Gurnee Park District history

In 1971, the Park District purchased approximately 29 acres of the Viking Park property from theVillage with the assistance of Federal Land and Water Conservation Funds.

The Lions Club funded construction of the band shell in 1980, and it was dedicated to Arthur D. Welton, Sr.

The 1990’s saw the expansion of parks as the population of Gurnee soared and there was an influx of new residential, commercial and industrial development.

The vote on the question, “Shall the Park District known as Gurnee Park District be dissolved?” took place November 6, 1991.

Southridge Park was built in 1992.

Beginning in 1995, the Park District utilized a three-year strategic planning process to identify its challenges and opportunities.

The Park Board anticipated developer donation revenue coming to an end and in 1997 developed a Fund Balance Policy to accumulate 25% of operating expenses in fund balance reserves.

In 1998, Hunt Club Neighborhood Park, Vineyard Park in the Elysian Fields subdivision and Timberwoods Park in the Timberwoods subdivision were constructed.

In 2000, after years of discussion and two previous failed referenda, “Citizens for a Community Pool”, a grassroots group of over 100 volunteers led by Karen Thorstenson and Wendy Vieth, spearheaded the passage of an advisory referendum placed on the ballot by the Village of Gurnee.

The Viking Park Community Center on Old Grand Avenue in our flagship park, was expanded in 2001.

The Hunt Club Park Aquatic Center opened on June 8, 2002 at 900 N. Hunt Club Road.

In 2003, the Illinois Legislature overrode the Governor’s veto and enacted a law that corrected an inequity in the Property Tax Extension Limitation Law (PTELL) that affected 16 park districts including Gurnee.

In 2004, the District created a Capital Replacement/Development fund to transfer amounts in excess of the fund balance goal into this fund annually to meet future capital needs.

In 2005, the Park District acquired approximately 25 acres of woods in the Churchill Hunt neighborhood and 125 additional acres of wetlands in the Village Park area, all of which will be preserved as natural areas for future generations.

The facility opened on September 30, 2006, just as leases were expiring at Warren Town Hall and Gurnee Grade School, facilities being used to meet indoor programming needs.

The 3.6-acre Churchill Hunt Park was completed in 2007 with assistance of an OSLAD grant and dedicated in honor of State Senator Adeline Geo-Karis.

Gowe Park was sold to the Warren Township High School District in November 2008, and the beach was closed.

Also in 2010, the District received Distinguished Accreditation status from the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.

A 2012 intergovernmental agreement between the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission, Gurnee School District 56 and Gurnee Park District closed a chapter for District 56 and the Gurnee Grade School building on Kilbourne Road.

The Park District’s most recent acquisition is the former Gold’s Gym building at 1655 Nations Drive in Gurnee. It re-opened on November 6, 2013 as FitNation.

In August 2015, the District began renovation of the former tenant spaces on the south side of the building.

In 2016, the District received Distinguished Accreditation status from the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association.