McCollum Park

Description

McCollum Park is the flagship park of Downers Grove Park District.

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.

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 two baseball fields, two softball fields, four soccer/multi-purpose fields, ten lighted tennis courts, six horseshoe courts, three lighted sand volleyball courts, two 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. During the winter, a portable ice skating rink is constructed on the northernmost parking lot.

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.

Rent a Sports Field or Court

Rent the Park Pavillion