The Carol Stream Park District is partnering with the County of DuPage, in support of their Food Pantry Program. By serving as a year-round collection site, the Carol Stream Park District will help fight hunger and food insecurity in the community. Donations will be distributed to the Carol Stream Outreach Community Center and Wayne Township food banks.
Donations can be dropped off at the following park district facilities during operating hours:
Unexpired goods and nonperishable items needed include:
This initiative to keep local food pantries stocked year-round was spearheaded by County Commissioner Greg Schwarze, DuPage County Board District 6, after being approached by the Northern Illinois Food Bank regarding the ongoing need. Collaborating with Schwarze, Carol Stream Park District Executive Director Sue Rini requested the parks department to build special donation boxes designed to stand out as food collection boxes.
“We are committed to supporting our community in every way we can,” said Sue Rini. “This partnership allows us to take action against food insecurity and offer our facilities as accessible collection points for residents who want to help.”
The marketing awareness campaign, “You can make a difference: GIVE FOOD ALL YEAR ROUND,” will include monthly email reminders to customers, social media posts, and a webpage with more information and links to community donation sites and pantries. Recreation staff are also considering incentives to include the food drive in their programming.
Community facilities near Carol Stream that accept donations and also provide food pantry items to those in need are listed below. If you are in need of food pantry assistance, please check the websites or call for days and hours.
This ongoing effort demonstrates the power of community partnerships in addressing local challenges and making a lasting impact.
Photo gallery from left to right showing location of bins:
The Carol Stream Park District celebrated the grand re-opening of the newly renovated Community Park with a ribbon cutting on Monday, September 9. Located at 725 Thornhill Drive, the park is set to become a vibrant recreational hub for the entire community, bringing new life to an area that greatly benefits from public open space. Local legislators, Park District Board members, staff, and community members came together to celebrate this significant park renovation.
Present were Park District Board Commissioners Jeffery, Gramann, Sokolowski, Bird, Powers and Witteck. Park District staff included Executive Director Rini, Directors Bachewicz, Hamilton and Quinn, Superintendent Adamson, Division Manager Mondlock, Managers Anderson, Kintzel and Sisco, and multiple supervisors
Commissioner Jeffery welcomed all who attended this event, including special guests:
Senator Glowiak-Hilton, Representatives Grant and Sanalitro, DuPage County Commissioners Rutledge, Schwarze, and Zay, DuPage County Grant Administrator Miller, Village of Carol Stream Mayor Saverino, Trustees Anselmo, Gieser, McCarthy, and Zalak, Village Manager Holmer, Village Clerk Schwarze, and Carol Stream Police Officer Heckermann.
Carol Stream Police Blue Scoops handed out ice cream.
Without these partnerships this park project would not be possible.
Important Notice for Bark Park Members
As of September 15, the parking lot at the old motel near the Bark Park will no longer be available due to new ownership. The existing motel is scheduled for demolition. The new construction will not provide open parking for Bark Park members. We understand that many of you have been using this lot for its convenience and want to keep you informed of this upcoming change.
We kindly ask all members to park at Barb O’Rahilly Volunteer Park, located at 302 Kuhn Rd. From this park a paved path will lead you to the Bark Park. We hope you’ll see it as an opportunity to enjoy a pleasant walk with your dogs before they play.
Thank you for being a part of our community, and we look forward to seeing you and your furry friends at the Bark Park!
CAROL STREAM, IL – The Carol Stream Park District is pleased to announce the grand opening of the newly renovated Community Park on Monday, September 9, at 6:00 pm. Located at 725 Thornhill Drive, the park is set to become a vibrant recreational hub for the entire community, bringing new life to an area that greatly benefits from public open space. Local legislators, Park District Board members, staff, and community members will come together to celebrate this significant park renovation.
Event Details:
New Amenities:
Community Park has undergone a park-wide renovation with amenities designed to cater to residents of all ages and interests. The renovated park features:
These amenities will provide residents with a variety of recreational opportunities, making the park a central gathering place for families, sports enthusiasts, and nature lovers alike.
Community Impact:
Community Park serves a densely populated area of Carol Stream where public open space is essential for recreation. The park’s upgrades and new features provide much-needed recreational space for residents, particularly those living in adjacent high-density housing complexes such as Belmont Village, Colony Park, West Haven, St. Charles Square, Autumn Ridge, and Carol Stream Crossing.
“The enhancements at Community Park are a reflection of our commitment to providing quality recreational opportunities for our community,” said Executive Director Sue Rini. “We are excited to offer a space where residents can enjoy outdoor activities, connect with nature, and come together as a community.”
Project Background:
The Community Park renovation project was made possible through a generous grant from the DuPage County Community Development Block Grant, a land donation from the Village of Carol Stream, and the dedication of the Carol Stream Park District’s Board.
Planning for the park’s redevelopment began in 2021, with surrounding community input shaping the final design. The project aimed to address the needs and desires of residents, ensuring the park would serve as a valuable asset for years to come.
“The Burke playground design was chosen for its inclusivity and ability to meet the community’s needs,” said Parks Director Shane Hamilton. “We are proud to offer a playground that accommodates children ages 2-12, including features like swings, a zipline, and a Ninja course, all designed to foster physical activity and creativity.”
Join Us:
The Carol Stream Park District invites all community members to join us for the grand opening celebration on September 9. This is an opportunity to explore the park’s new features and celebrate with fellow residents.
Join us on Thursday, August 22, from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at Pleasant Hill Park. We want to hear from you!
The Carol Stream Park District is seeking your input about the future development of Pleasant Hill Park, located at 1N251 Harriet Street, behind Pleasant Hill Elementary School.
We invite all residents and especially neighbors of Pleasant Hill Park to a Community Input Meeting. Pleasant Hill Park is due for renovation, and we want to know what you want to see! Architects and staff will answer questions and guide you through some options for playground components. We want the kids’ input too!
This meeting is important to the renovation planning of the park. If you cannot make this meeting, feel free to send your ideas and thoughts to info@csparks.org. Be sure to title your email “Pleasant Hill Park”.
The Apollo Moon Landing
July 20, 1969
We are pleased to commemorate the historic Apollo moon landing on its 55th anniversary, celebrated on July 20, 1969. Did you know that Armstrong Park, established in 1969, is named after Neil Armstrong, the commander of this groundbreaking mission and the first man to set foot on the moon? Additionally, the former Aldrin Community Center that was located at Armstrong Park, honored Buzz Aldrin, the lunar module pilot. The community center was taken down in 2012 to make way for two water reservoirs and a pumping station as part of the $5 million county stormwater management project to help ease flooding in nearby neighborhoods. The first enclosed pool in Carol Stream was named Collins Pool after Mike Collins, the astronaut who accompanied Armstrong and Aldrin on the Apollo mission. The pool closed in 2006.
Upon his first step on the moon’s surface, Neil Armstrong made the famous remark, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,” recognizing the mission’s profound significance not just for the United States, but for the entire world. Since the historic Apollo moon landing, Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins have been celebrated as American heroes.
Fun fact: The moon is a vast place, roughly three times the size of Texas. Armstrong and Aldrin spent over two hours exploring an area they named “Tranquility Base.” During their 21-hour and 36-minute stay on the moon, the crew collected nearly 50 pounds of lunar material to bring back to Earth, which only weighed about 8.5 pounds in the moon’s lower gravity (quite the souvenir!).
Happy 55th Anniversary to our nation’s first moon landing!
A Message from Executive Director Sue Rini
School’s out, the weather is getting warm, and kids and families are ‘finally’ able to get outside and enjoy the weather! Park District staff have been working on getting our programs, activities, parks, and playgrounds ready for you. Our staff is just as excited to see our residents enjoying those parks as you are to use them. That’s why it’s so disappointing when we have to shut down a facility to repair acts of vandalism. We certainly don’t like spending tax dollars to fix the damage, and we know you don’t like to lose that amenity while we make those repairs. We’re united in the goal of making this community a place where everyone has a place to play, have fun, and stay active. Vandalism simply disrespects what we’ve accomplished together, and diminishes the spirit of community we’ve all worked to create.
Unfortunately, the Park District is seeing rising acts of vandalism. Whether it’s graffiti sprayed all over skate park equipment, on a sign, spray painting of multiples pieces of equipment at the Skate Park, damage to playground equipment, or intentional destruction of park property, vandalism hurts all of us. It impacts the pride and ownership we each have for our community spaces, destroys the beauty or functionality of the parks, and wastes the resources that are better used in other ways.
Vandalism also sets a harmful precedent for future behavior. When we tolerate acts of vandalism, we send a message that destructive behavior is acceptable—that it is okay to disregard the rules and disrespect the property of others. It erodes the fabric of our community. Parks and Playgrounds are more than just a place to play – they represent our shared commitment to each other to create a family oriented community where friendships are made and families can spend time together. Help us to keep the reckless actions of a few individuals from negatively impacting what we have.
If you see someone damaging property, please call the police. If you find damage or vandalism at a park district property, call us so we can get it fixed. Talk to your friends and children and remind them to about the importance of respecting our parks and playgrounds. We want you to be able to continue to enjoy the great amenities the Park District has to offer. Thanks for helping us make that possible.
CAROL STREAM: The Carol Stream Park District Board and Staff are pleased to announce the Grand Re-Opening of Walter Park, located at 970 High Ridge Pass, Carol Stream. A celebratory ribbon-cutting is scheduled for Monday, June 24, at 6pm. All residents are invited to join the Park District Board of Commissioners, visiting legislators, community partners and staff. We also welcome the Carol Stream Police Department’s Blue Scoops ice cream trailer, offering free refreshments.
The Carol Stream Park District was the recipient of an Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) grant in the amount of $400,000 for the Walter Park renovation. The amount funded 50% of the renovations planned for the park. The grant was awarded March 1, 2023.
The renovated park features a new pickleball court, a newly graded baseball/softball field with dugouts and bleachers, soccer field, new playground with synthetic turf, swings (youth and ADA-accessible), a crushed limestone walking path around the park with an access point to the adjoining neighborhood, a bike rack, and a portable restroom (seasonal). In addition, the parking lot has been repaved.
“We are excited to bring updated and new amenities to Walter Park,” said Executive Director Sue Rini. “The park renovation is the result of community input meetings in May 2022, and the Park District Board and staff are grateful to have received our residents’ ideas to add to the park. The OSLAD grant funding enabled us to add new amenities, such as a pickleball court, field dugouts, and a trail to this beautiful outdoor space, enhancing recreational opportunities for all who use the park.”
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Doug Wolf retiring from Basketball
This story was shared by Greg Schwarze, DuPage County Board Member, District 6.
Doug Wolf, 82 years old, has finally hung up his gym shoes and put away his basketball after playing the sport for nearly 70 years. The West Chicago resident and member of the Carol Stream Park District has been playing the last decade at Fountain View Rec Center with a group of 50- and 60-year-olds whom Doug considers “Spring Chickens”. Many in the group have been playing at the Carol Stream Park District for nearly three decades, first at the Simkus Rec Center and then at Fountain View. Retired Fire Fighter Greg Schwarze started playing at the park district back in 1999 and has enjoyed growing old with the group. “We don’t move as fast but can fire up 3-pointers much more often,” Schwarze said. Doug has been appreciative of the group not only for allowing him to play with them but being welcomed with open arms. “The guys have been wonderful. They threw me an 80th birthday party at the gym a couple of years ago, so I made sure to go easy on them once the game began!” said Doug. Wolf and the rest of the group keep in touch via a text group of the old-timers. He texted them May 28 to say he was needing to retire due to arthritis issues. Most of the guys came out to wish Doug well.
Row 1 –
Tony Bordignon
Greg Schwarze
Doug Wolf
Fred Wilcox
Andy Stahl
Row 2 –
Roger Hughes
Mike Hall
Harold Lonks
Row 3 –
Matt Johnson
Missing –
Rich Ostrowski
Jim Roach
Adrich Beteta
On June 5, Carol Stream Park District Commissioners, State Senator Seth Lewis, park district Staff and Carol Stream residents participated in the celebration and ribbon cutting of the first outdoor pickleball courts in Carol Stream. There are six courts located in Armstrong Park, 391 Illini Drive, Carol Stream.
Participants enjoyed an evening of free demos, tournament, concessions and raffle. The first 100 attendees received a pickleball Koozie cupholder.
For more information about court play and reservations, see our Adult Sports Pickleball webpage.
See ribbon cutting Video.
See Photos (coming soon).
