The City of Wood Dale provides its residents with multiple outlets for recreation throughout the community. Park district and city officials are delighted to see families and friends gathering for large special events and programming at all levels of involvement. Residents looking for leisure opportunities have many options.
Wood Dale Park District
111 E. Foster Ave. • (630) 595-9333 • www.wdparks.org
The Wood Dale Park District thrives on providing memorable events and wonderful opportunities for residents and visitors. Organized in 1967, the park district encompasses a six-square-mile area and serves most of the City of Wood Dale and portions of Elk Grove Village, Itasca and Bensenville.
The park district serves an estimated population of 13,500 with approximately 140 acres of park land on 12 park sites and three recreation facilities. District facilities include an 18-hole golf course with driving range and banquet facility, water park, community center, dog-friendly area and fitness center. The Wood Dale Park District also owns and operates 12 area parks.
The Wood Dale Park District offers an extensive selection of recreation and leisure programs for all age and interest groups. More details are available in the park district’s seasonal brochure which is produced three times per year; residents can register online at wdparks.org. Interested in collaborating to offer a program? Contact Matthew Ellmann, Executive Director at mellmann@wdparks.org
The Park District is governed by a five-member board of park commissioners, elected at-large for overlapping six-year terms. Day-to-day operations are administered by the executive director and staff.
Recreation Complex
111 E. Foster Ave. • (630) 595-9333 • www.wdparks.org
The Wood Dale Park District Recreation Complex is the primary location for many recreation programs including a preschool program, before and after-school care programs, arts, dance, fitness, athletics and summer camp programs. The goal is to provide programs and services for each age, ability and interest.
The recreation complex includes a gymnasium, arts, dance/exercise rooms, senior citizen meeting room, kitchen facilities, preschool rooms and the park district’s administrative offices.
Also located within the recreation complex is a full-service fitness center with various types of weight and cardio machines, and a walking/jogging track suspended above the gymnasium. A variety of membership options, including corporate memberships, are available. The fitness team is also available to tailor-make a program for your business to be held at your location. For more information, contact Arturo Segura, deputy director of recreation services, at asegura@wdparks.org.
Salt Creek Golf Club
701 W. Thorndale Ave. • (630) 773-0184
www.saltcreekgolfclub.com
This three-time award-winning facility of the Daily Herald Readers’ Choice “Best of the Best” award, offers an 18-hole executive golf course and banquet facility that hosts weddings, showers and other private gatherings. The Salt Creek Golf Club is host to over 30 golf leagues and many golf outings, including Footgolf. Tee times may be reserved seven days in advance by calling the Pro Shop at (630) 773-0184 or online at saltcreekgolfclub.com.
The Wood Dale Park District also owns and operates 12 area parks, including:
The Beach Water Park
161 Commercial Ave. • www.wdparks.org
The Beach Water Park is where residents can cool off on hot summer days, enjoy an L-shaped zero depth pool, and a splash-pad play area.
Other water park attractions include two 129-foot spiral water slides, a sand volleyball court, a sand playground equipment area, an adult deck with heated spa, a large tanning area, a full-service concession stand and concession picnic area, a supervised bathhouse with showers and coin lockers and award-winning licensed lifeguards.
White Oaks Park
111 S. Wood Dale Rd. | www.wdparks.org
(Corner of Wood Dale Road and Montrose Avenue)
Covering more than 18 acres, White Oaks Park features a nature preserve, dog-friendly areas and a walking path. In line with the Park District’s Comprehensive Community Action Park Plan, redevelopment plans are in the works for White Oaks Park.
Resident feedback, combined with a wetland delineation study, a tree inventory, a condition assessment of the cabin and an environmental study of the structure drove the formation of the plan that included both passive and active recreation amenities. The plan will be completed in three phases, and visitors will have access to park amenities through the majority of the project, which will be completed as funding becomes available. For more information, visit www.wdparks.org.
Salt Creek Park Forest Preserve
(Elizabeth Drive between Addison and Wood Dale roads)
At 97.5 acres, Salt Creek Park is a mix of upland forest and floodplain woods. Nearly 2 miles of looped mowed-
turf trails meander through the preserve, ideal for hiking and cross-country skiing. A short gravel trail leads from
the parking lot to Salt Creek.
Salt Creek Park has dozens of tables and grassy areas where picnickers can spread a blanket as well as few small shelters that are available on a first-come, first-served basis. It also has a 100-person reservable shelter available through dupageforest.org.
The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County actively manages the preserve’s natural areas by removing nonnative woody plants, which helps species like bur oaks, hickories and black oaks thrive.
Salt Creek Greenway Trail
(Starts at Busse Woods in Cook County to the north, passes through eastern DuPage County’s Salt Creek watershed and curves southeast back into Cook County, where it ends at
the Brookfield Zoo)
This 35-mile stretch of pedestrian and bicycle trail is not only one of the most visited trail systems in Northeastern Illinois, but it’s also a key link in the development of a 210-mile northeastern Illinois trail network.
Consisting of both on-street and off-street segments, the Salt Creek Greenway Trail winds through more than a dozen communities and serves more than 300,000 residents along its route.
The trail connects to numerous trail systems including forest preserve trails at Salt Creek Marsh, Salt Creek Park, Cricket Creek, Salt Creek Greenway, York Woods and Fullersburg Woods.
White Oaks Nature Park, Dog Area & Cabin
111 S. Wood Dale Rd. • www.wdparks.org
(on the corner of Wood Dale Road and Montrose Avenue)
The White Oaks Nature Trail features an interpretive loop trail for jogging, walking and biking in natural surroundings where users can experience the flora and fauna of two ecosystems. Open daily from dawn to dusk. The dog area is open daily from dawn to dusk and allows interactive off-leash play.
Salt Creek Park Forest Preserve
151 S. Addison Rd.
Consisting of 92 wooded acres along the banks of the Salt Creek, the forest preserve features picnic tables, shelters and nearly two miles of hiking trails. The forest preserve is a mix of upland forest and floodplain woods, providing a habitat for northern orioles, eastern bluebirds and red-headed woodpeckers.