Schaumburg Park District is a nationally-recognized and pace-setting organization that is committed to providing quality recreation and leisure opportunities, beautiful parks and open spaces and state-of-the-art facilities to the community. Schaumburg Park District jurisdiction covers approximately twenty-three square miles including virtually all of Schaumburg and small portions of Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Roselle, Streamwood and Rolling Meadows. Today, Schaumburg has a population of 74,227.
Schaumburg Park District is the sixth largest park district in Illinois with over 70 full-time employees and more than 500 part-time and seasonal staff. It has won the National Gold Medal Award three times -- 1988, 1995 and 2004. The District also has won various national and regional awards for facility management, aquatics and innovative programming and delivery. In 2010 and again in 2016, Schaumburg attained Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency status from the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) and the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association (IPRA). In 2018, Schaumburg Park District joined the ranks of elite park and recreation agencies across the country by earning recognition through the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).
Schaumburg Park District was originally formed in 1963. In 1968, the first director was hired. By 1970, the Park District had passed a tax levy, hired a Superintendent of Parks, and passed a $1.25 million referendum for park development. During the 1970s, through the foresight and flexibility of the Board of Commissioners and the overwhelming support of the community, Schaumburg Park District rose to a widely-acknowledged preeminence among "young" park districts in Illinois. A 1978 referendum for $7.5 million allowed the construction of the Community Recreation Center and the renovation of Bock Pool. The District also extended its professional staff, passed additional referendums for development built neighborhood parks, opened Meineke Recreation Center and four pools, and began an aggressive grant application program. Despite the tax levy and referendum, funding the community's recreational and open space needs necessitated seeking outside funding for key projects.
With technical assistance and matching grants from the Illinois Department of Conservation, the District was able to develop the community’s only water-related recreational facility at Volkening Lake and to preserve one of the finest examples of native plant communities at Spring Valley Nature Sanctuary. In addition, the Schaumburg Bikeway System was developed through a cooperative effort between the Village and the Park District. This Bikeway System consists of bike lanes and bike paths as a prime example of the integration of recreational needs into a highly urbanized area. It currently has 85 miles of bike lanes or paths. The Bikeway provides a safe and easily accessible avenue to Schaumburg’s recreational, cultural, business, residential and educational facilities.
Schaumburg Park District continued to flourish in the early 1980s with the grand opening of the Community Recreation Center, Bock Neighborhood Center, Meineke Recreation Center gymnasium addition, Walnut Greens Golf Course (9 hole, par 3), and the construction of 26 new park sites.
The Schaumburg Park Foundation was formed in 1981 and supports fundraising efforts for District initiatives, particularly recreation scholarships for families based on need. The Foundation's largest projects to date include raising $500,000 to build Volkening Heritage Farm at Spring Valley and $150,000 to renovate the Spring Valley Nature Center museum. The Foundation's most successful events include the Links Technology Cup and Solstice Hop & Vine Fest.
The Board of Commissioners further prioritized Spring Valley in 1983 by creating a full-time naturalist/curator position to ensure that the development of Spring Valley was accomplished in a manner compatible with its inherent natural elements. The site was further developed with the addition of a Nature Center building, parking, paths and prairie plantings. In 1987, the nature center building opened as the Vera Meineke Nature Center.
In 1986, the Kids After-School Program for Education and Recreation (KASPER) was started to provide before and after-school care for children in Kindergarten through sixth grade.
In the late 1980s and the 1990s, the District acquired Golden Acres Golf Course (now called Schaumburg Golf Club) and proceeded to renovate the 27-hole course and construct a new clubhouse and maintenance facility. A private indoor tennis facility, Woodfield Athletic Club, LLC (now called Schaumburg Tennis Plus), was also acquired and renovated. An indoor lap pool was added in 2005.
Major new construction during the 1990s included the Jerry Handlon Administration Building, development of an 1880s farm site (Volkening Heritage Farm at Spring Valley), a District-wide maintenance facility, The Water Works indoor water park, Ken Alley Safety Park, and various other neighborhood park development projects. An existing preschool (now named the Pat Shephard Early Childhood Center) was purchased to house preschool classes and programs for young children.
Schaumburg Regional Airport is jointly owned by the District and the Village of Schaumburg. A new $1.7 million terminal building was dedicated in 1998.
The Park District was also able to lease six acres of land from the Village of Schaumburg at the Schaumburg Regional Airport and 73 acres of land from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD). At the airport site, the District constructed The Sport Center, a 100,000 sq. ft. multi-use indoor sports facility that includes indoor soccer, softball, volleyball, basketball and gymnastics. The Sport Center opened in 2003. At the MWRD site, the District constructed Olympic Park, which includes eight synthetic turf and four grass soccer fields, five softball fields, two concession stands, a skate park, basketball courts and garden plots.
During the 2000s, the District continued to expand its services by opening Atcher Island Water Park and installing synthetic fields and a skate park at Olympic Park. The District also celebrated the renovation of the nature museum at Spring Valley and the renovation of Volkening Lake Recreation Area to include Tribute Park.
In 2010, the District won the National Recreation and Parks Association's Award for Excellence in Aquatics. The District’s extensive aquatic program includes lessons, water safety classes, aqua aerobics and the very successful Barracuda Swim Team.
In 2014, the District opened K-9 Dog Park. The Dog Park is a 6.5 acre retreat for dogs and their owners featuring a large pond with a specially-designed ramp for dogs to easily get in and out of the water. Also included is an agility area, walking trails and a gazebo.
In 2015, the District added an outdoor fitness area at Volkening Lake. Patrons can achieve a full-body workout with state-of-the-art equipment including stretching, cardio, body weight machines and pull up bars. The location of the park was picked for its proximity to the existing walking path. The fitness area is free and accessible to all patrons.
In 2017, The District opened Bison’s Bluff Nature Playground at Spring Valley. This unique, custom-designed play area includes natural materials (logs, boulders, sand, water, etc.) as well as nature-themed play structures and manufactured features. The park inspires youth to remain active, develop agility, learn resilience, discover the benefits of cooperation and experimentation, solve problems and learn to navigate the world around them confidently. Bison’s Bluff has become one of the District’s biggest attractions.
Also in 2017, the District opened the Meineke Park Challenge Course. The 8,000 sq. ft. course features synthetic turf, a variety of obstacles and a 40-yard-dash. The contemporary style offers a unique recreation site in the heart of Schaumburg. The idea behind the attraction is to promote outdoor play while connecting families and the community.
In 2020, a major course renovation project was completed at Schaumburg Golf Club as well as a multi-year improvement project at the Community Recreation Center.
The District acquired 80 percent of its land through donations from local developers and through intergovernmental cooperative agreements. Included in this acreage are four nature preserves -- Gray Farm Park, Ruth Macintyre Conservation Area, Kay Wojcik Conservation Area and Spring Valley. Spring Valley, the largest of these natural areas, encompasses 135 acres of fields, forests, marshes and streams with 3.5 miles of accessible trails. The District's Green Light Sustainability Plan guides the use of sustainable practices in an environmentally sound manner.
Through Board direction, staff dedication, community support, private donations, state and federal grants, and tax dollars, Schaumburg Park District has grown to become one of Illinois’ largest and most highly-used park districts.
In 2021, The Sport Center debuted its new Agility Room, offering specialized space for strength, speed and conditioning programs. In 2022, several major facility improvements were completed including the renovation of the Meineke Recreation Center gymnasium, the installation of new pickleball courts at Timbercrest Park, and infrastructure upgrades at both Schaumburg Tennis Plus and The Sport Center. These upgrades included full roof replacements and HVAC system improvements to ensure modern comfort and energy efficiency.
In 2023, The Water Works underwent a South Lobby renovation, enhancing the entrance experience for visitors. The following year, in 2024, the District began a renovation of the Heritage Farm at Spring Valley Visitor Center, scheduled to be completed in 2025.
In 2024, the District received the Platinum Award for Aquatic Safety (highest ranking) from Jeff Ellis and Associates.