Parks and Recreation Department

Latest News

• The Normal Parks and Recreation Department is teaming up with The Performing Arts Academy of Central Illinois this fall and will be offering several dance, theater and other classes to be held within the Community Activity Center in Normal.  Classes will be available to ages beginning as early as 1 year old up to adult.  Some of the classes will include, Parent/Tot Dance and Gymnastics, Poms class, Cheerleading class, Hip Hop, WEE Act classes, Acting I, II and III classes and many more.  Please visit www.normal.org and look for the Fall/Winter Program Guide for specific class information or you can also visit www.theperformingartsacademyci.com .
• Families on the Go will be traveling to the St. Louis Zoo on a chartered bus Sunday, October 3rd, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fee is $15 per person. Register on webtrac using activity #240001 Section 11.
• Register now for Youth Dance with Instructor Jennifer Hayden Pirtz. A creative movement class introduces 4-5 yr. olds to basic elements of dance including rhythm & time, movement qualities & dynamics, space, and use of body.  Dance vocabulary & concepts will also be introduced. This class meets Tuesdays, 5:15-5:45pm. Fee is $60. Activity # to register on WebTrac is 241600 Section 11. Pre-Ballet introduces basic ballet vocabulary & movement skills to 6-7 yr. olds. This class meets Tuesdays, 5:45-6:30pm, $65. Use Activity #241602 Section 11 to register on WebTrac. Ballet is for youth 8 yrs. & older. This class emphasizes the development of classical ballet skills with a focus on proper placement & alignment. This class meets Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30PM, $70. Use Activity # 241604 Section 11 to register on WebTrac. All classes are held at Normal Community Activity Center and the session meets Sept. 14 thru Dec. 14.
• Registration is underway for Adult Step Aerobics, Core Training and Stretch & Tone Fitness classes. Classes begin September 7th & 8th. Register at the Parks and Rec office or call 454-9540 for activity # to register on WebTrac.         
• Registration is underway for Pee Wee All Sports. This program will introduce the 3-5 yr. old to baseball, basketball, football, soccer, hockey, and track and field through the use of an assortment of fun activities and games.  Participants meet at Colene Hoose Elementary South Gym for 8 Saturdays beginning October 2nd. The fee is $40. Register now on WebTrac.
  

  Age 3	9-9:45 a.m.	Activity # 233511	Section #11
  	12-12:45p.m.	# 233511	#14
  Age 4-5	10-10:45a.m.	#233511	#12
  	11-11:45a.m.	#233511	#13

• Register now for Youth Volleyball.  Boys and girls in 4th-7th grades can participate in a co-ed volleyball program. This 8 week program begins October 5th. Teams practice 1 hour a week and play a game every Saturday. This is an excellent opportunity to learn or improve volleyball skills and meet new friends.
• Biddy Basketball registration is currently underway. Boys and girls in K-1st grade can learn the game of basketball in this instructional 8 week program that teaches basic fundamentals through the use of fun games and activities. Participants will practice 2 nights a week and have the chance to show off what they have learned during the season on Game Days which will be held on the last two Saturdays of the program.
• Parks and Recreation offers a NEW Adult Fitness Class! Registration for Adult Zumba Fitness begins Monday, August 2nd. Zumba is a unique approach to exercise and fitness that is sweeping the nation! The music and movements are so much fun that an hour class feels like 20 minutes!  Zumba is dance rhythms which include the mambo, cha-cha, cumbia, and meringue, resulting in a burn of anywhere from 400-700 calories in an hour! Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday, 5:45-6:45 p.m. at Glenn Elementary School, 306 Glenn Ave, Normal. The fee is $40 per 7 week session.  The first session meets August 31 – October 14. Use Activity #224150 Section #11 to register on webtrac
• Registration for Adult Tennis Lessons at Maxwell Park begins August 16th. Lessons are directed by Joe Totten, Teaching Professional at Evergreen Racquet Club. This 6 week fall class is for the intermediate-advanced player. Class meets on Saturdays, September 11-October 16, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. The fee is $35. Use Activity #222081 Section #11 to register on webtrac
• Adult Fall Softball League information packets are available to pick up at the Normal Parks and Recreation office, 611 S. Linden St. League includes Men’s Rec and Co-Ed teams. Entry Fee is $250 per team plus a $5 per player fee. Each player will receive $5 in concession tickets. Returning teams register August 9 and August 10. New Team Registration begins Wednesday, August 11. All registrations are taken at the Normal Parks and Recreation office, 611 S. Linden between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. The season begins August 27th. 
• Rescheduled Concerts at the Connie Link Amphitheatre. The following groups had to cancel their previously scheduled performances due to weather conditions. Hip Pocket will perform on Sunday, July 25th, 2-4 p.m. Prairieland Dixie Band will perform Sunday, August 22nd, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Kevin Hart & Vibe Tribe will perform Sunday, September 26th, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
• Before/After School Program – Unit 5 Late Start Days Unit 5 will start school one hour later on set Wednesday’s throughout the 2010-2011 school year, to allow for professional development time for staff.  The Before School Program will meet from 6:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. on these days.  At 9:15, the students will be released to the Unit 5 staff on duty as normal. 
• Sounds of the Connie Link Amphiteatre. Bring a blanket or chair and relax on the grassy knoll of the amphitheatre as you listen to “Heartland Jazz Orchestra, Sunday, August 29th, 4:30 p.m". Performances are FREE to the public. Parking is available at the 611 S. Linden parking lot, the parking lot across the street from the amphitheatre and also a grass lot in the northwest corner of Underwood Park with access from Linden St. The amphitheatre is also accessible from the constitution trail.
• Dress Up Movies at the Connie Link Amphitheatre, 611 S. Linden St. The Princess and the Frog, August 28th.  Come dressed-up as your favorite movie character or bring your favorite movie prop from that evening’s show. Each night before the movie begins, audience members will be encouraged to come up on stage and show off their outfits or movie props. Movies begin at dusk and are FREE. Popcorn and soda/water will sell for $1. Children 10 and under will also receive a special item that relates to that evening’s movie. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs  and enjoy the show!
• Normal Parks and Recreation is getting even GREENER! Instead of printing and mailing a program guide, we are providing your official “Full-of-Fun” Summer Program Guide in one convenient location…on our website! Beginning April 1, you will find the Fall Program Guide online.
• After the current 2009-10 school year, the Normal Parks and Recreation Department will no longer be offering its Small Wonders or Rising Stars preschool programs.  As part of the effort to help parents and students transition to other preschools in the community, the Town will be listing private providers that have contacted the Department.   We are providing the list as a service only, and do not recommend any specific preschool.  If you are a preschool that would like to be listed, please send an email to Colette Farner at cfarner@normal.org.
  Preschools that have contacted the Town:
  A Shining Star Learning Center - www.ashiningstarnormal.com
  Blooming Grove Academy - www.bgakids.net
  Bright Horizons (formerly CHALK) - 662-7300 or chalk@brighthorizons.com
  Calvary United Methodist Church - 309-452-4560 http://www.cumcnormal.org/preschool/preschool.html
  Chesterbrook Academy – 4 B/N locations - http://www.chesterbrookacademy.com
  Child Care Resource & Referral referral@ccrrn.com 309-828-1892
  Child’s View Cooperative Preschool – www.achildsviewcooperativepreschool.com
  Christ the King Preschool 309-454-4902 christthekingpreschool.org
  Kathryn Marie Albee Early Learning Center 309-452-3152 Director: Sue Spaulding sue.spaulding@epiphanyschools.org - www.epiphanyschools.org
  Kiddie Korner Preschool - 862-3947
  La Petite Academy - www.lapetite.com
  Mulberry School  - 862-0510 - mulberryschool.org
  Noah's Ark Preschool - www.stjohnsbloomington.org/noahsark
  Scribbles Center for Learning - www.scribblescenterforlearning.com
  Sharing Tree Preschool – www.collegeparkcc.org
  Shining Lights Preschool -  www.shininglightspreschool.com
  Trinity Lutheran Preschool contact: laurabusse@trinluth.org
  Wesley's Bright Beginnings contact Kelli Nichols at (309) 827-8046 wesley-umc.com
  YWCA- www.ywcamclean.org
• Class Cancellations on Rec-Line, 433-3434. For up-to-date information on cancellations and special events, call Rec-Line.
• Emerald Ash Borer Beetle....On Tuesday, September 2, 2009, the Illinois Department of Agriculture confirmed that the emerald ash borer has been found within the Town of Normal. Click here to read the news release
  
• Information regarding the Emerald Ash Borer and can also be found at www.emeraldashborer.info and www.illinoiseab.com

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We are here to provide citizens and visitors with a clean, safe, well-managed, fiscally sound and environmentally pleasant community.

The department offers 13 parks encompassing over 400 acres of parkland, an 18 hole golf course, a historically registered Theater, a Community Activity Center, 2 outdoor pools, a 10 field softball complex, the Children's Discovery Museum, and a 13 mile hard surfaced multi-use trail. This department also provides a well-rounded selection of programs and classes for Youth, Adults and Special Populations. These are just some of the great facilities and programs offered by the Town of Normal.

The last day of operation for Anderson Aquatic Center is August 15th. Fairview Family Aquatic Center will remain open through Labor Day.

You can use the Town's WebTrac system to register for activities, view your account history, print receipts and reserve tee times at Ironwood Golf Course.

The facilities and programs are provided as an avenue to a higher quality of life for the citizens of our town and our welcomed visitors!

The function of the department is best summarized by the Director who stated, "we have programming targeted for all segments of the community, outstanding facilities, parks for all to enjoy, and family centered special events. The mission is to give the citizens of Normal a Parks and Recreation system they can be proud of".

Mission Statement of the Parks and Recreation Department: We are here to provide citizens and visitors with a clean, safe, well-managed, fiscally sound and environmentally pleasant community.

Parks & Recreation Brochure

Seasonal Employment Application - Parks & Recreation [PDF] - We are currently accepting applications for fall and winter programs.

Field Trip Parent Permission Form [PDF]

Parks & Recreation Master Plan [PDF]

This page last modified 09/02/10.