Linden Creek - Parks & Recreation

Explore Our Parks & Recreation

Linden Creek is proud to offer a variety of parks, trails, and recreational facilities that enhance the quality of life for our residents and visitors. Our Parks & Recreation Department maintains five public parks, an extensive trail system, and numerous recreational programs and facilities for all ages and interests.

Whether you're looking for a peaceful place to relax, an active outdoor adventure, or an opportunity to learn a new skill or hobby, Linden Creek has something for everyone. We invite you to explore all that our community has to offer and take advantage of these wonderful resources.

Our Parks

Lakeview Park

Our largest park featuring a sandy beach, swimming area, fishing pier, and expansive grassy areas for recreation. The park also includes picnic shelters, a modern playground, and beautiful lake views.

Amenities:

Beach Playground Picnic Areas Fishing Pier Bathrooms Boat Launch

Hours: 6:00 AM - 10:00 PM daily

Park Details

Heritage Park

Located in the heart of downtown, this historic park features beautiful gardens, a central gazebo, and tree-lined walking paths. The park hosts many community events, concerts, and the weekly farmers market.

Amenities:

Gazebo Gardens Walking Paths Benches Fountains Bathrooms

Hours: 5:00 AM - 11:00 PM daily

Park Details

Riverside Park

A nature-focused park along Linden Creek featuring preserved natural areas, wildlife viewing opportunities, and tranquil creek-side trails. The park also includes a nature center with educational exhibits and programs.

Amenities:

Nature Center Hiking Trails Bird Watching Picnic Areas Educational Programs Bathrooms

Hours: 7:00 AM - 8:00 PM daily

Park Details

Sports Complex with multiple athletic fields, courts, and a skate park

Linden Creek Sports Complex

Our premier athletic facility featuring baseball/softball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, and a popular skate park. The complex hosts league sports, tournaments, and casual recreation.

Amenities:

Ball Fields Soccer Fields Tennis Courts Basketball Courts Skate Park Concessions Bathrooms

Hours: 7:00 AM - 10:00 PM daily

Park Details

Community Gardens with plots, garden shed, and greenhouse

Linden Creek Community Gardens

A unique park featuring community garden plots available to residents, demonstration gardens, a greenhouse, and garden education center. The park promotes sustainable gardening practices and community engagement.

Amenities:

Garden Plots Greenhouse Education Center Tool Shed Compost Area Water Access Bathrooms

Hours: Dawn to Dusk daily

Park Details

Trail System

Linden Creek features an extensive network of trails for walking, running, biking, and nature exploration. Our trails connect parks, neighborhoods, and natural areas throughout the community, providing opportunities for recreation, transportation, and appreciation of our natural environment.

Trail Name	Length	Surface	Difficulty	Description
Linden Creek Trail	5.2 miles	Paved	Easy	Follows Linden Creek through town, connecting multiple parks and neighborhoods with scenic water views.
Lakeside Loop	3.0 miles	Paved	Easy	Circles the lake with beautiful water views, connects to Lakeview Park and several neighborhoods.
Forest Ridge Trail	4.5 miles	Crushed Stone	Moderate	Winds through forested hillsides with some elevation changes, featuring diverse plant and wildlife habitats.
Nature Preserve Loop	2.3 miles	Natural Surface	Moderate	Explore the Linden Creek Nature Preserve with interpretive signs about local ecology and wildlife.
Heritage Trail	1.2 miles	Paved/Brick	Easy	Historical walking tour through downtown with information about Linden Creek's heritage and historic buildings.
Ridge Run Trail	3.8 miles	Natural Surface	Difficult	Challenging trail with significant elevation changes, popular with mountain bikers and trail runners.

Download Trail Map (PDF)

Recreation Programs

The Linden Creek Parks & Recreation Department offers a wide variety of programs for all ages and interests. Our programs promote physical activity, skill development, creativity, and community connection. Registration is required for most programs, with both online and in-person registration options available.

Youth Programs

Youth Soccer League

Ages 5-14 • Seasonal • Linden Creek Sports Complex
Kids Swimming Lessons

Ages 3-12 • Year-round • Community Center Pool
Youth Art Classes

Ages 6-16 • Seasonal • Community Center
Summer Day Camp

Ages 5-12 • Summer • Various Locations
After-School Programs

Grades K-8 • School Year • Elementary Schools

Adult Programs

Adult Sports Leagues

Ages 18+ • Seasonal • Various Locations
Fitness Classes

Ages 16+ • Year-round • Community Center
Cooking Workshops

Ages 18+ • Monthly • Community Center
Garden Club

Ages 18+ • Year-round • Community Gardens
Outdoor Adventure Group

Ages 18+ • Seasonal • Various Locations

Senior Programs

Senior Fitness

Ages 55+ • Year-round • Senior Center
Technology Classes

Ages 55+ • Monthly • Senior Center
Travel Group

Ages 55+ • Seasonal • Various Destinations
Arts & Crafts

Ages 55+ • Weekly • Senior Center
Community Service Projects

Ages 55+ • Monthly • Various Locations

View Complete Program Guide

Recreation Facilities

Linden Creek offers several indoor and outdoor recreational facilities that are available for community use. These facilities host our recreation programs and are also available for rentals for private events, meetings, and gatherings.

Community Center

200 Recreation Drive, Linden Creek

Our primary indoor recreation facility featuring a gymnasium, indoor pool, fitness center, classroom spaces, and multi-purpose rooms.

Hours: Monday-Friday 5:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Senior Activity Center

150 Pine Street, Linden Creek

Dedicated facility for adults 55+ featuring activity rooms, a computer lab, library, kitchen, and social spaces for senior programs and activities.

Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Closed Sunday

Nature Center with educational exhibits and views of natural areas

Linden Creek Nature Center

300 Riverside Drive, Linden Creek

Educational facility located in Riverside Park with exhibits on local ecology, wildlife viewing areas, classroom space, and starting point for guided nature hikes.

Hours: Wednesday-Sunday 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Closed Monday & Tuesday

Outdoor pool with water features, slides, and lounging areas

Lakeview Aquatic Center

Lakeview Park, Linden Creek

Seasonal outdoor aquatic facility featuring swimming pools, water slides, splash pad, concessions, and lounge areas. Open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Hours (Summer): Daily 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Linden Creek Ice Arena

250 Recreation Drive, Linden Creek

Indoor ice rink offering public skating, hockey leagues, figure skating programs, and skating lessons. Available for private rentals and events.

Hours: Vary based on scheduled activities
Call (555) 123-4596 for daily schedule

Program Registration

Registration is required for most Parks & Recreation programs. We offer convenient online registration as well as in-person options at our facilities. Program fees vary, and scholarships are available for eligible residents.

How to Register

Online: Register 24/7 through our secure online portal at recreation.lindencreek.org
Phone: Call (555) 123-4595 during business hours
In Person: Visit the Community Center or any staffed recreation facility
Mail: Download and mail completed forms to 200 Recreation Drive, Linden Creek, IL 60532

Upcoming Registration Dates:

Summer Programs: Registration opens April 1, 2025
Fall Programs: Registration opens August 1, 2025
Winter Programs: Registration opens November 1, 2025
Spring Programs: Registration opens February 1, 2025

Fee Assistance Program

The Linden Creek Parks & Recreation Department is committed to ensuring that all residents have access to recreation programs regardless of financial circumstances. Our Fee Assistance Program provides reduced program fees for eligible residents.

Eligibility is based on:

Household income
Participation in other assistance programs (SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, etc.)
Special circumstances (job loss, medical expenses, etc.)

Applications for fee assistance are available at all recreation facilities or can be downloaded from our website. All applications are confidential.