The Dundee Township Park District provides park areas, open spaces, recreational facilities and services. The Park District serves the communities of Carpentersville, East Dundee, West Dundee, Sleepy Hollow, and portions of Elgin, Barrington Hills, Hoffman Estates, Gilberts and Algonquin. The park district is in Kane County, Illinois.
The Dundee Township Park District offers a wide variety of services to both residents and non-residents of Dundee Township. Some of the facilities and services offered include a Recreation and Fitness Center, a day care center, two golf courses, a senior center, two outdoor swimming pools which include Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center and Sleepy Hollow Pool, an indoor pool, Randall Oaks Barnyard Zoo, 40 park sites and facilities, and 92 acres (37 ha) of woodlands at Raceway Woods.
It is located at 665 Barrington Ave in Carpentersville, the Senior Center is a place for adults, age 50 or older. This center offers a variety of classes, programs, special events, day trips, extended tours, social clubs, and more for the community. The Senior Center was built in 2003 and has been serving seniors, six days a week, ever since.
The Park District provides the community with two public golf courses, Bonnie Dundee and Randall Oaks. Bonnie Dundee Golf Course is located 3 miles (4.8 km) north of I-90 on Route 25 in East Dundee Illinois. The Bonnie Dundee was built in 1924 by architect C. D. Wegstaff. The golf course is complete with an 18-hole layout, a clubhouse and banquet room, locker rooms, and a pro shop. Randall Oaks Golf Course is located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) North of Interstate 90 just off of Randall Road in West Dundee, Illinois The golf course offers 18-holes for all skill levels, two complete practice facilities, a pro shop, two putting greens, a clubhouse, locker rooms, and a 3-hole Acorn family course.
The Dundee Township Park District athletic programs provide the entire community with the opportunity to play competitively, to participate in various learning programs that teach basic skills for many different sports and to play in many different leagues and clubs in a fun, competitive environment.
The Park District camps provides the opportunity for young children to experience arts and crafts, field trips, special events, and other activities all designed specifically for children.
The Park District offers a Pre-school/Pre-Kindergarten early childhood, and a child care center. These programs help develop and prepare children for Kindergarten, and offer the opportunity for children to grow in all areas.
Governing Body
The Board of Commissioners governs the Dundee Township Park District. It is composed of five elected officials who represent their community. Currently serving on the Board of Commissioners includes:
Frank Scarpelli- President
Jim Bonkoski- Vice President
Erin Peterson- Secretary
John Meschewski- Treasurer
Craig Rakow- Commissioner
The Park District was established in 1952. The formation of the Park District was a result of a referendum campaign that was motivated by the need to have a permanent administrative body to oversee the operation of Edmund H. Memorial Pool which was located in Lions Park.
One of the first buildings that the District operated was the Besinger Community Center, which was opened on December 26, 1959. This facility housed the Park District’s Senior Center before the new construction began in 2002. In 1962, voters approved a bond issue of $225,000 to build Thresher Pool. L.W. Besinger donated the land for the pool and the pool was opened on July 2, 1963.
In December 1963, the Park District announced plans to construct a golf course and open a park site on Randall Road. The park opened in 1964 and was dedicated as Randall Oaks Park. The Park facilities included the petting zoo which is still a thriving operation more than 30 years after its opening. Randall Oaks Golf Course was opened in September 1965. The 18-hole course was completed in June 1966.
In 1971 the Park District purchased Library Hall, an historical building that was constructed in 1895. This became the Administrative Offices of the District and remains so to this day.
In the late 1970s the Park District received grant funds to purchase an additional 130 acres (0.53 km2) to add on to the existing 27-acre (110,000 m2) Randall Oaks Park. In 1982 a community building was constructed and dedicated to Al Price, whose family owned and operated the farm prior to the Park District’s purchase.
In 1972 the Park District purchased the Sleepy Hollow pool for the cost of 120,000. Private interests had previously operated this pool. In 1986 the pool was renovated to include a new filtration system and a zero depth entry area.
Construction on a 50,000-square-foot (4,600 m2) Recreation Center stated in July 1988. The pool for the Recreation Center was completed in early July 1989, and the building was opened to the public that September.
In 1993 the Park District completed construction of Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center. The water park contains two large flume slides and two smaller slides, a sand volleyball court, concession center and a sand play area. The water park connects to the indoor pool, which is part of the Recreation Center.
On November 5, 1991, the voters approved a $4.9 million bond issue to purchase Bonnie Dundee Golf Course. The Park District began operation on the course in 1992. In 1995 the course was renovated to include an underground irrigation system and an additional parking area on the golf course grounds.
On November 3, 1992 the voters approved a $1.5 million referendum to purchase 50 acres (200,000 m2) of wooded property that was part of an old racetrack. The Kane County Forest Preserve District agreed to purchase an adjoining 42 acres (170,000 m2). Since that time, nearly 100,000 has been spent on restoration work at raceway woods.
A 200,000 grant form the Illinois department of natural resources was obtained in 1998 for projects at Randall Oaks Park. A community picnic shelter, playground, basketball court and trails were built. More recently, baseball and football fields have been added to the park.
In summer 2000, development of Prairie Meadow Park was completed Located off Village Quarter Rd. in West Dundee, the park has an in-line/ice skating rink, playground, picnic shelter, basketball court and soccer fields. A 200k grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources was secured for this project. A cooperative venture with School District #300 was agreed upon in the winter of 2001. The park district has contributed funds to enlarge gyms to provide additional programming areas, at two of the new schools being constructed. These will open in fall 2002.
The construction of a new senior center began in 2002. It developed as an addition to the recreation center. This center includes a large multi-purpose room with a state, arts and crafts room, library and computer room, and offices. The project of the senior center was completed in 2003.
