Headwaters Park

5.3 mi

We came here for the Autumn Fair (September 20, 2025). It was a free event with a lot of fun…read moreactivities: hay rides, kids games, pumpkin painting, demonstrations. They also had other activities for a small cost: pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house. We also purchased food and participated in the gift basket raffle. We were there for at least 3 hours. The park is great for kids older than 4. There's also a water area that is fun for both older and younger kids. The butterfly house was also a hit. Many butterflies landed on us while we were in there. Overall a great place to visit, definitely stop by as well when an event is going on for extra activities.

Star gazing at Peck Farm Park was so interesting. Saw Jupiter and four of its moons. The moon was…read morealso spectacular! The astronomy club has outreached on Saturday of every month, weather permitting. Great experience.

Hawks Hollow Nature Park at Peck Farm

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Hickory Knolls Discovery Center

4.8

(5 reviews)

3.9 mi

Cool discovery center. Great for ages 1-99. Lots of cool animals (I didn't take any pics tho,…read moresorry!). They have a rabbit, snakes, turtles, tortoises, fish, and even a tarantula (not my favorite). My daughter and I went for a birthday party and we had the place to ourselves. I was very surprised at how big the animal exhibit area was. Lots of things to learn about, watch, and discuss. The floor to ceiling windows overlooking the prairie land was wonderful. We were there in early December and winter birds were happily flying back and forth to the feeders and enjoying themselves. We will definitely be going back!!! It was a little hard to find because it's VERY deep into the property but not impossible to find. Just keep driving and you'll get there.

I went to Hickory Knolls Discovery Center for a wedding. It was a very pretty space with indoor and…read moreoutdoor options. They were originally supposed to have the wedding outside, but it was raining, so they weren't able to do that. Personally, I thought brining the wedding inside made it even better! They have displays and little exhibits talking about the wild life in the area. The space is open which left a ton of room for dancing and just interacting. The pictures outside were very pretty as there was a lot of greenery to work with.

Great lighting in the banquet room and lovely nature backdrop

Fish tank

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They brought out the "residents" to our guests

Dick Young Forest Preserve

4.3

(7 reviews)

6.1 mi

A small Preserve with a crushed limestone trail that leads to a lake overlook platform. There is a…read moregrass trail that loops around the lake but it can be muddy and uncut.

Very well kept pathways and bathroom facilities. More wide open spaces and will feel more…read morecomfortable if walking alone. Not to worry though everyone is very polite and will say hi.

Nelson Lake

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Batavia Bark Park

4.5

5.5 mi

Dogs loved this place!! Plenty of open space...they can walk or run on the trail, they can swim in…read morethe lake or just play in the yard.

Nice wide open spaces, area for swimming and fenced in areas for letting your fur babies run…read morearound and socialize with others. There's a paved walk leading from the parking lot to the water and another side where you walk on grass to reach the fenced in area. It was a little confusing our first visit here as we didn't notice any clear signage directing us where to get to the water or other areas from the grassy path. Our pups enjoyed their visit very much and although the small body of water didn't look the cleanest, we still let them cool off and enjoy a swim. The picnic tables in a shaded area were appreciated on a hot day. Bring lot's of drinking water for you and your pet! Also, as with most dog parks, remember that any toys you bring for fetching are likely going to be "fair game" to the many other dogs you might see here.

The pond, the water level is higher this summer but still not very deep.

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Playing in the water.

Headwaters Conservation Area

5.0

0.1 mi

We have a weekly group playdate at Headwaters Dog Park. Always clean and well maintained. Our pack…read moreof dogs is very happy!

Geneva Park District

3.4

5.2 mi

Very clean area and love all their events. I just wish they would send text reminders for scheduled…read moreevents! I paid for one for my son and we forgot about it. Had already paid and everything!

A little over ten years ago Geneva Park District added the park district complex out near the Mill…read moreCreek Subdivision. As they added this land to the Park district they consciously added farmland to the parks. The Stephen Persinger Center is only part of a larger complex. They have the farmhouse, butterfly house and fields for soccer. The city of Geneva planned well for the future. They have also kept the prairie as part of the motif.

Lamp is the most important to me and I hope that you will see a lot more and I will see you soon thanks for the help thank you

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Father's Day soccer game

BestLife Fitness at Stephen D Persinger Recreation Center

3.3

(6 reviews)

5.2 mi

This place is great! Good staff, amazing gym...etc, but the reason I am writing this is because…read moreunless you love basketball, there is nothing else you can do for open gym. Last year, they used to have 5-10 open gym volleyball days a month, however now, I see 1-2, IF ANY. Now this may not be a big concern for many, however it is unfair to all of the people who play volleyball because there is no other place to go. Please change this, make more volleyball days.

The Sunset fitness center is closed for a week so I migrated over to the Stephan Persinger center…read moretoday. I enjoy Sunset because it is more intimate and some of the people at Sunset have been there forever. The clientele at Persinger is younger and part of the neighboring community. The fitness/community center literally looks like a modern barn on the outside. Inside you will find much of the same fitness equipment you will find at Sunset. Persinger has a basketball court and a walking/running track you will not find at Sunset. Persinger has upstairs meeting rooms with an elevator. Sunset has a training room and a racketball court. My personal preference is Sunset because I feel it is more intimate than Persinger. Because of this I give Persinger four stars and Sunset five stars.

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James O Breen Community Park

3.6

3.9 mi

We love the dog park here! Super spacious with 3 separate areas so that if you want your dog to be…read morealone you have that option. 90% of the owners and dogs are super friendly. There's the occasional tussle but most owners are responsible and know their dog's behavior. I also really love the idea of the agility course, but think it could really use some new additions. Overall a great time of meeting cute dogs while my Aussie gets to burn some energy!

This used to be my dogs fav park, until a few days ago she was attacked by a pitbull when all she…read morewanted to do was play. She had bite marks all over her and had to go straight to the vet. The owner then threatened to hit me and took off with his dog. This park is not safe for others dogs( especially young dogs). Go pay for a safe dog park. Dont come here and risk your best friend getting hurt.

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Centennial Beach

3.6

(79 reviews)

17.9 mi

Every summer l we go back to Naperville to see family from Colorado for a couple of weeks…read more Highlights for 2019, Centennial Beach, exactly as it's been for nearly two decades, but better now watching kids get to swim in a pool that's as big as a quart and clean as a pool. Lifeguards every few feet from you - and I actually love that those teenagers bark at other teens, some as old as them, when they're not following rules, ie encroaching on someone else's safety. High and low dive and a pontoon teens can swim 50 yards over 15' to 18' deep water to hang out with friends and no parents ( the pontoon reminds me of penguins or seals on one their annual remotely and isolated beaches - I'm confident similar biological urges are play for them as well ). There's a rigorous swim test for younger youth, which is perfect bc I'd only feel comfortable with smaller sized kids 50 yards out on the pontoon with twelve to fifteen 16 yo boys and four to five teen females. Every part of the beach area, water and the common ground where hundreds of families chill all day on Sat and Sun. Love it.

We had an extremely disappointing experience before we even made it inside!…read more Before leaving, we checked the Centennial Beach website for information about cooler policies and other guest regulations, and everything made it seem like the beach was open as usual. When we arrived, we noticed a large crowd gathered outside. We walked up to the admissions area, where an employee informed us that the facility had reached capacity due to a major swim event. Because of this, they were only allowing season pass holders to enter and were not selling day passes. We completely understand that facilities have occupancy limits and appreciate the staff for enforcing them. Our frustration is with the lack of communication beforehand. A major event with limited public access should have been clearly posted on the website well in advance so families wouldn't make the trip unnecessarily. To make matters more confusing, the hours listed on Apple Maps and Google Maps were inaccurate, and the website was difficult to navigate. The notice about the capacity restrictions wasn't posted until about an hour before we were turned away. While we were there, we heard several other families expressing the same frustration. No hard feelings toward the employees--they were simply doing their jobs. However, the organization behind the website and event planning should do a much better job communicating closures, capacity limits, and special events to the public.

Mama and boys are having a blast

Family fun

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Centennial beach w Grand nephew

Three Oaks Recreation Area

4.0

(55 reviews)

22.3 mi

If you're local it's awesome , if you're an out of towner like me you have to pay to park then pay…read moreto get in which sucks

What an amazing place! How did I not ever know about this? It is free for entrance otherwise it's a…read morefive dollar visitor fee. If you wish to go to the main beach, that's an additional $12 if you are not a resident of Crystal Lake. The grounds are immaculate, very well maintained, and the bathrooms are clean. There are two lakes, multiple pavilions that you can rent ahead of time. Lots of picnic tables for you to sit down. Near the bar and grill while you can't go in the water, you can take your drink and sit on one of the cheers on the beach. You can watch people practice on their WaveRunner. Swing on the swings at the bar and listen to great music. I did not have any food here. I did have an amazing Mojito. The bartender was a young man looking to join the Barrington police force. Polite, kind and also had great customer service skills. The reason why I didn't give it five stars is that there are absolutely no markings anywhere as to what trail you are on, how long of a trail it is, and where there may be porta potties. There aren't any maps or QR codes and it was a bit confusing as I came upon several wise and the trail to decide which way to go as I had limited time there. Given the fact that everything is so nicely taken care of I don't know how they can't have at least some markings on the trails that they have there. One of the workers sent me direction and it literally just took me to a pavilion. They have kayaks, canoes, paddle boats and SUP boards. They also offer lessons for SUP depending on the day. Lots of people fishing. Amazing Place! Please add signage for the trails! The pop and water machine near the beach entrance did not work. Hopefully those are checked daily to repair.

Lifejackets provided with every boat rental.

Three Oaks Beach Playground

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Crystal Lake residents receive free parking with a valid driver's license. Non-resident vehicles pay $5.00 to park.

Porter Beach

4.7

(13 reviews)

73.0 mi

The beach area has been slightly updated! They cleaned up the front so it's a flatter walk onto the…read moresand and out to the water now- used to be a slight incline to get past. More signage and a lifebuoy have been installed as well at the front of the beach

My family & I love going to Porter beach for the day! We've been doing this for years. It's not…read morethat far away from Rockford, so it makes a nice day trip or overnight, staying at a nearby hotel.

No alcohol allowed

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Harold Hall Quarry Beach

4.0

(23 reviews)

8.5 mi

Very clean and safe beach for littles, we can't wait to go back for another beach dayread more

Came here for a birthday party for my step sister. Nice picnic area, relatively clean water, and…read morefriendly, fun staff. My goodness was the water cold! Shocking but refreshing :) Plenty of picnic tables and grassy area with nice shade to enjoy large group parties and a nice patch of sun behind the bathhouse to tan with privacy or away from the noise. Nice and clean bathrooms, and nice hot water for the bathhouses.

Great place for the kiddies to play.

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Snack shack....takes cash only

Otter Cove Aquatic Park

3.5

4.2 mi

I have a toddler and she had a blast here. From the pool to the splash pad and the sand area all…read moreamazing. It was such a clean park too. I would definitely recommend and go back for another fun day.

It was a big area with a nice variety of things to do for multiple ages. The only thing I had an…read moreissue with was the cleanliness. We got there at 11:15 when there were that many people there yet and there was already a less than clean feel to it. The life guards were very good at reminding people to walk and be mindful but there were diapers and underwear on the floor that I'm sure people dropped but there were other questionable things along with very stained chairs.

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Wolf's Crossing Community Park

5.0

18.2 mi

IT TAKES A VILLAGE…read more Raising children is hard, but Wolf's Crossing Community Park makes life a bit easier. Located on the Naperville / Oswego border where 95th St dead-ends into Wolf's Crossing Rd, this public park incorporates 33 acres of carefully planned and meticulously maintained space. It's the perfect answer when asked by your kid for the umpteenth time "wHaT aRe wE dOoOiNg ToDaY?" This complex features a playground, splash pad, covered pavilion, basketball courts, sand volleyball, tennis/pickleball courts, a lookout point with sledding hill and a ninja warrior obstacle course. It connects to various biking trails and there's onsite public bathrooms with plenty of parking. The ~100ft zipline is a standout feature and draws a considerable line on busier days. Watching kids nearly get yeeted off into the bushes makes for great theater! I assume the weight limit is 200lbs so next time I'ma have a go at it (get outta my way, kids!) The only thing missing is concessions, as the lone pop machine near the restrooms didn't appear to work. I think there's enough people here on a routine basis to warrant building a snack shop! I'd love to serve nachos and root beer to hungry peeps, as long as I got paid $25/hr. * TL;DR * This idyllic, multi-faceted rec area is fully deserving of its perfect rating. Wolf's Crossing Community Park was built with young children and special accommodations in mind, easily accessible to all ages & abilities. The fam spent several hours here (granted, most of them were confined to the splash pad) and we barely scratched the surface. I can't wait to beast through that legit obstacle course some day when I remember to wear close-toed shoes. Ain't no way my clumsy ass is making it through there in flip flops. WCCP has tons of what we in the gaming realm refer to as "replayability", essentially, is there enough stuff to do on repeat visits? You bet there is! See for yourself, check them out before summer's gone!

Wolf's Crossing playground and splash pad are a big hit with the kiddos in the summer months. It is…read moreusually pretty crowded because it is such a fun place. But it's free fun and kids always make new friends to play with. Highly recommended for those days you can't think of anything to do with the kids, and screens are becoming a problem.

Play ground

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Moore Park Spray Ground

4.8

(4 reviews)

8.1 mi

This is a great place to go when you have a little bit of time and don't want to make it to the…read morepool. There's not just the spray pad, but a playground, swings and covered picnic area with tables and benches. There are lacrosse fields right next to it so more open space for the kids to run around. It's run by the Geneva Park District and the stay pad is open from June to September, typically. All of our kids love to be there. From infants up through elementary ages for sure will enjoy it. There's also a lot of shade here!

These are becoming really popular but I count myself lucky this one is so close by. This is top…read morenotch water play area for young children (2+). There's plenty of grassy space with trees for shade, so bring a blanket and snacks. It's a public park, so it should not be a surprise that the public port-a-john is kind of gross. Bear in mind, this place gets super busy when it's warm/hot out and a lot of kids from the neighborhood seem to be there unsupervised. Nevertheless, this place is great.

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Headwaters Park - parks - Updated August 2026

People who viewed Headwaters Park also viewed

Island Park

4.5

(15 reviews)

Pretty view while I ate lunch. The sound of the water was relaxing and watching the birds and ducks…read morewas nice

This is a nice park right along the Fox river! We stopped by last weekend on Sunday, which was an…read moreabsolutely gorgeous day. The only problem was that everyone had the same idea as us so the paths were a bit busy. Nearby are a bunch of picnic tables and they even have indoor restrooms that were clean. Props to whoever is keeping those up to par! There is also a bunch of benches, a gazebo, and plenty of open space for a picnic. We packed one and it was the best idea. The park is right alongside the walking/bike path and you can get to it from the parking lot of the Geneva bike shop. It's honestly a cool looking park to bring the kiddos for the day. One thing to note is that the paths in this area are pretty narrow. With bikers zooming by, it isn't the easiest spot to walk your dog. I think what would help is if people walked their bike, instead of riding it in front of the park area. Anyway, we were glad we stopped by and recommend if you're looking to get outside in Geneva!

Pottawatomie Park

4.5

(31 reviews)

We discovered this place in 2020 & kept going as nature walks were the only family activity we…read morecould do during the pandemic. This park is impeccably maintained, safe & offers a vast green space along with ample parking. Views of the fox river, mature trees & big lush grassy lawn. There are numerous activities available besides walking, biking, picnicking. You can enjoy amenities such as a baseball park, tennis/pickleball courts, paddle boats & mini golf (for a fee), fitness circuit, beach volleyball & bocce or bring your own set of outdoor games. Also a small water park with slides. Now all that's lacking is a set of basketball hoops & this would be THE perfect park! The bike path runs alongside the scenic Fox River, providing breathtaking views. Benches & picnic tables are plentiful & scattered throughout the park. It's the perfect spot to set up a pop-up tent & picnic blanket like we always do. You can also rent a pavilion for parties & gatherings. This park is conveniently located near a variety of restaurants, stores & bookstores on Main St. in St. Charles.

Came here to picnic for Mother's Day. It was very crowded but a lot of green space. The park has…read morewide sidewalks for a stroll or biking. There are also activities. Paddle boats, scenic boat ride and mini golf. There are some snacks sold by the mini golf area. My only complaint is there isn't enough restrooms. There is one facility close to the parking lot but it is a long walk of you decide to camp farther away. There should at least be portopotties spread out.

Lippold Park

4.6

(7 reviews)

We had a little extra time on a chilly fall day and decided to check out Lippold Park because the…read moreplayground looked interesting. There is a climbing teepee (at least that's what it looks like), a seesaw, and several play areas not necessarily suitable for toddlers. There's a great little boardwalk area where you can see beavers, ducks, and other wildlife. There's also a bike path running in front i f the park with tons of parking. There's also a nice raised deck area with several picnic tables where you could enjoy a snack or meal and the nice view.

Such a cool park, I didn't even know this park was here. My sister and I decided to take our 6 kids…read morehere (ages 2-12). We hit up the obstacle course first, which all the kids enjoyed. Next we walked over to the pond area where we saw an otter, deer, frogs, turtles, and lots of tadpoles. Just about a 10 minute walk up the trail is red oak nature center, so we did that next. Lippold park has really nice bathroom and facilities. We will be back!

Peck Farm Park

4.9

We came here for the Autumn Fair (September 20, 2025). It was a free event with a lot of fun…read moreactivities: hay rides, kids games, pumpkin painting, demonstrations. They also had other activities for a small cost: pony rides, petting zoo, bounce house. We also purchased food and participated in the gift basket raffle. We were there for at least 3 hours. The park is great for kids older than 4. There's also a water area that is fun for both older and younger kids. The butterfly house was also a hit. Many butterflies landed on us while we were in there. Overall a great place to visit, definitely stop by as well when an event is going on for extra activities.

Star gazing at Peck Farm Park was so interesting. Saw Jupiter and four of its moons. The moon was…read morealso spectacular! The astronomy club has outreached on Saturday of every month, weather permitting. Great experience.

James O Breen Community Park

3.6

We love the dog park here! Super spacious with 3 separate areas so that if you want your dog to be…read morealone you have that option. 90% of the owners and dogs are super friendly. There's the occasional tussle but most owners are responsible and know their dog's behavior. I also really love the idea of the agility course, but think it could really use some new additions. Overall a great time of meeting cute dogs while my Aussie gets to burn some energy!

This used to be my dogs fav park, until a few days ago she was attacked by a pitbull when all she…read morewanted to do was play. She had bite marks all over her and had to go straight to the vet. The owner then threatened to hit me and took off with his dog. This park is not safe for others dogs( especially young dogs). Go pay for a safe dog park. Dont come here and risk your best friend getting hurt.

Primrose Farm Park

4.0

I love Primrose Farm Park!! It's actually one of the few parks I will frequent alone-- well, with…read morethe company of a ferocious Golden Retriever or perhaps Shar Pei. What can I say? You can never be too careful. Although this park is located in what many people would consider to be the "middle of nowhere", it's really not to those that live on the west side of STC. The park is a wide open space, and is visible from both Crane and Bolcum. In addition to the peaceful atmosphere of the park, there is a good amount of parking, playgrounds, and some ball fields. It's a great place to do an outdoor workout or meditate, as when I frequent the park I'm usually the only person there so I don't have to worry about looking like a jackass doing exercises. I mean, the people from the street don't get that good of a view so I'm not worried about being busted out. As always, please clean up after yourself! There's occasional garbage or dog waste which is naaasty!!

Les Arends Forest Preserve

4.3

(4 reviews)

This narrow path is surrounded by lush trees & is ideal for biking and walking. There are also…read moreseveral picnic spots along the way. Parking is easy to find, & this forest preserve is located between Batavia & North Aurora. The gate is locked at the end of the day.

Beautiful at this time of year because it is full of goldenrod and cup plants. Many American…read moreGoldfinch hanging out. Bike trail along the river is popular for families which is nice to see. Several fishermen but surprised they brought boom boxes to such a lovely nature spot. Nice place for picnics and has bathroom facilities.

Northside Park

4.4

(19 reviews)

When I visit the area this is my go to for my walks. Since growing up in the area they have been…read morerenovating it over the years and tonight was an absolute delight! Light rain, beautiful calmness and quiet.

This park is a hidden gym just a little ways from downtown Wheaton! The only con is that there are…read moreno public bathrooms.

Dunham Woods Forest Preserve

5.0

Easy access from Army Trail Road near the historic Wayne train station with a circle drive parking…read morearea Dunham Forest Preserve is a little utilized gem. So many varieties of native plants that attract a nice variety of birds, bees, dragonflies and butterflies of many kinds. The gravel trail is not a loop so you'll have to backtrack. They are two picnic tables and a relief station. So many flowers are in bloom now but not appreciated from the road so take a hike!

Engstrom Family Park

3.0