Lets Get Moving!!
Fox Valley Park District is Your Resource for Fun and Adventure
Fox Valley is the second largest Park District in Illinois, serving 233,000 residents across four counties (Kane, DuPage, Kendall, Will) and three municipalities (Aurora, North Aurora, Montgomery). That's 65 square miles of "Where Fun Begins."
The Fox Valley Park District (FVPD) maintains 168 parks, each with its own distinct characteristics. The District also owns and maintains 22 miles of river shoreline, 25 lakes, 63 park shelters and more than 2,500 acres of open space. Park amenities include 101 playgrounds, 48 basketball courts, 27 outdoor tennis courts, 107 ball fields fields and 83 soccer fields.
The Fox Valley Park District is one of the greatest assets in the western suburbs of Chicago. One of the (many) wonderful outdoor assets is the Virgil Gilman Nature Trail.
The Virgil L. Gilman Trail travels from quiet forest and prairie lands to bustling neighborhoods in just 11 miles, linking a woodsy community college campus with the eastern Chicago suburb of Montgomery. The trail’s namesake, Virgil Gilman, served as administrator of the Fox Valley Park District for 30 years and successfully championed public access to Fox River, as the public shoreline grew from 66 feet in 1946 to 20 miles during his tenure.
The FVPD includes a vast network of biking and walking trails as well as numerous facilities such as community and fitness centers, athletic fields, dog parks, public garden plots, and parks.
Many miles of biking and walking trails await your next outdoor adventure!
Enjoy exploring the interactive map by clicking on the features to learn more.
In addition to trails and public facilities, a variety of parks and nature areas are accessible from the FVPD trail network. Zooming in to the map we can see that the Prisco Fitness Center and McCullough Park in Aurora are accessible from the Fox River Trail.
To the west of the Prisco Fitness Center is the Eola Fitness and Community Center which is adjacent to Waubonsee Lake Park and a lovely stretch of Waubonsee Creek Trail.
Eager readers enjoy book fair week at Eola Community Center
The trail network eventually links to the Oakhurst Forest Preserve and nearby Oakhurst Garden Plot.
There are many opportunities for outdoor (or indoor) fun and adventure in exploring the communities through the greater Kane, Dupage, Kendall, and Will Counties.
Enjoy exploring the interactive map by clicking on the features to learn more.
Another source of pride of the FVPD is Blackberry Farm, a living history museum where pioneer life is re-created through educational demonstrations and hands-on fun. Admission to Blackberry Farm includes unlimited rides on the train, hay wagon, pedal tractors, paddle boats, carousel, and ponies.
And of course you can ride a bike or walk to the Blackberry Farm using the Virgil Gilman Nature Trail. Nearby attractions include the Splash Country Water Park, Blackberry Water Park, and Barnes Forest Preserve.
Enjoy exploring the interactive map by clicking on the features to learn more.
For some time, Fox Valley explored ways to become more transparent, interactive, and responsive when serving its residents and visitors, who utilize its parks, trails and facilities. In May, 201 (FVPD) implemented “FoxTrax,” powered by SeeClickFix.
“Whether someone wants to report an issue, or quickly find events and information, SeeClickFix serves as a shortcut to instant access,” said Dan Leahy, Director of Marketing and Communications.
From graffiti, to field damage and everything in between, using this platform will allow FVPD to quickly respond to any issues that requires attention. Also, residents will no longer have to call or stop by FVPD’s facilities or administration center to request information or report issues.
The collaboration with Cartegraph positions SeeClickFix as the public-facing tool that channels requests into FVPD’s back-end asset management and work order system.
Life can be challenging and stressful, but you have an amazing resource with one of the many FVPD facilities. Whether you need a vigorous exercise session at one of our fitness centers, need to clear your mind in nature on a walking path, or need to laugh and celebrate at one of our community centers, FVPD be the start of "where the fun begins."
Resources:
Access downloadable PDF trail maps here
