Elk Grove Park District offers deals as it turns 50 Tuesday

The Elk Grove Park District is celebrating its 50th birthday today.

It is marking the occasion with rollback pricing on admissions at the Pavilion Fitness Center, Carousel and Jumps n' Jiggles, and the Pavilion Aquatics Center. Fox Run Golf Links will offer 50 percent off green fees from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Pavilion, Hattendorf and Fox Run will have cake and sweet treats for visitors. For information, call (847) 437-9494 or visit www.elkgroveparks.org.

While today is the official birthday, the park district and village are collaborating on a large free festival Sunday, July 17, that also will mark the town's 60th anniversary. From noon to 5 p.m., there will be 50 free activities inside and outside of the Pavilion, including a zip line, bounce house, bubble soccer, arts, crafts and sports, along with dance, theater and musical performances. The village will have a band, a picnic lunch and entertainment on the Village Green. The Elk Grove Village Library is holding an ice cream social.

The history

In 1961, the Elk Grove Village Board approved a two-year trial period for a new Park and Recreation Board to provide and supervise public playgrounds, athletic fields, recreation centers and activities. The success of the trial resulted in the establishment of the Elk Grove Playground and Recreation Board. In 1966, a referendum was passed and the Elk Grove Park District was officially formed on May 24.

The growth over these past 50 years has been extraordinary. The mission is to provide safe and innovative parks and recreational opportunities.

The Elk Grove Park District has 42 parks and 10 facilities. Within the parks, there are 41 playgrounds, 18 tennis courts and 27 football and soccer fields. The major facilities include Fox Run Golf Links, Rainbow Falls Waterpark, Pirates' Cove Theme Park, the Al Hattendorf Center and the Elk Grove Historical Museum.

The most prominent of the facilities is the Jack A. Claes Pavilion, which sits in the heart of town. It houses a fitness center, a three-court gymnasium, dance studios, arts and crafts rooms, a banquet hall and an aquatics center. Unique to the Pavilion is an indoor carousel.

The Elk Grove Park District has several firsts. When the Pavilion was built in 1994, there were no other park districts that had all these amenities housed under one roof. Pirates' Cove Children's Theme Park is 35 years old and is still a one-of-a-kind destination for children under 10.

Over the years, the park district transformed Lions Park Pool, not once but twice. The first transformation was in the 1980s when water slides were added, creating Rainbow Falls Waterpark, and in 2005 the entire park was rebuilt into an award-winning aquatic theme park.

Most recently Fox Run Golf Links was renovated to become a more playable course for golfers with varying skill levels. The renovation included improvements to the irrigation system, drainage and bunkers. The Pavilion Aquatics Center underwent a major reconstruction in 2013, creating three new pools. In July, the district will start work on new concessions and storage buildings at the 23-acre Community Athletic Fields.

The Elk Grove Park District has had four executive directors, beginning with Jack A. Claes, the visionary behind Pirates' Cove and the Pavilion. Barbara Heller focused on teamwork and processes that strengthened the district as a business. Mike Brottman made sure that the best practices of a park district were shared throughout the state. And current Executive Director Thomas A. Busby is a well-rounded professional emphasizing fiscal responsibility and working to maintain and promote the district as a vital part of the community.

The district kicked off its anniversary year with the Family New Year's Eve Party, giving out commemorative calendars. In addition, the district hung large historical panels in each of its buildings with photos from the past 50 years.

Besides celebrating the past, the Elk Grove Park District is looking forward to the future. Its vision statement is "Go beyond the expected!" With leadership, partnership and the residents of Elk Grove Village, it will keep moving forward to provide the best in recreation.