 programs serve more than 31,000 participants, with offerings that include fitness & sports leagues, active adult trips & programs, art & dance classes, nature & history programs, summer camps & preschool programs and more!
	Veterans Memorial Pavilion at Fishel Park Since assuming stewardship of the park in 1972, the Downers Grove Park District has preserved and enhanced this historic space as both a memorial to local veterans and a community gathering place. Originally purchased in 1944 and dedicated to honoring veterans, the park later added a bandshell in 1953 with a complete renovation in 2012, which continues to serve as a centerpiece for events and celebrations.
	Cathy Mahoney Recreation Center Dedicated in honor of past commissioner Cathy Mahoney in 2025, the Cathy Mahoney Recreation Center is a 69,000 sq. ft. facility that opened in 2003. It features the 4500 Fitness Center, three exercise studios, a large gymnasium with convertible court space, a three-lane indoor track, and a flexible multipurpose room with access to an outdoor terrace and amphitheater. The facility is also home to SEASPAR.
	Lincoln Center The Lincoln Center began as Lincoln School, serving students from 1867 to 1974. Today, this six-level historic building in the heart of downtown is home to the Park District’s preschool and adult center plus meeting rooms, art and dance studios, a gymnasium, classrooms, an auditorium, and kitchen. A place with over 150 years of history that’s still bringing the community together today!
	Lyman Woods Beginning with the preservation of 81.5 acres in 1987, community support helped protect 40 additional acres in 1996, now home to the William F. Sherman Interpretive Center. Today, Lyman Woods spans 150 acres of restored oak woods, prairie, and marsh, supporting more than 300 native plant species and diverse wildlife. Ongoing restoration reflects a lasting commitment to conservation and outdoor discovery.
	Downers Grove Museum The Downers Grove Museum preserves the community’s history through a campus of historic sites.  Its origins began in 1973 with the dedication of Pierce Downer’s Burial Place to the Park District, followed by the opening of the Victorian Blodgett House as a museum in 1977. The campus later expanded to include the 1846 Israel Blodgett House, one of Downers Grove’s oldest buildings, which opened to the public in 2022.
	Belmont Golf Club Belmont Golf Club is one of the most historic golf sites in the United States. In 1892, golf pioneer Charles Blair Macdonald built the first nine holes west of the Allegheny Mountains on the site, and by 1893 it became the nation’s first 18-hole golf course. Belmont Golf Club was officially established there in 1899, and the Downers Grove Park District purchased the property in 1968, operating it as a public course ever since. In 2023, the course was officially renamed Belmont Golf Club to honor its legacy.
	Hummer Park Originally called the “Fairview Avenue Picnic Grove,” Hummer Park was renamed in honor of Otto H. Hummer, the District’s first Park Board President and administrator. The District acquired the land between 1951 and 1956, establishing its first offices, maintenance facility, and the “Hummer House” community center on site. The house was later removed after the Lincoln Community Center opened. In 1982, a large brick picnic pavilion with restrooms and built-in grills was added and remains the park’s centerpiece today.
	McCollum Park The McCollum Park property was purchased by the Park District in 1972 and named after former Commissioner and volunteer firefighter Ted McCollum. Developed between 1982 and 1985, the park became a premier athletic complex. Over the years, improvements have included expanded amenities, updated infrastructure, renovated sport courts, and a sprayground. The 2026 improvements will add a new playground, shade structures, an updated fitness area, and enhanced accessible game courts.
	Prince Pond Prince Pond, formerly known as Grove Lake, was originally constructed in 1892 as part of the E.H. Prince subdivision. After being excavated and reshaped in 1932, the pond and shelter were donated to the Village of Downers Grove in 1936 and later acquired by the Downers Grove Park District in 1948. Over the years, improvements have included shoreline stabilization, lighting, walkways, and playground upgrades. Most recently, the playground was renovated in 2025.
	Mar-Duke Farm The 9.3 acres now known as Mar-Duke Farm were originally owned by A. “Duke” Schlauder, who used the property to sell farm equipment in the 1940s. The land was later passed to Margaret Schlauder Evert, who helped make its preservation possible by selling the property to the Park District and contributing toward the purchase in Duke’s memory. Named in honor of both residents, Mar-Duke Farm continues its agricultural tradition today, with up to 450 local families renting garden plots to grow their own plants.
	Doerhoefer Park Dedicated in 1971 and named for former Park Commissioner and Board President Edward J. Doerhoefer, Doerhoefer Park has been a flagship Downers Grove Park District athletic facility since the 1960s. The park features lighted baseball and softball fields, a synthetic turf field for football, soccer and lacrosse, basketball, tennis and pickleball courts, ADA-accessible playgrounds, seating areas, concessions and a 0.39-mile walking loop.
	Patriots Park Constructed in 1978 in partnership with the Village of Downers Grove, the 5.8-acre Barth Pond serves as both a stormwater detention facility and popular fishing destination. Located within Patriots Park, the Barth Pond honors Officer Richard Barth, who was killed in the line of duty in 1974. Improvements completed in 2011 and 2014 enhanced the shoreline, walking paths, and pond depth, creating a scenic 0.45-mile paved loop around the water.
	Gilbert Park Gilbert Park was acquired by the Park District from the Village of Downers Grove in 1948. Before becoming a park, the site served as a quarry supplying gravel for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. The park’s limestone shelter, believed to have been built in 1941, remains a historic feature. Long known for its baseball field set within a natural depression that creates an amphitheater-like setting for spectators, the 7.7-acre park also features a playground, picnic pavilion, natural areas, and a lit ball field.