MISSION
What do we exist to do?
Be Community Focused
VISION
What do we want to be known for?
A Place Where Everyone Belongs
VALUES
The foundation of our Mission and Vision
Safety • Inclusion • Stewardship • Impact
Formed, built, and supported for the community by local residents, the Lisle Park District has provided recreational activities in Lisle for decades. Partnerships with local organizations and resident-led initiatives set the foundation for the Park District's operation since its early stages through to the present.
The Lisle Park District was established in 1967 and provides a variety of leisure activities for people of all ages throughout the year. Park district facilities include Lisle Community Park, home to the all-inclusive Discovery Playground and Community Park Public Boat Launch; the Recreation Center, which houses Gentle Learning Preschool, SEASPAR, the Senior Center, and multipurpose rooms; the Community Center, which contains Community Park Fitness and studios for dance and group fitness classes; Sea Lion Aquatic Park; The Museums at Lisle Station Park; River Bend Golf Course and numerous neighborhood playgrounds and park amenities, such as tennis courts, pickleball courts, ball fields, soccer fields, walking paths and picnic areas totaling close to 400 acres. It is the mission of the Lisle Park District to be community focused.
From the beginning
Our History
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1967
Lisle Park District is formed
March 11, 1967: Referendum to create the Lisle Park District passes, Lisle Park District is formed thanks to the efforts of the Lisle Youth Association
March 20, 1967: Park District officer elections
April 10, 1967: First open meeting
October 1967: Senior program planning begins
November 13, 1967: Adopts Marg Bryan's emblem design; pays dues to join the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD)
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1968
May 13, 1968: G. Carlin Nalley approved as first Park District employee Summer Recreation Program Director
May 1968: Agrees to support Lisle Girls' Recreational Softball program
Summer 1968: First recreation programs are held: "Arts and Crafts"
Summer 1968: Summer recreation program has over 4000 participants
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1969
March 20, 1969: Nalley appointed as part time Director of Summer Recreation
April 14, 1969: Charlie Drendel becomes first full time employee as "General Maintenance Man" position; first major purchase made includes a tractor, back hoe, front end loader, rake, and mower
June 9, 1969: Mrs. Mae Jean Becker authorized as Director of Arts and Crafts and Miss Anna Rose Burden authorized as Assistant Director of Summer Recreation (both part time); Park board decides to help pay for field trip transportation
June 15, 1969: Rents storage space from Lisle Fire Protection District (current location of V&R Tire)
Summer 1969: Summer recreation program has over 7500 participants
August 4, 1969: First cooperative agreement between Park District and School District 70 is approved: Park District agrees to maintain school grounds in exchange for use of grounds for recreational programs and activities open to the community
December 18, 1969: Board authorizes the purchase of the office's first typewriter for the discounted price of $365 plus tax
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1970
Office's first phone and file cabinet purchased; Park District's Boys Club Wrestling becomes school sponsored Junior Wrestling due to its success as a Park District program
March 1970: Senior programs begin to expand
April 13, 1970: Local resident Mr. Dave Vermeer agrees to allow Park District to rent his enclosed pool with attached dressing room, shower, and bathroom to offer swim classes to the community. Over 400 residents will participate in the program during this first year.
June 4, 1970: 1970 Summer Program of Recreation is published showing the significantly expanded offering of programs for children and adults
June 8, 1970: First meeting at the newly rented office inside the Lisle Library (current location of Evviva!)
July 28, 1970: "7 bus loads of seniors" take a Park District bus trip to a Cubs game
August 1970: Park-School Joint Committee is formed to work in cooperation to provide recreation programs and activities to children in Lisle School Districts 70 and 109; Village of Lisle invited later
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1971
Recreation programs significantly expanded with emphasis on the arts, sports, and for people with disabilities
July 5, 1971: Dedication of Park District's first park, Connelly Memorial Park at Lacy Avenue
November 11, 1971: First truck is purchased, dump portion purchased later
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1972
May 1972: Swim classes move to Meadows Swim Club
September 8, 1972: Park Manager Steve Hartman becomes the first Director of the Park District for a salary of $12,000 per year
1972-1973: winter recreation programs begin
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1973
March 1, 1973: Park District office and meeting space moves from Front Street to Main Street (current location of Choice Eye Care)
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1974
March 1974: Planning for the Community Center and pool begins
December 1974: Park District dedication of "16 major recreation areas in Green Trails"
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1975
January 1975: Park District meetings moved to old Village Hall on Main Street (current site of the Marq on Main)
February 26, 1975: Final plans for Community Center Swimming Complex approved
May 17, 1975: Ground breaking for Community Center and Swimming Complex
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1976
Community Center and Swimming Complex opens
January 20, 1976: Lisle Park District joins Woodridge, Downers Grove, Westmont, and Darien Park Districts to form SEASPAR (South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation)
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1978
Park District enters into agreement with newly formed Lisle Heritage Society to sponsor and establish the Doris M. Gurtler Museum (today known as The Museums at Lisle Station Park); the historic Lisle Depot is saved from being destroyed, moved to its new Park District location, and excavation of its former location is carried out
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1986
Historic Netzley/Yender House is relocated to the Lisle Station Park museum grounds and restoration begins
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1987
School district moves out of Meadows School building and Park District's Meadows Center opens complete with Senior Center and Preschool facilities; Swimming Complex becomes the Sea Lion Aquatic Park
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1989
Historic Beaubien Tavern is relocated to the Lisle Station Park museum grounds and restoration begins
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1992
Community Park Fitness opens
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1998
July 1998: CB&Q (Burlington) Railroad historic Waycar #14584 is relocated to the Lisle Station Park museum grounds and restoration begins
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2001
The Museum's "Smithy" Blacksmith Shop is built during the "barn raising" event at Depot Days
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2003
River Bend Golf Course and The View restaurant open
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2004
June 5, 2004: Reopening of renovated Sea Lion Aquatic Park
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2011
New Recreation Center opens next to the Community Center; The View becomes Wheatstack – A Midwestern Eatery & Tap
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2015
March 31, 2015: Lisle Park District welcomed six honeybee hives and approximately 60,000 bees at the north end of Lisle Community Park on what has been named "Bee Island"
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2016
Fall 2016: Construction of the new Lisle Veterans Memorial, a monument honoring veterans and promoting civic pride was completed and dedicated
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2017
Lisle Park District encompasses 9 community facilities, a historic museum campus, and 36 park sites with sports fields and courts, natural walking and bike paths, outdoor entertainment areas, spanning over 400 acres
June 3, 2017: Lisle Park District celebrated its 50th Anniversary
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2018
June 2018: Construction of the newly renovated Van Kampen Memorial Stage was completed
Summer 2018: Lisle Park District hosted its first Summer Entertainment Series at the newly renovated Van Kampen Stage
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2019
Spring 2019: Lisle Park District starts a pilot pesticide-free program in four parks - Abbeywood Park, Connelly Memorial Park, Leask Lane Park, and Oak Hill Park
Spring 2019: Lisle Park District starts an Adopt-A-Park Program
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2020
Despite the pandemic, we transformed and created new offerings to provide quality recreation opportunities for all ages
August 29, 2020: Opening of the community's first, universally accessible playground, aptly named "Discovery Playground," located in Community Park
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2021
April 2021: New Parks Department Vehicle & Equipment Storage Facility completed
April 15, 2021: Parks Garage named "Don's Garage" in honor of Park District Board President Don Cook retiring after 23 years of dedicated service
June 5, 2021: Lisle Park District hosts it's very first Film Festival outdoors in Lisle Community Park
September 11, 2021: Officially opened the Lisle Community Park Boat Launch on the East Branch of the DuPage River for public use
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2022
January 2022: District formed an internal committee to create awareness and develop initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within our services and work environment.
April 1, 2022: Launched new recreation registration system
June 1, 2022: Launched 6 new park district responsive websites including Lisle Park District, Community Park Fitness, Sea Lion Aquatic Park, The Museums at Lisle Station Park, Senior Center, Gentle Learning Preschool
Summer 2022: Camp Summer Quest celebrated its 20th anniversary
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2023
April 20, 2023: The Lisle Park District Board of Park Commissioners approved the adoption of the Strategic Master Plan created by Next Practice Partners, LLC, in collaboration with Kimley-Horn & PROS Consulting, Inc., at April's Regular Monthly Board Meeting. Click here to view an executive summary of the report or the full report in its entirety.