There is some beatiful parks and lakefront property that Evanston can boast about. There are also…read moremany parks and walking trails that go all the way from the lakefront to Dodge Ave. On my last visit I was checking out the lush greenery and lakefront property that can be found by Sheridan/Church St. near the boat launch area.

Evanston has been a great balance of suburban life with hints of nature (the city's full of trees,…read moreparks, and a lakefront). I'm glad Evanstonians take their city's recreation seriously because it's really worth being proud about. Signed, Deprived Californian.

This is a great place for seniors. There are many classes and clubs , a gorgeous garden to enjoy in…read morethe summer months, farm fresh produce available on Fridays, and a free gym to members. There's lunch service for those who want it and bus service for Evanstonians. I'd actually like to give this 4 1/2 stars instead of 5 because the DMV has made the place a bit crowded, and the parking is not great. The spaces are very narrow and limited. But overall, I love this place and have made many friends. I think it's great that there's a table staffed by Levy "ambassadors" to give info to those who wander in just for the DMV. Levy is MUCH MUCH more than DMV.

This is a great center for seniors. Lots of classes and services for seniors. The fitness rooms…read morehas number of aerobic machines and weights. Sometimes the place is crowded and others not. You have to gauge your time otherwise there can be a wait to use the more popular machines. Staff are wonderful. You feel welcome here.

I've only been here two times so far, but I'm starting to fall in love with the facility…read more In the last five years, I've either been a student or been affiliated with four different universities (and consequently had access to all their gyms), and this is exceptional, if not only for the amazing view of Lake Michigan while working out on the track. I remember spending 20 minutes on a stationary bike just looking out the window and not thinking about anything else; hopefully this will be enough to compel me to come when the climate gets colder. The facility is clean and gorgeous, albeit a bit small compared to other university gyms. I do like the fact that the Olympic-sized swimming pool is indoors (unlike UC San Diego's), so I can get a nice workout in year round, if need be. There's a US Bank ATM right outside the gym. I don't know why you'd need that, but I seem to be taking out some cash every time I visit the gym.

I came here for a volleyball tournament and oh my god this gym is so nice the weight room alone…read moremight be enough reason for me to transfer. There's different sections specifically for different teams (oh to be D1). There's also a Protein Bar and Kitchen near the lobby, a perfect snack post-lift for the gains. Overall beautiful gym right by the water, grateful for an opportunity to play here.

This review is for the pool. I grew up going to this pool every summer. I recently went here for…read morethe first time as an adult to bring my own child. It looks exactly the same and they have managed to keep it in good condition. It's nothing fancy but it's clean and well kept. I love that they have two kid pools, one with a bunch of fountains and that connects to slides and another that is more basic/quieter. There was plenty of seating and lots of staff/lifeguards around. They do adult swim for the last 10 min of each hour. One less star because it is very expensive for non-residents ($18 per person). My infant was free, thank goodness. I guess if I think about it that is about the cost of a movie ticket. Anyways, I will probably not be going as often as I would like because of the cost.

I keep finding myself back to this park ever since high school. They have plenty of outdoor…read moreactivities like basketball, sand volleyball, pickleball/tennis, and baseball. Big area to picnic with bathrooms. The lights stay on until about 11 pm during the summer/fall. They also have a waterpark. Great park for all ages. No issues with parking.

The Wilmette Community Recreation center houses 2 modern playgrounds, a preschool, tennis courts,…read morebaseball fields, state of the art gym facilities for adults and little ones, and a variety of indoor and outdoor extracurricular activities for all ages. The indoor facilities and the outdoor grounds are all very well maintained. The large playground was rebuilt last year and is one of the nicest ones in the North shore area. The small playground (which is part of the preschool) is fully fenced and has a splash pad that operates during the summer months. There is an outdoor walking path that loops around the entire Rec center and an indoor running path at the fitness center. There is also a state of the art gymnastics facility for toddlers to big kids. Overall, this is an excellent recreation center that is very well maintained and has just about everything. The only negative aspect of this center is that the playgrounds can get too crowded when all the kiddos from the preschool, summer camps, and enrichment programs all come out to play. Otherwise, very highly recommended.

One of the best parts about living in Wilmette is coming to this community recreation center run by…read morethe Wilmette Park District. Here they run a variety of activities for children as well as adults and seniors. Almost any activity you can think of including sports, fitness, dance, theater, gymnastic and art are offered here. They are always adding new things that are popular. My son just started a video game design class which is really up his alley. During holidays and throughout the year they put on special events for families to enjoy. They run a very good preschool which is one of the most affordable in the area, but make sure you book it early because it fills up fast. The quarterly book that they send to the residents is huge and nicely laid out with programs. You can register for classes with ease online or there. Not only that, but the staff are all very helpful. If there was ever a time when we were not completely satisfied or were suddenly unable to attend, we were refunded our money and never given a hard time. Anyone can sign up for the activities here, however it is just less expensive if you are a resident. What I love the most is the convenience of everything being in one location, so I'm not running all over the place. I also like how many options there are. We are always trying something new and fun. They put on the cutest theater productions and tickets are not expensive. The rec center has alot to offer so check it out for yourself!

I'm a CA native now living in the Midwest so miss the beach. I've been to Chicago many times but…read morenever thought about going to the beach. Last summer we finally went to Lake Michigan and was surprised that it looked just like the Pacific Ocean. The water was blue and clear (not like the muddy brown lakes of NE and IA). This year we decided to stay in Evanston instead of doing downtown Chiacago again. We went to Lighthouse Beach with our 6 year old and 3 year old. It was a great beach. There is a play ground by the beach, a parking lot, bathrooms, life guards, and lots of areas for shade if you want to stay out of the sun. It was beautiful and convenient. The only downside is that it costs $12 per person if you are a visitor. So for a family of 4...it gets pricey. But I guess that helps to keep the beaches nice. Def a beach to visit if you are in the Chicago area!

Grew up not far from there. Take the family there on occasion. Small, nice, and quiet. There is a…read moretucked away fire pit that can rented out and you can go there at night (no life guards then of course). You can take a cool stroll around the old light house as well.

I went there for the first time yesterday to sign up for the fitness gym. The front of the house…read moreguys were knowledgeable and funny. The gym was surprisingly clean. Maybe because there's not a lot of patrons that use the facility which is a plus for me. Space is a little tight, but its great. If you're looking for a spot to do the power moves -- squat/deads/cleans go to the next room, mymistake for not looking around. They only have the basic machines, compared to xsport or la fitness across the street. Complete set of DB's, ample BB's. Lots of attachments for cable exercises, they have a mini running track that goes around just like at LA fitness in morton grove. People that ive worked out so far seems good and nice, they return weights to.its proper place (pet peeve of mine) they seem to know each other as well which is a good sign. Overall, if youre looking for a clean, quiet community gym to lift and run and dont want the hassle of other people's BS. Cant stress enough that this gym is cleaannnnn, lockers are spotless, and its the freakin men's locker room im talkin about! What more on the womens side, you probably can sleep there lol.

Review for Harrer Pool parties only: Don't. We contacted the park district 1 month prior to…read moreintended party date to pay deposit to secure the party room. After scheduling and paying deposit for the pool party and confirming we have 1 hour set up and 1 hour post party to clean up, we tried to contact the Harrer pool coordinator for room specs, table number, size, chairs and equipment availability so we know what we needed to buy or not buy..table covers wall decor and such. Nothing. Emails and phone calls not returned. Was contacted 2 days prior to party by the new coordinator only to be asked about the cake. Coordinator told my daughter, the birthday celebrant's mom, we had to be out of the room exactly at noon. We were pushed out at 1145.. why? They had their own party to go to. Will never opt for a party space that NEEDS to have a coordinator on site. Have used the field houses for parties before and will continue to use them again. OR will rent Oriole Pool party room and instead (as long as that particular "party planner" is NOT part of the deal) So terribly disappointed.

Facility is good but the mens basketball league is not ran well. I doubt the refs are IHSA like…read morethey say. They all just show up to get paid easy money. Most of the refs dont know the league rules from talking to other players on the other teams. Facility and its amenities: 4 stars Mens Basketball League: 1 star

Nice place to play pickleball. They have pickleball available from 7:00a.m. - 3:00p.m…read more Monday-Friday on a drop in basis (only until noon when schools are out). They have four courts available and plenty of people to play with unless the weather outside is good. It's $6 single play or you can pay for 10 plays for $40. They also have basketball available after 3:00p.m.