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Energizing Your Family and Community Through the "Power" of Recreation!

The Parks & Recreation Department is located in the Recreation Center at 400 Hastings Road. The Recreation Center offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

The Lake Forest Parks & Recreation Department is committed to providing residents of all ages positive experiences through a variety of high quality programs, activities, and services under the direction of professional and dedicated staff who are responsive to the changing needs of the community. Keep up to date with our monthly newsletter, P.R. News PDF icon (685k -8 pages), filled with information about all the different program areas.

We are always looking for part time employees to meet the constantly changing needs of the Parks & Recreation Department. If you are interested, visit the employment page for current opportunities.    

Also, let us know how we are doing. If you love a program and think the instructor is fantastic, give them a "high five." Our High Five Form PDF icon (20k - 1 page) is a way of saying thanks for the hard work. These go into the employee's file and are published for everyone to see. It is nice to tell someone they are doing a great job. 

What's New

Fall Brochure

Registration begins August 16, 2010 for Lake Forest residents!

The complete Fall Brochure is available to view right now! Click on the image of the catalogue to view page-by-page opportunities or go to www.LFRec.com to view the registration information by programs. 

 2010 Fall Brochure is available to view at www.LFRec.com!     

You can view all of the programs by activity on LFRec.com.  If you do not want to register on-line, or you can download a Registration Form PDF icon (55k - 2 pages) to fax, mail or hand deliver to the Recreation Center. Contact  847-234-6700 if you have any questions.

 

Energize your family with the power of recreation!


On-line Registration Anytime ..... Anywhere! 
Lake Forest residents are able to register for Parks and Recreation Department classes on line at www.LFRec.com. To access an on-line account, you will need to have an email address on file with the department along with an account user ID and PIN number. Call the Parks and Recreation office at 847-234-6700 or email to lfrec@cityoflakeforest.com for more information. In order to make on-line registration available to Lake Forest residents we had to change our registration system. Registration is taken on a first come first serve basis now.  You can register at your convenience anytime......anywhere...... 


Forest Park Master Plan Project

The Parks and Recreation Department and Lake Forest Garden Club (LFGC) have begun a collaborative project to develop a Master Plan for Forest Park. The Lake Forest Garden Club is funding the creation of the Master Plan document and is working closely with City staff and the community to develop a plan that will protect, preserve and enhance this wonderful lakefront community treasure.

Public input is key to the success of this project. To learn more, visit the Forest Park Master Plan information page. Updates will also be given in the City’s “Dialogue!” community newsletter over the course of the next year. If you have any questions, you may contact Mary Van Arsdale, Director of Parks and Recreation, at vanarsdm@cityoflakeforest.com or 847-810-3918.

PRESENTATION OF AD HOC PARK AND RECREATION COMMITTEE

Click on the link below to see the presentation that was given at the City Council meeting on November 2, 2009. 

  AD HOC Presentation (34k - 11 pages)

Award-Winning Department

The Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Department achieved the highest honor when it was awarded the 2005 National Gold Medal Award. The American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration in partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association presented the award.

The department was honored as the best in the category of communities under 25,000 in population. The Gold Medal is recognized as the most important and celebrated park and recreation award in the country, and Lake Forest is proud to be considered among the best in management, staff and dedication in serving the park and recreation needs of its residents.

An organizational chart  (14k - 1 page) for the Parks and Recreation Department can be viewed or downloaded.

Gold Medal Ward

 

 

 

 

 

 

   Former Parks and Recreation Director  
   Fred Jackson and Assistant Director Wendy
   McKiernan accepting the prestigious National
   Gold Medal Award

 

"From the Park Bench" - by Mary Van Arsdale, Director of Parks & Recreation

Forest Park Conceptual Master plan

For the past year, the community has been engaged in the development of a Conceptual Master Plan for Forest Park. Located above the beach at the eastern end of Deerpath Road, it is the oldest park in the City, having been donated to the City in 1857. It was a golf course for a short period of time in the 1890’s, then received the attention of O.C. Simonds who in 1901 completed a site plan to restore the landscape and its trees. In the mid 1980’s the beach level only of the lakefront was greatly enhanced to provide the outstanding facility that the community enjoys today. As photos and recorded property history indicate, Forest Park has morphed over time to best serve the changing recreation, environmental and societal needs of the community.

Forest Park, however, lacks a comprehensive site management plan and is beginning to face infrastructure and landscape challenges. Since 1999, two areas of the bluffs in the park have failed, drainage and roadways are deteriorating and we have numerous trees and vegetation areas that need attention. It is the mission of your Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department and Parks and Recreation Board to be stewards of these public spaces on behalf of the community. A Master Plan will address existing concerns and will provide a pro-active planning blueprint for the future to help restore, preserve and enhance this property for future generations to enjoy. The plan is predicated upon a successful fund-raising campaign and would be implemented only as funds become available.

In May 2009, the Lake Forest Garden Club offered to collaborate on the project and to fund the Conceptual Master Plan as a gift to the City…no tax money was used to pay for this conceptual plan. The Lake Forest Garden Club contracted with Stephen Stimson Associates, a landscape architecture firm to create the Conceptual Master Plan. To clarify, a conceptual master plan is a guiding document. It is not intended to provide specific details or rigid requirements, but instead, sets forth a framework upon which future decisions about the site or facility are further developed and evaluated. There has been extensive community participation over the past year to help craft the Conceptual Master Plan and there is no question that there has been feedback both positive and negative about the concepts under consideration. To review the most accurate and up - to date information I encourage you to go to the City’s website, www.cityoflakeforest.com click on What’s New then go to the icon for Forest Park Master Plan, and read the background information on this project, including details on the key plan elements, vista and landscape enhancements and funding.

On May 17, 2010 City Council accepted the gift of a Conceptual Master Plan and directed the project to move into the next phase of planning called the Design Development phase. It is during this phase that all concepts are vetted, altered or eliminated and specificity is put to the plans. The following information will help outline the next steps of the park planning process:

What Happens Next—Design Development Phase:

Four key aspects of the project are pursued during this phase and include:

  1. Creation of a 501c3 Project Board

  2. Design refinement, validation and additional technical studies (including the ring road, handicap accessibility, and parking needs);

  3. Fund-raising for the park improvements and a future maintenance endowment fund

  4. Review and Approval Process through the Historic Preservation Commission, Park Board and City Council

Forest Park Project Board

To tackle this next phase of the project, an independent, 501c3 Forest Park Project Board (not a City Board) will be created. The Project Board will possibly consist of an Executive Committee and six Focus Committees consisting of knowledgeable professionals and residents to help refine all of the aspects of the park design and to begin the fund-raising. Complete details on the Project Board and the key elements for each of the focus committees is also available on the City’s website. This project board will meet on a regular basis and will exist throughout the duration of the project. It is anticipated that the Design Development Phase of the project could take 6-9 months.

This is an important park project for the benefit of the entire community. We welcome you to help support the opportunities to preserve, enhance and rehabilitate this wonderful community asset. I encourage you to learn about this project and to share your thoughts with the Project Board as they work diligently on finalizing a blueprint plan that will result in a park that the community can enjoy for many generations to come.

Best regards,
Mary Van Arsdale
Director of Parks, Forestry and Recreation

Please take time to enjoy a recreation program and visit our wonderful park sites!

Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association

NSSRA is a partnership that provides year-round recreation and leisure opportunities for children, teens, adults and seniors with disabilities. For more information about NSSRA, please call 847-509-9400, email to info@nssra.org or check their website, www.nssra.org.

For information about NSSRA inclusion services in our programs, contact Wendy McKiernan at 847-810-3912.

 


 
The City of Lake Forest, 220 E. Deerpath, Lake Forest, IL 60045                                             847.234.2600                                          cityhall@cityoflakeforest.com