OAK BROOK PARK DISTRICT CENTRAL PARK

Two ongoing programs deserve special mention. The first includes programs serving adults 60 and older. There are social and recreational programs and brain games, from bridge to Mah Jongg, offered, as well as park walks and midday movies. There are groups like the Pinstripes Club that bowl at Pinstripes in Oakbrook Center. Pickleball, group exercise classes, and aquatic and tennis programs are also available for older adults. The Pioneer program provides all individuals 60 and older with various unique social and recreational opportunities, including luncheons and trips to Chicago, ball games, and trips to estates and other nearby attractions.

The Travel Club is available for all adults traveling as singles, couples, or with friends. Group travel options offer an enjoyable experience with group savings, transportation, organized activities, socialization, and free time to explore independently. Members travel to different areas to learn about its history, geography, and culture. The park district provides an escort to assist the group as needed. This group will be traveling to San Antonio from

November 30-December 4, and on a trip to the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park in the summer of 2023.

Last is Lifetime Learning, with programs covering real estate transactions, Medicare basics, and financial counseling. The Park District also offers safety programs such as Rules Of The Road.

The second special amenity worth noting is The Sandlot. It is a unique, universal playground designed to be inclusive for everyone, regardless of age or ability. It is a collaboration between the Oak Brook Park District and the Oak Brook Park District Foundation.

The park removes physical and social barriers so all individuals can play side by side with peers and family members. It features innovative equipment, including a dual-track zip line, a poured-in-place surface baseball diamond, and two levels of play, fully accessible through ramping.

In 2023, the Park District will continue adding amenities to Central Park, funded partly by an Open Space Land Acquisition and Development [OSLAD] grant and a Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) grant. The Oak Brook Park District will allocate the grant funds to restrooms, a concessions facility, shelter and amphitheater space, a fitness challenge course for all ages, table games including ping pong, chess, and checkers, as well as a bocce court. An accessible pathway will accompany the amphitheater, and an accessible fishing area will be created along Ginger Creek.

Park Board President, Sharon Knitter, said, “Growing our services, offerings, and space has been an exciting venture here at the Park District. The staff’s commitment to serving the Oak Brook community has been inspiring. Whether it be a walk through the park with a friend, a child’s first ‘win’ on our soccer fields, or families dancing together at our concerts - we look forward to making more memories in these new spaces.”

The Oak Brook Park District is proud to offer the residents amenities, facilities, and programs at a reasonable cost. For a complete list of Oak Brook Park District programs and information regarding upcoming additions, visit www.obparks.org. ■