Picnic shelter reservations begin Feb. 1 at Fox Valley Park District
The Fox Valley Park District will begin accepting picnic shelter reservations on Thursday, Feb. 1, on a first-come, first-reserved basis.
The park district features 13 picnic shelters throughout its park system in Aurora, North Aurora and Montgomery.
Reservations for groups of 25 or more are available from May 1 to Oct. 21.
Reservation fees are $60 for residents and $90 for nonresidents, with a $100 refundable security fee required as well.
Reservations include exclusive use of the shelter, pavilion and grill areas during the reserved time.
However, as public parks, adjacent open space and playground areas remain available to others during reserved times.
Capacity ranges from 30 to 150 people at all of the shelters except Cool Acres, which can accommodate groups as large as 200. Cool Acres, located on the Fox River along Route 25 and Sullivan Road, is the only shelter area that allows consumption of alcohol.
Additional fees and permits are required.
The newly renovated Jericho Lake Park is available once again and features an array of improvements.
Also, for the first time, shelter reservations are available at Red Oak Nature Center on weekends only.
Austin Park, Copley I Park and North Aurora Island Park are not available for shelter reservations during the 2018 season due to restroom renovations.
Reservations are taken in-person at the Cole Center, 101 W. Illinois Ave.; Prisco Center, 150 W. Illinois Ave.; and Eola Center, 555 S. Eola Road during weekday hours.
An illustrated picnic shelter guidebook is available online and at each facility, providing an overview and photos from each reservable park site. For details, visit www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org.
The Fox Valley Park District serves a diverse population of more than 233,000 people. Recognized as an Illinois Distinguished Agency, Fox Valley holds the nation's highest honor as a National Gold Medal Award winner for excellence in park and recreation management.
Serving the communities of Aurora, Montgomery and North Aurora, the park district maintains 168 parks and 48 miles of interconnected regional trails amid 2,500 acres of parkland. Connected by the Fox River, the communities are tied together by the park district's commitment to promote vibrant, healthy lifestyles through fun and safe recreation opportunities that are environmentally and fiscally responsible.