Our History

1916

Local referendum passed on December 26, to create the Waukegan Park District.

1916
1916 – 1930

Roosevelt and Washington Parks were the first properties acquired. Other parks acquired were Smith Park, Upton Park, Victory Park, Yeoman Park, Hinkston Park and the Powell Park expansion.

1916 – 1930
1931

The District acquired the Bonnie Brook Golf Club. 

1931
1938

Belvidere Park was added to make 255 acres of land total District wide.

1938
1960s

The Park District began providing recreational activities in parks, such as tennis courts, basketball courts, playgrounds, picnic areas and ball diamonds. 

1960s
1956

Outdoor swimming pool was added at Belvidere Park.

1956
1963

Bowen Park was purchased. 

1963
1967

Jack Benny Center for the Arts opened in Bowen Park.

1967
1967

The Park District celebrated its 50th anniversary.

1967
1968

Greenshire Golf Course was purchased.

1968
1967 to 1969

The Park District Bevier and Clearview Park, additions to Dugdale, Callahan and Adelphi sites.

1967 to 1969
1967

The City of Waukegan, transferred Ben Diamond Park, Roger Edwards Field and Dugdale Park to the Park District along with the transfer of the Department of Recreation and Playgrounds.

1967
1972

Recreation Center (BRC) was built. The District also developed the Community Recreation Center (CRC) in 1977, which is now known as the Boys and Girls Club.

1972
1989

A new playground was installed at the Western Tot Lot.

1989
1990

The Ray Bradbury Park was dedicated.

1990
1991

The District’s 75th year, Besley Park, Belvidere Park, Bowen Formal Garden and the King Park playground projects were completed.

1991
1992

Country Lane Park was acquired. The District also entered into a cooperative agreement with the City of Waukegan and Waukegan Township to provide senior programming now known as Park Place.

1992
1993

Bevier Park rehabilitation started with a matching grant of $151,800. Construction completed in 1994.

1993
1993

New playgrounds were installed at Kirk, Dugdale, Clearview and Plonien Parks. The Janet Morrison Picnic Center was added in fall.

1993
1996

Bowen Park lighting, parking lot and roadway improvements, Arbor Park construction projects were completed.

1996
1996 to 1999

Bevier Park was renovated to add recreational activities including the nine-hole Henry Pfau Callahan Disc Golf Course.

1996 to 1999
1997

Clark Park was rededicated as Joe Sisolak Park.

1997
1998

A new playground was installed at Graham Park.

1998
1998

The Park District received the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Section (IEPA) 319 Grant for wetland restoration and riverbank stabilization for Washington Park.

1998
1998

The Park District acquired property at Lancaster Subdivision (formerly Rudd Farm) and the Fields of Bayberry site.

1998
1998 to 1999

Masonry and carpentry repairs were completed at Douglas House.

1998 to 1999
1999

Additional acreage was acquired adjacent to Hinkston Park and adjacent to Clearview Park. The developers of Hidden Glen Subdivision donated land for a boardwalk, paths and play area.

1999
1999

The Park District acquired Orchard Hills Golf Course in January and the bridge at Yeoman Park was replaced.

1999
1999 to 2000

Waukegan Municipal Beach, Upton Park, Rudd Farm Park Site, Bevier Park, Washington Band shell, Roosevelt Bridge, Ray Bradbury Park, Roosevelt Park, Kirk Park, and the Community Recreation Center were renovated.

1999 to 2000
1999 to 2000

Property was donated for park development at the Fields of Cambridge site and Eagle Ridge/Lewis Avenue Apartment Site, and the Park District acquired land adjacent to King and Bevier Parks.

1999 to 2000
2000

The Waukegan, Lindenhurst, Round Lake Area and Zion Park Districts formed the Special Recreation Services of Northern Lake County (SRSNLC).

2000
2000

Half of the second floor of Lilac Cottage was converted into living quarters for interns.

2000
2000

The Park District received an IEPA 319 Grant for wetland restoration for Roosevelt Park. The Park District received reimbursement of $430,473 in 2004 when the project was completed.

2000
2001

Cherry Electric, Inc. building was purchased to create the Park Maintenance Facility.

2001
2002

The Park District purchased properties adjacent to King Park with the City of Waukegan Community Development Block Grant funding.

2002
2003

The Park District received the Public Museum Capital Grants Program for the restoration of the Haines Museum in Bowen Park.

2003
2003

The Boys and Girls Club of Lake County leased the Community Recreation Center and the Waukegan Skate Park opened in Bowen Park.

2003
2003

Roosevelt Park received a new playground, entrance plaza, bridge, and interpretive signs. A new playground and pathway system at Powell Park.

2003
2004

A playground renovation was completed at Woodard Park. The District received OSLAD Grant funding for the Fields of Cambridge Park development.

2004
2004

Capital improvement projects included construction of a Veterans Memorial Plaza in Washington Park. Plans were discussed for an outdoor sports complex at the former Johns Manville plant site by the Waukegan lakefront.

2004
2004

Construction started at Hinkston Park for what now is the Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center.

2004
2004

The first dog drinking fountain was installed at Larsen Park in October.

2004
2005

The National Bicycle League and Park District staff, planned and built the BMX track at Henry Pfau Callahan Park.

2005
2005

New playgrounds and basketball courts were built at Bedrosian and Woodard Parks, and a new restroom building was built at Ben Diamond Park.

2005
2006

Serenity Park opens and an OSLAD Grant is awarded for a new playground at Bowen Park.

2006
2006

The Field House Sports & Fitness Center at Hinkston Park opened its doors in September.

2006
2006 to 2007

Fireman’s Memorial Park was renovated with a new playground, walkways and a brick plaza.

2006 to 2007
2007

Park improvements included: a new playground at Bonnie Brook; Western Tot Lot was renovated with a new playground; a new stone stairway in Bowen Park ravine; and a new irrigation system and deep well at Bonnie Brook Golf Course.

2007
2008

Bedrosian Park was renovated, and Bowen Park playground opened in the summer.

2008
2008

The flag sculpture by Tom Queoff was installed at the Veterans Memorial Plaza.

2008
2009

Construction began at the SportsPark.

2009
2009

Bonnie Brook Clubhouse was remodeled in June. Construction was also completed on Phase I of the River Road Bike Trail in conjunction with Libertyville Township.

2009
2009

Work was completed on a Streambank Restoration Project at Powell Park in September as part of an Illinois EPA Section 319 Grant.

2009
2009

Renovations to the Howard Ganster Pool were completed in fall.

2009
2009

Park improvements included the installation of new playground at Larsen Park, the rededication of Ray Bradbury Park playground and the installation of the Discovery Boardwalk at Roosevelt Park.

2009
2010

Bedrosian Park received an OSLAD Grant and was renovated and opened in the summer.

2010
2010

An indoor golf learning center was opened at Bonnie Brook in January.

2010
2011

The Waukegan SportsPark opened in June.

2011
2011

Midwest Generation partnered with the District to create a Children’s Garden behind the Jane Addams Center in Bowen Park.

2011
2011

A rain garden, a permeable paver parking lot, playground, elevated boardwalk, and interpretive signage was installed at Roosevelt Park.

2011
2012

In partnership with the Waukegan Park District, the Citizen’s Advisory Group (CAG) obtained two important grants, a US Fish and Wildlife Program Grant for Bowen Park Ravine Restoration and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Grant to address the ravines in Bowen Park.

2012
2013

Plonien Park upgrades were completed.

2013
2013

Improvements were made to the Callahan Franklin Dog Exercise Area in September.

2013
2013

The District received two grants to assist with the management of ash trees. The first grant was a Technical Assistance Grant of $18,000 supporting a tree inventory and management software. The second grant was a Reforestation Grant of $30,000, supporting the removal of diseased trees and planting of replacements.

2013
2013

The District was awarded the 2013 Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in Class III (Population of 50,001 to 100,000) by the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration (AAPRA), in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association.

2013
2014

A $400,000 OSLAD Grant was awarded to the District for playground and park improvements for Clearview Park in April.

2014
2014

A youth recreation room was added to the Belvidere Recreation Center.

2014
2014

Waukegan Park District received an Illinois Department of Natural Resources Park and Recreational Facility Construction (PARC) Grant of $2.5M to support the addition of an indoor pool. The District also received an Illinois Green Infrastructure Grant (IGIG) for $470,000 for Clearview Park.

2014
2014

Two seasonal outdoor ice rinks were added to Arbor Park and Belvidere Park.

2014
2016

The addition of the indoor aquatics center opened in winter 2016.

2016
2017

The Park District celebrated its Centennial year.

2017
2017

The farm property on the corner of Yorkhouse and Cashmore was purchased in spring.

2017
2017

New playgrounds were installed in Adelphi, Country Lane, Yeoman and Washington Parks.

2017
2018

Property was purchased at 1324 Golf Road and renovated to the Administration Center. The Corrine Rose Administrative Center was demolished to make way for the Belvidere Park renovations.

2018
2018

Belvidere Park’s name was changed to Corrine J. Rose Park.

2018
2018

Clearview Park opened in June. The $2.1 million renovation included an OSLAD Grant for $400,000.

2018
2018

Two Lake County Forest Preserves, Lyons Woods and the Waukegan Savanna, were connected by a trail in July that runs through Bevier and Callahan Parks.

2018
2018

Armory Park was renovated in the fall.

2018
2019

The District purchased the building at 1900 Belvidere Road, at the corner of Belvidere and Lewis Avenues.

2019
2019

An interactive mobile phone app was developed to provide easy access to park district information in February.

2019
2019

Ray Bradbury Park was designated a Literary Landmark by United for Libraries.

2019
2019

King Park was renovated with an OSLAD Grant of $400,000.  The $1.2M renovation included an OSLAD Grant for $400,000.

2019
2019

Construction began in 2019 to renovate Corrine J. Rose Park.

2019
2020

The City of Waukegan transferred ownership of the Carnegie Library to the Waukegan Park District.

2020
2020

Victory Park construction started with an OSLAD Grant for $400,000.

2020
2020

The District established the Nature’s Classroom at Bevier Center.

2020
2020

Ben Diamond Park playground was replaced in fall.

2020
2021

The District acquired two small parks; Friendship and Hilltop Park and replaced both playgrounds.

2021
2021

Park in the Glen playground was replaced in fall.

2021
2021

The Waukegan Parks Foundation led a capital campaign to fund the purchase and installation of a Percussion Playground at Corrine J Rose Park.

2021
2022

The Park District purchased the McAlister Building in Spring and began renovations.

2022
2022

Victory Park renovation was completed in summer. The renovation included an OSLAD Grant for $400,000. The Parks Foundation held a fundraising campaign for the fountain in the healing garden.

2022
2022

The Park District was awarded an OSLAD Grant to renovate Bevier Park.

2022
2022

Groundbreaking ceremony was held in October for the Carnegie building.

2022
2022

Graham Park playground was replaced.

2022
2022

Besley Park was renovated.

2022
2024

Smith Park was sold to the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County.

2024