Recreation Centers in Illinois

Opened in 2003, this 69,000 square-foot facility includes a fitness center, gym, indoor track, exercise studios, outdoor terrace and multipurpose room. Gymnasium and room rentals, including gym or audio-visual equipment, are available for $30 to $100 per hour.  The rec center also houses a pro shop and food concessions.

This family ice arena contains an NHL rink and an international rink. The skate school offers many skating programs teaching parents, tots, teens and adults alike how to skate. There is also an introduction to hockey class for youth's ages 3 to 12 years old. Public skate and rental skates are available.

The administrative offices of the Winnetka Park District are housed in the center of park activity – next to the Skokie Playfield and A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center. Information about park district programming is available here. Additionally, the building hosts some community events as well.

In collaboration with the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, volunteers have maintained a tennis oasis since 1924 at the corner of Lake Street and Harlem Avenue for all to enjoy. Season passes and usage fees cover all operating expenses. Newly renovated for 2010, players of all skill levels are welcome to experience nine state-of-the-art clay courts. For a day trip, make lunch in the kitchen and relax at a picnic table or in the clubhouse. Entrance is off of Bonnie Brae, and the facilities are open May 15 - Oct 1.

Situated on 4 acres, Wicker Park offers a children's playground, playing fields, ball diamonds, chess tables, basketball hoops, a dog park and a big fountain where you'll meet all types of people. It's also home to a number of kids' camps and other outdoor activities, including the Chicago Park District's Movies in the Park series and a weekly, seasonal farmers' market. The field house contains a gym and meeting rooms, which are available for rent.

The Iron Oaks Environmental Learning Center is a 37-acre nature preserve in which the main focus is environmental education and outdoor recreation. A joint project between the Homewood-Flossmoor Park Distric and Olympia Fields Park District, it is open to the public for group outings, outdoor classroom education, corporate outings, team building and private events. Indoor facilities include room rentals and The Discovery Center, which are available for birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, weddings, student groups, corporate seminars and presentations. Iron Oaks is open year around.

The Oak View Community Center is located on a tree-filled campus on the east side of Oak Lawn. Its field house contains many museum-quality nature displays of the area's early history, as well exhibits of sea creatures, animals, shells, rocks and minerals.

The center offers a diverse selection of programming, including art classes, fitness, recreation programs and pre-school classes.

The Oak Lawn Community Theater is also stationed at Oak View, staging four critically-acclaimed family musicals per year in a newly renovated gymnasium complete with stadium seating.

Rooms in the community center are available for rental for private parties. The center also has chairs and tables available for rentals. Room rentals range in price from $25-$59 per hour and can accommodate private parties of up to 200 people. 

The outdoor park grounds include a baseball field, picnic grounds, playground and a sand volleyball court. 

Residents can also register for park district programs at Oak View. 

Four Lakes is a ski and snowboarding destination in Chicagoland. Ski and snowboard equipment rentals and one-hour ski lessons for adults and children ages 4 and up. The skiing area has four designated terrains determined by levels of difficulty.