May 7, 2020
Summer is just around the corner and normally the Park District is bustling with activities including day camps, swimming, softball leagues, and outdoor special events. Normally, our parks are filled with kids at the playgrounds and friendly games of tennis, pickleball, and basketball. We are hoping to get back to normal soon!
The Park District is closely following recommendations from the Governor’s office, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) as it pertains to public parks and recreation activities and facilities. We are awaiting further direction from these agencies in order to make appropriate decisions on which activities we will be able to offer this summer.
Spring/Summer Program Guide was delivered to homes before the Governor’s Stay At Home Order went into effect. Unfortunately, all of our special events this spring were cancelled as well as all of our programs. We are uncertain about early summer programs and encourage you to check our
website for current updates. Our recreation staff has planned virtual programs offered during May and early June. All of the programs are listed on our website on the
events calendar. Once the Governor’s Stay At Home order is lifted and new guidelines are released by officials for public gatherings, our staff will be able to modify our programs accordingly.
Family Aquatic Center Some Chicago suburban park districts have already announced the season closure of their public pools. We have decided to delay our decision until more information can be obtained. We are following guidelines from public health officials and leading authorities in the field of aquatics to determine the safest methods to follow in order to open our facility. A decision to open the Family Aquatic Center will be made on May 28 at the Park Board meeting. Regular updates will be provided on our website and
social media platforms.
Summer Camps At this time, a decision has not been made whether to offer camps. We are looking for direction from the Governor’s office and the IL Department of Public Health. The Park District is moving ahead with the planning required to provide your child with a safe and fun-filled summer.
Registration for our summer camps is open, but we are not collecting any payment at this time. We encourage you to reserve a space for your child.
Little Learners Childcare is a licensed Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) facility. We have been following strict sanitation and best practice standards since our inception. We miss your kids and are ready to welcome them back. Our staff of 12 dedicated caregivers are patiently awaiting the opportunity to reopen. We will continue to follow the guidelines set forth by DCFS and IDPH in order to open safely.
Lakeview Fitness Currently, our staff is providing fitness challenges via
social media. We anticipate offering outdoor fitness classes for groups of 10 or less in early June. We have developed a comprehensive reopening plan to welcome you back as soon as state guidelines allow. Our members can expect a clean facility, friendly staff and plenty of sanitation products and safe crowd controls upon reopening.
Playgrounds, Athletic Courts, and Skate Park remain closed at this time. Please remember to maintain social distancing while enjoying the park paths.
Park Shelter and Facility Rentals Currently, we are not accepting any reservations for park shelters, facility meeting room rentals, or aquatic center parties. Once we return to regular business hours, we will begin taking reservations.
Community Gardens Our three community gardens are open to those who have secured a plot this season.
Garden plots are still available at the Indianwood Drive location near the Century Park Pavilion. Please follow the stated guidelines at the entrance to each garden.
Fishing and Non-motorized Boating Fishing is allowed in our District lakes. Persons, 16 years and older, are required to have an IDNR fishing license and follow our catch and release requirements. Kayaks, canoes, and SUP’s, with no more than 2 persons per craft, are also allowed.
April 24, 2020
Yesterday, Governor Pritzker extended the Stay-at-Home Order through May 30 in an effort to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Due to this extension, all Vernon Hills Park District facilities will remain closed and all programs and events through May are cancelled.
During this time, we must work together so we can continue to enjoy the outdoors safely. As a reminder, all playgrounds, ball fields, and athletic courts are closed and the use of the play equipment is prohibited. All park paths are open for biking and walking. Together, we can practice social distancing to ensure that our parks and open spaces remain open, accessible, welcoming and inclusive to all people. If possible, patrons in our parks are requested to wear a face-covering or mask.
Beginning May 1, we invite you to enjoy our lakes with non-motorized boats including canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddle boards. A maximum of two persons is allowed in kayaks and canoes. The
Century Park boat dock is located at 1002 Lakeview Parkway. Fishing is also allowed as of May 1. As a reminder, catch and release is recommended in our lakes and a fishing license is required for persons 16 years and older.
We continue to follow state guidelines regarding outdoor pools. At this time, we do not have a confirmed opening date of our Family Aquatic Center. We encourage you to register for our summer programs listed in our
Program Guide with $0 fees due at time of registration. Program fees will be charged to your credit card one-week prior to the program start date.
Online classes are now available! A variety of programs including cartoon drawing, cooking, balloon creations, music, chess and magic are being offered this spring.
We are in this together and everyone needs to do their part by complying with the Governor’s order. On behalf of the Board of Park Commissioners, thank you for your patience and understanding.
April 1, 2020
Yesterday, Governor Pritzker extended the Stay-at-Home Order through April 30 in an effort to help contain the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Due to this extension, all Vernon Hills Park District facilities will remain closed and all programs and events through April are cancelled.
During this time, we must work together so we can continue to enjoy the outdoors safely. As a reminder, all playgrounds, ball fields, and athletic courts are closed and the use of the play equipment is prohibited. Together, we can do this to ensure that our parks and open spaces remain open, accessible, welcoming and inclusive to all people.
As park and recreation professionals, we know in our hearts that good mental health is often related to having access to the outdoors and green space. Research over the years has shown that when people are more stressed, anxious and socially isolated, as we are right now due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, having access to parks, paths and natural areas becomes even more important. Spending time walking and biking on park paths is one effective way to cope.
As the weather warms, and more people are outdoors, we need to be especially aware of following social distancing guidelines. We are in this together and everyone needs to do their part by complying with the Governor’s order.
March 20, 2020
This afternoon, Governor Pritzker issued a new Executive Order 2020-10 requiring all Illinoisans to stay at home beginning Saturday, March 21, at 5 pm through April 7, 2020. All Park District operations will resume on Wednesday, April 8.
Walking and biking paths in our parks will remain open, please practice social distancing while enjoying our paths. All of our playgrounds and park amenities are closed until further notice. This includes athletic fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, the futsol court and outdoor fitness equipment.
March 16, 2020
The Vernon Hills Park District is continuing to work closely with local, state and federal agencies to monitor the rapidly moving COVID-19 (Coronavirus) situation. As always, the health and safety of our community is our top priority. After evaluating our district’s programs and services and coordinating with local agencies, we are taking the following steps to facilitate social distancing in public places:
Effective Tuesday, March 17, at 9:00 pm, all park district facilities, that includes the Sullivan Community Center, Lakeview Fitness, and Little Learners Childcare, will be closed until Sunday, April 5. All Park District operations will resume on Monday, April 6. The exception to this is the polling location of the Sullivan Community Center is still scheduled to be open Tuesday, March 17 from 6 am – 7 pm. All parks will remain open and the restroom facilities at the Century Park Pavilion will remain open.
We believe, although an inconvenience, these closures will ultimately benefit the health and welfare of our community. “We have a responsibility for the health and well-being of our community and staff and we’re playing our small part in slowing the spread of this virus,” said Executive Director Jeff Fougerousse.
Participants will be refunded or credited for any cancelled programs, rentals, and events. We will evaluate fitness memberships and based on the length of closure, determine a manner in which to compensate members. Refunds may take time to process as district staff will be practicing social distancing as well. Rentals during the closure period will be canceled and you will receive a credit or refund.
Please understand that this is a quickly evolving situation and we will be posting updates on our website, www.vhparkdistrict.org, and Facebook pages as changes occur. If you need to contact staff, please leave a voicemail at (847) 996-6800 and your call will be returned by a staff member. Inquiries can also be made through Contact Us on the website.
Thank you for your support and understanding. We surely hope you and your family remain healthy.
