Parks and Recreation Department
Parks & Recreation
611 South Linden
Normal, IL 61761
Garry Little, Director - (309) 454-9540
Doug Wiggs, Asst. Director -
(309) 454-9540
Fax: (309) 454-9701
Hours of Operation: M-F 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
2009 Annual Report [PDF]
Latest News
- Families on the GO! Registration is underway for a trip to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. A charter bus will depart from Chiddix Jr. High parking lot at 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 24th and return at 7 p.m. The Fee is $45 which includes transportation and a Shedd Pass allowing you to get into all the exhibits and shows. Use activity #240007-11 to register on webtrac. Deadline to register is April 2nd.
- Dress Up Movies at the Normal Theater. Dress Up Movies move indoors to the Normal Theater during the winter and spring. This is a FREE family event. Movie goers are encouraged to dress up or bring an item that relates to the featured movie. Each child under the age of 10 will receive something special either before or after the movie. Concessions are available and most concession items sell for $1. The next movie is on April 10th. The feature film is Spiderwick Chronicles. Spiderwick Chronicles is rated PG for scary creature action and violence, peril and some thematic elements. The doors open at 12:30 p.m. The movie begins at 1 p.m.
- Spring Break Activities will be offered during the Unit 5 spring break to children in grades K-5th. Registration is currently underway.
- 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 Summer Program Guide online. Resident Registration begins May 3, Non-Resident registration May 10 and Walk-Ins May 17. If you are unable to view the Summer Program Guide online, we will have desk copies to view at Normal Parks and Recreation, 611 S. Linden St. beginning April 1, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
- Adult Summer Softball League Packets are available to pick up at the Parks and Rec office or visit http://www.normal.org/go/leagues. Teams that played in the league last summer may register March 15-17 at the Parks and Rec office between the hours of 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. New team registration begins March 18. Rosters and Fees must be turned in before 5 p.m. A lottery will be held for league openings at 5:30 p.m. on March 18 at the Parks and Rec office. A manager must be present. League play begins the week of April 25th.
- Registration begins March 1st for Spring Adult Tennis Lessons. This program offers two levels of instruction based on skills, to persons 16 years and older. A beginner-intermediate class meets Wednesdays, 5:30-6:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 10-11 a.m. Register on webtrac using Activity #222042 Section #11. The Intermediate-Advanced class meets Wednesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Activity #222043 Section #11. Practices are held at Maxwell Park on Parkside Rd. Fee is $50. Lessons begin April 14 – May 22
- Register now for the next Teens R Normal Paintball Trip to Challenge Park Extreme in Joliet. This event is open to students in 6th – 12th grade. Participants will leave the Normal Parks and Rec parking lot at 611 S. Linden on Friday, March 26 at 8:30 a.m. and return at 6:00 p.m. Fee is $50 which includes transportation, admission, equipment rental and a Hot Dog lunch that includes chips and a drink. Use Activity #250130 Section #23 to register on webtrac. March 19 is the deadline to register.
- Pre-Softball and Pre-Baseball registration begins April 1st. This coach pitched program for boys and girls age 6-7 years runs eight weeks beginning June 7. Teams practice twice a week with games played on Saturday mornings. Fee is $70. Mail or fax in attached registration form. Registration can be completed on webtrac. However, please fax or mail in the registration form as well so that we have your child’s shirt size. Just write across the top of the form that your child is already registered.
- EASTER EGG HUNT…Easter eggs, games and
prizes will flood Champion Fields at Maxwell Park located on
Parkside Road on Saturday, March 27. This event begins at 11
a.m. The Easter Bunny will be making an appearance, so be
sure to bring your camera. Separate egg hunts will be held
for children up to age 10. All children need to bring their
own Easter Basket or bag for the hunt.
Hunt Times: Children 3 & under 11:15 a.m. Children 4-5 years 11:30 a.m. Children 6-7 years 11:45 a.m. Children 8-10 years 12:00 p.m. - Park Shelter and Ball Field Reservations begin March 1st. Reservations are accepted on a first-come, first served basis and must be made in person at the Parks and Rec office, 611 S. Linden St., 8:30-5:00, M-F. There is no charge for usage of picnic shelters and ball diamonds, except for the lighted softball diamonds where a charge of $20 will be assessed for the use of electricity.
- Private Pool Rental reservations begin March 1st. Two hour rentals are available for up to 300 people for Fairview and Anderson Aquatic Centers. Reservations must be made in person at the Parks and Rec office, 611 S. Linden. After the pools open, reservations must be made at the Aquatic Center.
- 2010 Ellis Lifeguard Recertification Course will be offered March 20th, April 10th & 24th, May 1st & 2nd. Registration is underway and lifeguards must register at the Parks and Rec office. Fee $80.
- 2010 Ellis Lifeguard Certification Course will be offered at four different times. Choices are; March 12,13,19,20. April 2,3,9,10. April 16,17,23,24. April 30,May 1,2. Must register at the Parks & Rec. Office. Fee $125.00
- 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:
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’s View Cooperative Preschool – www.achildsviewcooperativepreschool.com
Kiddie Korner Preschool - 862-3947
La Petite Academy - www.lapetite.com
Noah's Ark Preschool - www.stjohnsbloomington.org/noahsark
Scribbles Center for Learning - www.scribblescenterforlearning.com
Sharing Tree Preschool – www.collegeparkcc.org - Parks and Recreation Fall-Winter-Spring Recreation Guide
- 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
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.
|
|
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.
Seasonal Employment Application - Parks & Recreation [PDF] - We begin accepting applications for summer employment in January and interviews begin in March.