Round Lake park logo to be cut in corn maze

Round Lake area residents used to seeing the park district logo on program brochures will soon find it in a new location - cut into the corn at Richardson Adventure Farm.

The 1.9-mile maze, one of five mazes at the Spring Grove farm, will feature the Round Lake Area Park District’s logo starting Aug. 6 and running through October. The farm is at 9407 Richardson Road.

After dropping hints for six weeks on its Facebook page, the park district announced the maze at the Fourth of July fireworks display at the Round Lake Cultural and Civic Center.

“We’re excited about it,” said Marlon Rodas, the park district’s marketing manager. “I don’t know of any other agency that has done something like this.”

Richardson Adventure Farm and the park district have been partners for several years, officials said. Richardson has donated Christmas trees, pumpkins and gourds to park district events, and the district has organized gatherings at the farm and sponsored the maze.

Rodas said the partnership has worked well because their goals are similar.

“Our goals are the same, to give as much as we can to the communities we serve,” he said. “We’re after the same demographic.”

Rodas said the two wanted to continue the partnership, but seek a larger endeavor.

“They came back with the idea to do something with the maze and it snowballed from there,” he said.

Richardson Adventure Farm is home to the world’s largest corn maze, five separate mazes covering 33 acres. Ryan Richardson, among fifth and sixth generation family members to run the farm, said the smaller maze has not received as much attention in the past. Linking this maze to the community may highlight it and showcase this form of entertainment.

“We hope this will be a gateway for other park districts and other communities. Our farm is a neat place to be, a great place for all ages to come out,” he said.

Rodas added he hopes this larger endeavor will be another chance to highlight all the park district does.

“What I’m hoping it will do is to create awareness of what programs the Round Lake Area Park District offers, not only to its residents but to all of Lake County,” he said.

More details about the maze and special activities will be provided in the coming weeks on the district’s Facebook page and its website, www.rlapd.org. Visit Richardson Adventure Farm’s website at www.richardsonadventurefarm.com.