News

Coral Cove Water Park opens for the season on June 2 at 10:30 am for pass holders and at 11:00 am for everyone. Celebrate this opening day with the Sammy Starfish makeover at 1:00 pm and Sammy autographs and photo-opportunity from 4:00 to 4:30 pm.

As well as our popular special events, including Pirate Week and Search for Sammy week, this season we’re adding fun weekly events:

Bingo: Tuesdays 4-5pm
Kick back and relax on the side of the pool with a fun game of Bingo. Each week a different Bingo theme will be introduced.

What’s in Your Beach Bag?: Thursdays 4-5pm
Join us for a scavenger hunt for items in your beach bag. Search for items like a pair of sunglasses, sunscreen, or hot sauce. Be the first to have all the items on the list and receive a prize.

Pool Side Games: Sundays 12-2pm
Poolside games including water relays, hula-hoop contests, dance-offs to noodle and dive toy games.

Float Day: Fridays 6-8pm & Sundays 11am-1pm
Bring your raft and float in the pool.

On Jul 1, Aug 1 and Sep 1, season pass holders will also be able to enjoy a free slice of pizza from our Rocco Vino’s poolside cafe!

Visit coralcovewaterpark.com for a listing of special and weekly events throughout the season.

307 runners gathered at the starting line for the second JustRun! 5k held on Saturday, May 19 at Carol Stream Town Center.

The race leaders set a fast pace for the run, with Roger Kline, winning the race for the second time, with a 15:55 min time. 12 other runners completed the racer in under 20 minutes. Brooke Nusser was the first female runner to cross the finish line with a time of 21:46.

View the full results for the race.

JustPlay! day two is from 11am-4pm today. Join us at Carol Stream Town Center to slide down the zip line, bounce on the eurobungies, take a scuba lesson or watch Division BMX and Chicago Boyz Acrobatic Team in action. New events today include the family fun run at 11:30am, a bags tournament at noon a 3v3 adult basketball tournament from 2-4pm and golf swing analysis by Green Valley Golf Range. We’ve also got performances by SuperStar Karate at 1:30pm and live music from MissBehavin at 2:30pm.

Visit www.justplay.org for full details and for park+ride locations – please be aware there is no on-site parking this year.

Earlier in the week we got word that our zip line may not arrive in time for JustPlay! due to a hold up in shipping – but as of Friday morning we received confirmation that it will be here today and set up tonight, just in time for this weekend’s festival.

Ever zip-lined while watching a BMX stunt show? Or learned to scuba dive, line dance and juggle all in  the same day?  Unless you’re a full-time adrenalin junkie you’re answer is probably ‘no’, but you will have a chance to switch it to a ‘yes’ at the JustPlay! Sports & Rec Festival on May 19 & 20 – and here’s the best part, all these activities are free to try.

JustPlay!, held at Carol Stream Town Center (Gary Ave & Lies Rd., Carol Stream), was created for people to ‘test drive’ a new sport or hobby, such as lacrosse, pottery or kettlebell – and now has over 100 sports, activities and performances for festival-goers to take part in.

As well as the BMX stunt show and scuba diving pool, highlights at the weekend event also include a NASCAR simulator, laser tag, a 25 foot climbing wall, skills clinics from the Blackhawks Street Team and Bulls Sox Academy, reptile displays, pedestal jousting, two eurobungies, cupcake decorating and a health and fitness vendor market.  Check out the website at www.justplay.org for a full list.

For the more competitive, there’s a 5k run ($30 entry fee), a bags tournament ($20 per team), a 3v3 adult basketball tournament ($20 per team), and even a photomarathon – a photo contest that tests creative, rather than physical, endurance.

JustPlay! is held on May 19 from 10am-6pm and on Sun May 20 from 11am-4pm. The JustRun! 5k is held on May 19 at 9am. Admission to the festival is free, there is no on-site parking, so please use one of the nearby park and ride sites. The first 1000 visitors each day will receive a JustPlay! re-usuable bag. More information and a full schedule is available at www.justplay.org

Get putting at Coyote Crossing Mini Golf! Our 18-hole course opened for the spring season on May 5. The course will open from 11am-10pm on Saturdays and 11am-7pm on Sundays until June 3, when full summer hours begin.

Rates have been kept at the same low prices as 2011, at only $5 per round, or buy a 10 round pass for only $45. Tots two and under play free. Visit www.coyotecrossingminigolf.com for details of our May special events, which include Memorial Day on May 28.

Coyote Crossing Mini Golf is on North Avenue, next to McCaslin Park and the Wheaton Bible Church.

Delivery of our Summer Activity Guides to homes begins this week. The new guides are also available to view online and available to pick up at Simkus Recreation Center.

Look for new activities this season including horse riding, the Stars & Stripes Flag Football Tournament and softball leagues and tournaments at the new-look McCaslin Park (on schedule to open in June)

Browse the guides online now for full details of summer programs, or pick one up from Simkus Recreation Center. Online registration is available for most activities, or register at Simkus Recreation Center.

Over 800 people attended the Earth Day Festival and Farmers’ Market on Saturday, April 21.  Activities included a make-your-own rain barrel workshop, an oak tree planting and dedication with Oaklees Guide at noon, a visit from Ronald McDonald and the annual Park Spring Clean.

Over two dozen vendors sold products in the Farmers’ Market, all featuring products from within 100 miles of Carol Stream, including gourmet cookies, organic tomatoes, local honey and homemade dog treats.

Attendees are invited to fill out an online survey on the event for a chance to win a $50 Menard’s gift card. Complete the survey here.

Full details of the festival vendors, and contact details are available at http://www.csparks.org/green/index.php/earth-day-2012/

Registration for our summer play, Alice in Wonderland Jr, begins on April 24 at 8am for residents and on April 25 at 8am for non-residents. Registration is taken on a first come first serve basis and will be available online and at Simkus Recreation Center.

Join Alice’s madcap adventures in Wonderland as she chases the White Rabbit, races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with the Tweedles, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game! Roles are plentiful to play these wonderfully wacky characters.

Auditions will be held on May 21 & 23, 4-8pm at Simkus Recreation Center. Performers must attend both audition dates. Performances will be held from August 2 through 4 at the Wheaton Academy Theatre.

Adult softball and basketball teams have a chance to get warmed up for the season and win cash prizes with our april tournaments.

On April 29 the Early Bird 12″ Softball Tournament will be held at Armstrong Park, and also on April 29, the 3 on 3 Spring Tune Up Basketball Tournament will be held at Simkus Recreation Center. The registration deadline for both tournaments in April 23.

To register for either tournament, pick up a registration form at Simkus Recreation Center, or register your team online.

Get the best rates of the season! Purchase your  Coral Cove Water Park Super Early Bird pass by April 14.

A family of three saves $40, family of four saves $50, and a family of five saves up to $60 on regular prices. Season Pass benefits include: Unlimited swimming all summer long; pass-holder only early entry; 10% off Coral Cove birthday parties; 10% off Coral Cove rentals and new for 2012, a free slice of pizza at the Rocco Vino concession stand on select days.

Coral Cove opens for the season on June 2 with our Grand Opening celebration. Visit coralcovewaterpark.com for details of our new special events and family fun days.

Parents can visit the Carol Stream Park District Preschool on April 14 during the annual Preschool Open House.

The open house will give parents the opportunity to tour the Elk Trail Preschool Center, meet the teachers and learn more about the preschool curriculum – which is focused on helping children develop pre-kindergarten skills such as numbers, letters and cooperative play.

The park district preschool programs provide some of the most affordable preschool options in the Carol Stream area, with rates starting at $77 per month. Programs available include Pathway to Preschool for 2 1/2 year olds, 3 year old Preschool, 4 year old Preschool, and Pathway to Kindergarten for more advanced 4 year olds.

The Preschool Open House takes place at 160 Elk Trail, Carol Stream, from 10am-12:30pm on Saturday April 14.

Want to join one of Illinois’ top park district gymnastics teams? Attend the annual placement day on April 13 at6:30pm at  Simkus Recreation Center and you’ll make the team!

The Springers of Carol Stream Park District is a year round gymnastics program for gymnasts aged 6-18. The team competes in the Illinois Park District Gymnastic Conference and in 2011 they won several titles, including Beginner Tumbling, Advanced Tumbling and eight individual state titles.

Everyone makes the team, but gymnasts must be assessed by the Head Coach to get permission to register and join the correct level. If you can’t make it to the team placement night please call 630-784-6100 to arrange an assessment.

There’s still time to register for this year’s Bunny Bash for kids aged 1-8yrs! Over 100 children are already registered for the event, join in the fun and register on the day for $7 per child ($11 non-res).

As well as an indoor egg hunt and photos with the bunny, the event includes a Petting Zoo, egg shaped sugar cookie decorating, springtime crafts, flower planting, a bounce house, face painting, and an interactive music show. The event is held at the Simkus Recreation Center from 10am-12:30pm. Please arrive early if you are not-pre-registered.

Hunt for eggs under the moonlight at Coyote Crossing Mini-Golf course tonight! Don’t forget to wrap up warm, bring a flashlight, a basket to collect eggs and your camera to take a photo with the Bunny (available for both children and dogs).

Child Hunt Times: (Check-in 15 min. prior)

4 – 6 years old:       7:45 pm

7 – 9 years old:       8:00 pm

10 – 14 years old:   8:15 pm

Dog Hunt Times: (Check in 15 minutes prior)

Dogs 40 pounds & under – 8:30 pm

Dogs 41 pounds & over – 8:45 pm

Pictures with the Bunny:  7:30 – 8:45 pm

Registration is available on site, please arrive early if you still need to register.