Home to one of the nation’s most impressive park district, the Oak Park District was formally organized in 1912 and is well kept to this day. Featuring over 80 acres of parks, the area includes a wide variety of recreational venues as well. The recreation options include outdoor pools, a gymnastics stadium, dog park, an ice rink and a very popular conservatory.
Since 1929, the conservatory has been very popular due to its beautiful botanical gardens. The gardens house a wide variety of plants in the glass structure, which has been renovated and expanded multiple times. The garden features thousands of plants in it’s 2100 square foot facility. These collections include a variety of rare cacti, as well as exotic growing plants such as figs, olive and pomegranate. Some of these plants are original, they have been here since the beginning, making for true history in action.
A variety of rare flowers also dot the landscape include orchids, which are well known for their quality. In 2005, the US Parks Department named the Conservatory to the National Register for Historic Places. Being one of the top natural attractions, the conservatory attracs over 10,000 people per year. Visitors come to the Conservatory from throughout the world to see its well known flower and plant exhibits, including well known special exhibits which are promoted on a regular basis. Everyone is welcomed at the conservatory. Knowledgable guides and well written literature help make it one of the top park departments in the nation.
The famous Cheney Mansion and Pleasant home are among the well kept Oak Park homes. These homes give you excellent insight into life in the 1920s. The Parks department actively works to preserve and restore the original character of the city through a variety of means, including preservation of cultural and historic institutions. Maintaining the original character of early city culture, the historically preserved mansions provide an ideal destination for educational visits.
The department hosts events on a regular basis and often visits the local schools. The many parks, resources and educational opportunities make Oak Park a top destination for nature lovers from all over. Be sure to checkout the ice skating in the winter and natural exhibits all year. There are also many hotels in the area making the perfect weekend get-away.