The fun doesn’t stop when the temperature drops! We have exciting wintertime activities to do with the kiddos.
Listen to Stories in the Woods
Every other Wed at 10-11am Heller Nature Center
Enjoy a story with a naturalist, then take a short hike and engage in a hands-on nature-inspired craft to take home.
Run around at Wiggle Time
Every Tues & Thurs at 10:30am-12:30pm • Recreation Center of Highland Park
Get out of the house and give your little ones room to play on our beautiful basketball courts! We provide balls, scooters, and lots of other fun equipment for kids to enjoy. This is a drop-in program, pay at the Rec Center front desk.
$7/9 (resident/non-resident), KidsClub Members Wiggle for Free!
Rent Jammin’ Jungle
West Ridge Center
Our jungle-themed indoor playground is the perfect setting for your active child to run, climb, and play! Whether you’re planning a birthday party or a special playdate, Jammin’ Jungle can accommodate up to 30 people.
For more information, contact Debbie Pierce at [email protected] or (847) 579-4047.
Sign up for a parent-tot swim lesson
Recreation Center of Highland Park
“Parent & Tot Water Readiness” is a class designed to help you and your child enjoy the water through activities and songs.
Plan for next fall & sign up for ParkSchool
Registration begins Wed., Feb 15 at 7am
ParkSchool is a fresh concept in early childhood education that combines modern education methods with the expertise in recreation and access to the natural world that only the Park District can provide. Our educational staff and recreational professionals deliver a new level of STREAM (science, technology, recreation, engineering, art, and math) for young learners, with the goal of preparing them for success in kindergarten.
Skate Outdoors
Daily 9am-9pm (rink is lit by existing park lighting) • Sunset Woods Park
When weather conditions allow (an average temperature of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder for 5 consecutive days, 5-6 inches of ground frost), park district staff will begin flooding the ice rink. It takes four 24-hour days to spray and freeze the water to create a base and finish ice.
Throughout the season, the rink may be closed for snow removal or unsafe ice conditions.
Skating is free and the rink is sectioned off to allow for separate hockey and recreational skating. Groups should be considerate of one another. For the safety of our patrons, helmets are required in the hockey rink.
There is no supervision or skate rental at the outdoor rink. Anyone using the ice rink should be aware that the risk of injury is present. The Park District encourages everyone to participate in this activity in a safe manner and suggests that children be supervised by a responsible adult.
Free
Go sledding
Daily from dawn to dusk • Danny Cunniff Park
Nothing says “winter fun” like sledding! The sled hill at Cunniff Park is free and open to the public. Please be aware that there is no supervision or warming facility at the sled hill.
Free
Swim Indoors
Sat & Sun at 12:30-5:30pm • Recreation Center of Highland Park
No matter the season, there’s an indoor pool for you to jump into at the Rec Center! Splash around with the whole family during weekend open swim hours.
