Providence
Blackstone Series

When it's time to relax, Elgin has almost 1,200-acres of park and riverfront land, along with 4,000-acres of forest preserves, natural trails and bike paths.

The 112-acre Lords Park is home to the Elgin Public Museum, an aquatic center, picnic shelter, tennis and basketball courts, and a petting zoo. The recently restored Lords Park Pavilion is available for social or business functions, and even weddings.

Wing Park features a band shell, play area, picnic shelters, ball fields, tennis courts, and an aquatic center. It also has a nine-hole public golf course, one of more than 10 public and private courses you can choose to play.

At The Centre of Elgin you can spend the afternoon with the family. It is one of the largest municipal recreation centers in the nation and features Adventure Island water park, an indoor climbing wall, field house with three full-size basketball courts, an arts and crafts room, gymnasium, racquetball courts, banquet facilities, and a teen/senior center, just to name a few. For outdoor sports, there's the Elgin Sports Complex. Here you'll find lighted ball fields, sand volleyball courts, soccer fields, and a BMX bike track known as The Hill.

Try the Fox River Trail or the Illinois Prairie Path for a scenic walk. Plus, the Fox River is a welcome respite from the summer heat, with all types of water sports. In winter, there's skiing, tubing and snowboarding nearby, too.