Location
Downers Grove, IL
Hours
Dawn to Dusk except evenings when permitted lighted activity (operational, artificial lighting) is occurring. Sport Courts with lighting are open daily from 7:30am to 10pm.
The park will close immediately after lights are turned off until dawn the following day. No person shall remain in park system unless a permit is granted in advance. Security lighting shall not be considered operational, artificial lighting.
Description
McCollum Park is the flagship park of Downers Grove Park District.
McCollum Park has served as the Park District's flagship outdoor athletic facility and largest recreational park for over 30 years. The 50-acre park contains 2 baseball fields, 2 softball fields, 4 soccer/multi-purpose fields, 8 dedicated pickleball courts, 3 dedicated tennis courts plus 3 tennis courts which can be converted for an additional 8 temporary pickleball courts, 6 horseshoe courts, 3 lighted sand volleyball courts, 2 lighted basketball courts, a large playground and an 18-hole miniature golf course with concession and restroom facility at the north end of the park. The park also features a 1.2-mile asphalt loop walking path, outdoor fitness equipment, and several wooded picnic areas.
Amenities
- Basketball Court
- Batting Cages
- BBQ Grill
- Concession Stand
- Drinking Fountain
- Horseshoe Court
- Ice Skating
- Lighted Ball Field
- Miniature Golf
- Outdoor Gym
- Pickleball Court
- Picnic Shelter
- Playground
- Restrooms
- Sand Volleyball
- Sprayground
- Tennis Court
- Walking Trail
- Adventure Falls Sprayground
- Adventure Falls Mini Golf
- Adventure Falls Sport Courts
- 2 Parking Lots
- 50 Acres
History
The McCollum Park property was purchased by the Park District in 1972 and named in honor of Ted McCollum a few years later. Mr. McCollum was a former Commissioner and volunteer fireman, and helped the Park District acquire the original four parcels of land necessary to develop the community park. It quickly became one of the most heavily used parks in the District, creating the need to acquire additional parcels for expanded park amenities.
Originally constructed in three phases beginning in 1982 and completed in 1985, the park has seen consistent, heavy use while remaining largely unchanged throughout its three decades of use. When completed in the early 1980s, McCollum Park was considered by many as the premier athletic complex in Chicago's western suburbs. In late 2010, the Park District began design development for a major renovation project, to include replacement of the aging ballfield lighting, irrigation, ball field backstops and hardscape surfaces. Construction of the McCollum Park Infrastructure Renovation project began in August 2011 and was completed in July 2012. The project also included the addition of a new restroom and concession building located within the baseball complex "core area," replacement of an under-sized picnic shelter with a new, larger picnic pavilion, and expanding the south parking lot.
In August 2022, the Downers Grove Park District began a major park improvement project to update and expand recreation amenities at McCollum Park. The improvements included infrastructure renovations and the development of new, much-desired recreation opportunities for visitors of all ages. The perimeter pathway and pickleball/tennis courts were completed in 2023 and the sprayground and mini golf improvements opened in May of 2024.
Upcoming Improvements/Construction
The McCollum Park Improvement Plan has been completed with the exception of seal coating the perimeter pathway plus center striping and graphics to indicate lane usage for pedestrians and bicycles, which will be completed in 2024. Learn more about the new Adventure Falls Sprayground, Mini Golf and Sport Courts.