Friday, July 6, 2012
Air-conditioning is a hot commodity.
Hot, hot, hot! Forget frying an egg on the sidewalk, this clever cook sun-baked chocolate chip cookies on the dashboard. The last few days have been a little heated, but there are many ways to stay cool. We’ve started an interactive map to make it easier to find places to escape the summer heat including water parks, public beaches and indoor, air-conditioned things to do when it's hot enough to bake cookies in your car. Click on the map above to make it larger, move it around and discover more cool ways to beat the heat. Stay connected: Receive an email from Des Plaines Patch with headlines in the morning. Earlier: Photos of the 2012 Independence Day parade in Des Plaines. Stay in touch on Facebook; like Des Plaines Patch.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Hours, fees and more.
Rejoice, water lovers! Des Plaines Park District pools are days away from opening for the regular season, and Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center will open for the pre-season on Saturday. Mystic Waters, 2025 Miner St., will open for pre-season for season pass holders on June 2. Regular season hours for all Des Plaines Park District pools begin June 9. Earlier: Community gathers to celebrate opening of northern part of Lake Park with new amenities including a fishing pier. Chippewa Pool, 197 N. 8th Ave., and Iroquois Pool, 2324 Maple St., will open June 9. Pool passes may be purchased at Mystic Waters, noon to 4 p.m., on and after June 2. For more information about pool passes, click here for a PDF of the registration form, a list of fees …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Readers chose a special place that first opened in 1996.
The winner of the 2012 Readers’ Choice for best staycation destination is Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, 2025 Miner St., taking the crown with 85 percent of the vote. The expansive family-friendly water park, a Des Plaines Park District facility, includes something for all ages in animal-themed sections. For the most adventurous, two towering, 37-foot water slides are featured in Otter’s Run, and drop slides and cliff dives make up Sea Lion Falls. A 550-foot inner tube river is featured in the relaxing Crocodile Cove. Dolphin Bay and Beluga Beach include features for the youngest patrons, including a leisure pool, fountains, jet-sprays, a child-size slide, water-spray stands on non-slip surfaces and a jungle gym. Earlier: Andre …
Friday, July 1, 2011
Now 15 years old, Mystic Waters has turned into a big-time summer attraction in Des Plaines.
This is the second installment of Des Plaines Patch’s newest series: Suburban Stadiums. Each week will feature a different local athletic facility, from fitness centers to neighborhood parks. We’ll dive into its history, current offerings and provide a calendar of major events that it will host. RAND PARK / MYSTIC WATERS In the last 15 years, Mystic Waters has become one of Des Plaines’ most popular summer destinations for those residents looking to beat the heat. Featuring a couple of water slides, a lazy river, leisure pool and a play area for toddlers, Mystic Waters doesn’t lack in versatility. Facility: Mystic Waters was built in 1996, but it was far from the first water park in Des Plaines. As part of the Works Progress Administration…
Lorraine Swanson
4:10 pm on Sunday, May 13, 2012
My favorite staycation destination growing in Des Plaines were the railroad tracks. You could flatten pennies on the tracks, build forts or simply talk to the interesting men you met 'riding the rails.' Also whiled away many an afternoon at Rand Park Pool (now Mystic Waters). My brother was a toe-checker, inspecting children's feet for fungus before they were allowed to enter the largest outdoor … more ›