General Archives

At-home activities and resources roundup

Posted March 19, 2020

During our district-wide closure, we want to provide the community with tips and ideas to stay happy, active and healthy at home during this challenging time. Follow our ideas for fitness and exercise, indoor and outdoor activities, crafts and projects for all ages. We will be updating this blog post, our Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Workouts

woman-exercising

Stay healthy and active with at-home workouts. We’ve started compiling a list with many options – from local studios doing Facebook lives to YouTube channels to free trials!

Kid Activities

Virtual Museum and Parks Visits

Meditation and more

Helpful Links

Shop local: list of Winnetka businesses offering specialty services
Winnetka-Northfield Public Library: ebooks, online crafts, movie streaming, and more
Village of Winnetka
COVID-19 updates 
CDC COVID-19 information
CDC managing anxiety & stress
Illinois Department of Health COVID-19 information
Posted in General

Winnetka Park District Monitoring Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Posted March 11, 2020

The Winnetka Park District is carefully monitoring developments of COVID-19 (coronavirus). While the current risk to Illinois residents remains low, we’re taking steps to prepare and are working closely with the Village of Winnetka, the library, and school districts in planning, response and communication.

What you can do

  • Wash hands often especially before eating and after sneezing, coughing, or contact with public surfaces.
  • Wash with soap or alcohol-based hand cleaners for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
  • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away.
  • Stay home when you are sick.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

What we are doing

  • As a matter of standard practice, staff disinfect bathrooms/locker rooms, and clean the public areas of our facilities, shared equipment (skates, racquets, etc.), and frequently touched surfaces daily.
  • Additional disinfecting is being done by staff throughout the day and overnight using effective and safe products.
  • Hand sanitizer has been placed in all lobby areas for public use at our facilities.

Resources

Posted in About Us, Board, General, News

Beach Conditions & Closures this Summer

Posted March 11, 2020

Due to record high lake levels and several severe winter storms, our beaches have sustained unprecedented damage in recent months. Below is a look into the current conditions of our beaches and what that means for the 2020 beach season. These plans may change pending future lakefront conditions.

Lloyd Beach

Current Conditions

Lloyd has seen the most severe damage this winter. On the north end of the beach, the lake has overtaken the existing steel seawall structure, rising past the boathouse. January storms caused irreparable damage to the boardwalk and boat rack structures. Portions of these structures were taken by the storm. The damaged pieces that remained were removed by staff.

On the southend, the water continues to erode the bluff. At current lake levels, the south portion of the beach is not useable.

  • South end
  • North end December 2019
  • North end February 2020

2020 Beach Season: Partially Open

The boat launch/pier and a portion of the beach on the north end will be available for boat launching.

The remainder of the beach and the boat house will be closed. Storage racks will be relocated to the lower parking lot and made available to rent from Memorial Day to Labor Day at a reduced rate of $240 for residents. Parking will not be allowed in the lower parking lot. Portable toilets will be available to patrons. No boat rentals will be available.

Park District lakefront camps – Winnetka Water Explorers and Jr Sailing Camp – will not take place this summer. The park district’s Adventure Camp will incorporate kayaking and SUP into the curriculum.

Tower Road Beach

Current Conditions

The condition of Tower Road Beach is currently good. The extent of damage has been loss of some beach due to current lake levels. A large portion of the beach remains fully intact and useable.

As part of the Winnetka Waterfront 2030 plan, bluff restoration efforts and staircase construction is currently underway. This is scheduled to be complete late June.

2020 Beach Season: Open

The beach and concessions will be open this season. It will open weekends only June 6, then daily starting June 13.

While construction of the staircase and bluff restoration are underway, a new traffic pattern will be in place. This includes a three foot wide temporary walkway along the beach access road. The lower lot will be open for resident parking. The upper parking lot will be available to both residents and non-residents. Staff will be present to direct and maintain a safe traffic flow.

Maple Street Beach

Current Conditions

Similar to Tower Road Beach, Maple Street Beach’s current condition is good. Some loss of beach has occured due to current lake levels.

2020 Beach Season: Open

Maple street will be open this season from June 13 to August 23. It will remain a swimming only beach. The pier may be closed at times due to hazardous lake conditions.

Elder Lane Beach

Current Conditions

At current lake levels, Elder has lost all of its useable beach. The boat racks have been removed, and the foundation they sat on has been damaged.

  • Looking north summer 2018
  • Looking north February 2020

2020 Beach Season: Closed

Elder will remain closed for the 2020 beach season due to lack of useable beach and potential safety concerns. The beach house will be closed and not available for rent or patron use. Barriers will be installed to prevent access to the beach.

Centennial Beach

Current Conditions

The extent of damage to Centennial has been loss of useable beach due to current lake levels. A small portion of the beach remains, but becomes hazardous during storm events.

Centennial February 2020

2020 Beach Season: Open

Centennial will continue to operate as a dog beach this season. The beach will not be accessible when lake conditions are hazardous. During these times, signs will be posted and the gate will remain locked (even to those with key fobs).

Posted in About Us, Board, General, News

Winnetka Park District Closed Due to Weather

Posted January 29, 2019

Due to the severe weather and for the safety of our patrons and staff, all Winnetka Park District facilities will be closed and all programs will be canceled Wednesday, January 30 through 10am on Thursday, January 31. Select programs will run as scheduled on Tuesday, January 29. For a detailed list of facility and program schedules, see below.

During this closure, staff will be working remotely and monitoring emails. If you need to reach us, please utilize our contact form or send an email to one of our staff members directly. We appreciate your patience and hope you and your family stay safe and warm!

Winnetka Park District Administrative Office

Tuesday, January 29: Open 8:30am-5pm
Wednesday, January 30: Closed
Thursday, January 31: Open 10am-5pm

A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center

Tuesday, January 29: Open 6:30am-10pm; all programs will run as scheduled
Wednesday, January 30: Closed; all tennis programs canceled
Thursday, January 31: Open 10am-10pm; starting at 10:30am, all programs will run as scheduled

Winnetka Ice Arena

Tuesday, January 29: Facility open; all programs will run as scheduled; Gullen’s Pond closed
Wednesday, January 30: Facility closed; all programs canceled; Gullen’s Pond closed
Thursday, January 31: Facility open for regularly scheduled activities

Paddle Tennis Hut & Courts

Tuesday, January 29: Facility and courts open 10am-11pm; all programs running as scheduled
Wednesday, January 30: Facility/courts closed; all programs canceled
Thursday, January 31: Facility and courts open 10am-11pm

Winnetka Golf Club

Tuesday, January 29: Facility open 9am-1pm; all programs after 1pm canceled
Wednesday, January 30: Facility closed; all programs canceled
Thursday, January 31: Facility open 10am-4pm

Basketball, Hip Hop, Breakdance & Cheerleading Programs at District 36 Schools

Tuesday, January 29: Programs canceled
Wednesday, January 30: Programs canceled
Thursday, January 31: Programs canceled

 

Posted in General

Winnetka Park District Welcomes North Shore Country Day to our A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center Family

Posted August 02, 2018

On June 28, 2018 the Winnetka Park District Board of Commissioners approved a licensing agreement with North Shore Country Day for utilization of the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center outdoor courts. This nine-year commitment, (3) three year terms, makes the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center the home courts for North Shore Country Day’s girls and boys tennis teams starting in the fall of 2018.

“We are excited to welcome North Shore Country Day as part of the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center family”, said Tennis Center Manager, Pat Fragassi. “We look forward to providing a home where these young tennis players can hone their skills and be competitive.”

A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center is currently home to the New Trier High School tennis teams and that relationship will continue. The Tennis Center staff will coordinate with both schools to accommodate their training schedules and home team matches, which will be primarily after school and some weekends during the fall and spring.  This arrangement does not interfere with the A.C. Tennis Center’s lesson program, which utilizes the indoor courts in the fall and spring.

A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center is a facility of the Winnetka Park District. Players can enjoy year round tennis at the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center as the facility features eight indoor and 12 outdoor courts (five lighted), a nursery, pro shop, shower/locker room facilities and public access Wi-Fi. This full-service facility offers lessons for all ages, leagues, court rentals, membership and events year round. For more information visit, winpark.org/tennis or call (847) 501-2065.

Posted in About Us, General, News, Tennis

New Tower Road Beach House Enhancements

Posted May 07, 2018

The Winnetka Park District is making a few enhancements to the Tower Road Beach House which will have a positive impact for our residents and patrons this upcoming beach season and beyond. The most impactful change will be the reconversion of the restrooms to allow access beyond staffed hours of operation. This will be accomplished through a timed lock entrance to the restrooms, while eliminating access to other areas of the facility. “Our official start of the swim beach season is early June, but we recognize that as the weather improves we have more visitors to the lakefront”, said John Shea, Superintendent of Recreation. “This change allows us to be more accommodating without extending the length of our season and daily hours of supervised operations.”

These enhancements will improve the existing function of the facility including, expanded staff visibility, improved access to the restrooms, and a new water chiller. A majority of the project, including restroom access, is expected to be completed by Memorial Day weekend.

Photo: Rendering of Tower Road Beach House after renovations.

This project is part of the Winnetka Waterfront 2030 Plan – a community vision for the Winnetka Lakefront.

 

 

Posted in About Us, Board, General, Golf, Ice Arena, Lakefront, News, Parks, Parties & Rentals, Platform Tennis, Recreation, Summer Camps, Tennis

Paving/Tree Work: Green Bay Trail, Elder Lane Park & Lloyd Park

Posted April 27, 2018

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve access and use of our community’s park sites, the Winnetka Park District will be conducting paving and/or tree work at Green Bay Trail, Elder Lane Park, and Lloyd Park over the next two weeks. During this time, these sites will have limited access or be closed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our superintendent of parks, Costa Kutulas, at (847) 501-2052.

Please note that the listed dates are tentative and subject to change due to weather conditions or unforeseen circumstances.

Green Bay Trail Paving (southern third of the trail)

Work will be ongoing May 2-3. The southern third of the trail will be closed during this period.

Elder Lane Park Paving

Work will be conducted May 4. Elder Lane Park will be closed during this period.

Lloyd Park Tree Work 

Work will be ongoing May 2-3. During this time access to the park will be limited.

Lloyd Park Paving

Work will be ongoing May 4-8. During this the park will be closed.

Posted in About Us, General, News

Tower Road Beach Access Road Re-Paving Tentatively Starting April 19

Posted April 16, 2018

As part of the Village’s annual road rehabilitation program, A Lamp Concrete Contractors will be milling and re-paving the driveway that provides access to the Water Plant, Electric Plant, Tower Road Beach and the pier. The work is expected to take approximately three days to complete. Milling of the deteriorated asphalt service is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 19th. Paving work is scheduled to follow during the week of April 23rd.

During the construction work, access to Tower Road Beach will be limited to the pedestrian walkway in Tower Road Park. The Village appreciates and thanks you for your cooperation and patience during the completion of the planned improvement. If you have any questions, please contact the contact the Water & Electric Department at (847) 716-3558.

Posted in About Us, Board, General, Lakefront, News

The spring program brochure is here!

Posted January 29, 2018

Check out the Winnetka Park District spring brochure to see what programs and events are coming up in the spring and summer.

Posted in About Us, General, Golf, Ice Arena, Lakefront, News, Parks, Platform Tennis, Recreation, Tennis

Please Complete Future Ready D36 Survey

Posted January 17, 2018

District 36 is in the midst of Future Ready D36, its first Educational Master Facility Plan in over 20 years. Please share your input on Future Ready D36 by completing this brief survey. 

The survey is open NOW through January 25, 2018 and may also be accessed via www.winnetka36.org. Feedback from the Winnetka community will help the District prioritize its values as the Core Team and DLR Group (the District’s educational architectural firm) develops initial Future Ready D36 concepts for community review in March 2018.

Posted in General, News