Recreation

Here are the Forest Preserve District of Will County programs for the week of Dec. 2. Online registration is available on the Event Calendar at ReconnectWithNature.org.

The park district so far has completed about 1.55 miles of its planned 2.75-mile multi-use trail that will connect Hoover Park to Sauk Valley Community College.

The 60,000-square-foot Village of Shorewood YMCA is being built in partnership with the village of Shorewood. Local officials gathered for a grounding-breaking ceremony for the facility on Thursday.

Sunday, Dec. 1, through Tuesday, Dec. 31, on designated Will County forest preserve trails, run a virtual 5K. Choose one of 11 designated trails to run your own race in December.

The Greater Joliet Area YMCA will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Village of Shorewood YMCA on Thursday, Nov. 21. The new facility is expected to be open in spring 2026.

Mt. Morris officials hope to have Zickuhr Park renovations started — and completed — next year. In January, the village of Mt. Morris received a $152,600 OSLAD grant to redevelop Zickuhr Park; the total cost of the project is $305,200.

Take in fall colors at Will County forest preserves with special hiking days or family programs celebrating the season.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County’s Take It Outside Challenge challenges participants to complete nature-themed missions to earn points and win prizes. Two Take It Outside Meetups are scheduled for Oct. 23 and Nov. 17.

A new trail connection wraps along and under the 135th Street bridge in Romeoville on the east side of the I&M Canal, and links 14.5 miles of continuous pathway, allowing travel from Lemont to Joliet.

If you're looking for a getaway within a few hours' drive, check out this list of beautiful locations in Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois.

Nonresidents could soon access beaches in Lake in the Hills, for a fee, as the village looks for new revenue sources to cover potential additional staffing.

The Nature Foundation held its first board meeting in 2014 as the Friends of the Forest Preserve District of Will County. Since then, the nonprofit has raised funds to make education programs, infrastructure improvements possible.

The council at its meeting Monday night approved appropriating $655,203, or as much as is needed, to match the required funding to complete the proposed bike path.

Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook will be hosting a Trout Season Celebration beginning at 6 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19.

The village of Shorewood says X-Golf, an indoor golf simulator experience, will open “very soon” at 1004 Brook Forest Ave.

We Rock the Spectrum - Shorewood will include open play, classes, camp, private facility rentals, parties for birthdays and other special occasions.

Fall Frolic, running Oct. 6- Dec. 24, will take people of all ages on an adventure across Will County forest preserves.

Rock River Valley Bike Club, with permission from the Dixon Park District, has been expanding and maintaining bike trail systems throughout the city’s parks. The park district allows the bike club to use their land to create and map bike trail systems. RRVBC then maintains them.

The first phase of a $7 million revamping of the Inwood Ice Arena in Joliet is completed. These are the first major improvements to the facility that was built in 1993.

Wear your favorite costume and search for spooktacular natural and super-natural items in the forest at the Spooky Scavenger Hunt at Four River Education Center in Channahon.

People might be able to bike from the Prairie Trail to Moraine Hills in McHenry.

The new park at the former Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill site is Phase One of Sterling’s $300 million Riverfront Reimagined Project.

Once completed, the pathway would start south of the railroad tracks at the corner of Nachusa Avenue and Broadway Street. It would continue south until it reaches Bloody Gulch Road, where it would swing east and tie into the city’s Gateway development.

Goodenow Grove Campground in Crete is holding a Family Campout from Saturday, Sept. 28, to Sunday, Sept. 29. Forest Preserve District staff will help with setup and be there with entertainment.

Watch local artists demonstrate how they create their art from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Loft on Main art gallery on Main Street in Morrison.

The Sterling Park District is hosting its 32nd annual Pumpkin Dash from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 5; Haunted Train Walk on the Dillon Home grounds is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Oct 19.

The Forest Preserve District of Will County will host “Indige-Facts” an exhibit examining Native Americans contributions to society at Isle a la Cache Museum in Romeoville.

Crews took down playground equipment Wednesday at 28th Street Park in Peru and are adding lighting to Sunset Park. 28th Street Park is getting a new playground in October.

Kendall County will feature several exciting events, including a fairgrounds Fall Fest, a fundraising concert, Hispanic Heritage Night and more.

Nearly every parking spot was full along Dixon's Custer Avenue on Tuesday as community members gathered at Vaile Park to celebrate the grand opening of the Larry and Louise Reed basketball courts.

Close out summer with a fishing excursion to idden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook. Two-hour sessions will be offered at 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 21.

Hikers will meet at Lock 25 and be shuttled to Bridge 41.

The basketball courts are named in honor of the late Larry Reed and his wife, Louise, who are known for their support of local sports and community projects.

Woodstock's parks master plan lays out hopes for park upgrades in coming years.

A new kayak rental station is now up and running at Will County’s Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon and is ready to go for the Labor Day weekend.

The fair will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21.

The Sept. 10 ceremony, set to last from 5:30-7:30 p.m., will officially open the park to the public.

A bike ride fundraiser and a Fall Black Crow Festival are among several autumn events coming up in Kane County.

Participants who hike at least seven of 10 designated trails in Will County forest preserves this fall earn a special medallion that can be pinned to a backpack or walking stick.

Tuesdays through Sundays, Sept. 1-29, at Hidden Lakes Trout Farm in Bolingbrook stop by the Tackle Box bait shop to pick up your guide to the scavenger hunt.

Trisha Dust will lead operations at the Galowich Family YMCA in Joliet during construction of the 50,000-square-foot Shorewood YMCA facility.

The basketball courts are nearly finished, the landscaping is done and they are just waiting for painting of the courts and installation of new backboards.

A new paved path connecting the Lake Chaminwood Preserve in Channahon to the I&M Canal State Trail is now open. This new trail section connects via a bridge over the canal.

The Loop the Lakes event shows the popularity of personal watercraft, but there's not always ample parking for them along waterways. Mike Missak and his employer, Nielsen Enterprises, is trying to change that along the Chain O' Lakes.

This is the second installment of a two-part series about the potential of bringing back outdoor community swimming pools. Last week’s story focused on Sterling’s Lawrence Park Pool. Today we are featuring Dixon’s Memorial Pool.

Explore the habitat of local bat species in Will County and watch bats emerge go out on their nightly hunt at Hammel Woods in Shorewood.

After weeks of watching online community debate, Shaw Local reporter Brandon Clark writes about answers he's found to the question of what happened to Sterling’s Lawrence Park Pool and Dixon’s Memorial Pool, and why have their park districts not resurrected them?

Rise and Shine Paddle will be held the morning of Thursday, Aug. 22. at the Will County forest preserve in Monee Township.

The Will County Forest District Board voted Aug. 8 to acquire 57-acres at cost of $1,037,400 to grow the forest preserve in Channahon.

Still time to enjoy summer fun before Will County kids head back to school. These community pools have August open swim hours.