The Waukegan Park District, incorporated in 1916, manages 52 properties on 751.32 acres of land and serves more than 86,000 people, making it the eleventh largest park district in Illinois. In addition to overseeing 41 parks, the Waukegan Park District operates several facilities, including the Adaptive Recreation Center, Administrative Center, Belvidere Recreation Center, Bonnie Brook Golf Course, Field House Sports, Fitness & Aquatics Center, Greenshire Golf Course, Jack Benny Center for the Arts, SplashZone and Waukegan’s Greg Petry SportsPark. Programs and events are offered year-round for individuals of all ages and abilities, emphasizing healthy lifestyles, fostering environmental stewardship, and promoting cultural education.

With a strong commitment to accessibility, WPD allocates thousands of dollars for financial assistance and provides hundreds of free programs to eliminate financial barriers. Programs and events promote physical and mental well-being through sports, fitness, arts, history and culture. WPD has 74 full-time employees and 217 part-time and/or seasonal employees, the Waukegan Park District is a member of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA), and the Park District Risk Management Agency (PDRMA).

The Waukegan Park District was awarded the National Gold Medal for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management in 2013 and has been named a finalist for the award seven times. The Waukegan Park District is nationally accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and state accredited by IAPD/IPRA as an Illinois Distinguished Accredited agency.

For more information about the Waukegan Park District, go to waukeganparks.org