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”.
Read the August Enews for events, stories, photos, promotions, Coral Cove Water and Coyote Crossing Mini Golf events and theme days, patio rentals, closures and more!
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!
Read the July Enews for events, stories, photos, promotions, hiring event, Coral Cove Water and Coyote Crossing Mini Golf events and theme days, patio rentals, closures and more!
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).
Armstrong Park – 391 Illini Drive – Park in South Lot
Photo:
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
