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Photo of the Day: Friendship Park Conservatory

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The Friendship Park Conservatory, 395 W. Algonquin Road, is a 30-acre operation that includes lush gardens, a walking and bicycle path, soccer field, playground, greenhouse, atrium, courtyard, rental facility and more. Jacki Ley, center director, said not everyone knows about the conservatory for a couple reasons. While it’s part of the Mount Prospect Park District, it is located in Des Plaines. Also, it is set back south of Algonquin Road, and not everyone looks past the sign to the lush gardens, walking path and park facilities. Ley said the conservatory is enjoyable for all, once they discover it, and many local workers stop by on their lunch breaks. “[The conservatory is] free to the public and it’s just a beautiful place to come,” Ley…

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Find out Which Des Plaines Park Readers Voted as Best

You can go golfing, sailing and fishing at the winning park.

The winner of the 2012 Readers’ Choice for the best park, with 61 percent of the vote, is Lake Park. Lake Park and Lake Opeka offer year-round recreation for residents with a wide range of amenities that include an 18-hole golf course, pavilion, picnic shelters and a marina. Earlier: Library and History Center team up for joint venture. Lake Park underwent a renovation that began several years ago. The northern portion of the park was officially opened on June 2. Readers also showed some support for Prairie Lakes Community Center and Mount Prospect Park District Conservatory. Related: Check out all the Readers’ Choice polls. Find Patch on Facebook; click like. Stay connected: Receive an email from Des Plaines Patch with headlines in the …

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North Lake Park Grand Opening Set for Saturday

Check out the latest park amenities from an overhaul of Lake Park that began in 2010.

Years of planning and development will culminate in a celebration of Des Plaines’ newest park on Saturday morning. Park district officials, community leaders and residents will gather for the grand opening of the north part of Lake Park, at Howard Avenue and Lee Street, for games, demonstrations and light refreshments, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the park district announced on Patch. In addition to a large open space for field activities such as soccer, T-ball and flying kites, the north portion of Lake Park also has a water spray for children, two bags courts and a bocce ball court. John Hecker, executive director of the Des Plaines Park District, stated in the announcement that the development of the north side of Lake Park included …

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Vote: What is the Best Park in Des Plaines?

When you want the best, where do you go?

Public parks offer a variety of amenities including waterfront, ball fields and bike trails. This week we’re asking you to vote for and comment on your favorite Des Plaines park. Vote in the poll above, and click on your favorite listed below to add a rating and review to its directory listing. That way, future readers will be able to benefit from your wisdom when they're looking for the best place to park it in Des Plaines. Earlier: North Lake Park grand opening. Here are some of our favorites, but if we’re missing one, please let us know in the comments and we’ll add it. Related: Check out all the Readers’ Choice polls. Editor's Note: Because this poll is not scientific, it is not the sole consideration in choosing a winner. The winner …

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Find Out What is the Best Staycation Destination in Des Plaines

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 …

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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 ›

Des Plaines Memories

Is this Des Plaines or Miami Beach?

In these cold days of winter a picture like this helps us remember what awaits us in the spring.

Pastel modern houses, men in straw hats, glassy buildings overlooking a sun-drenched and deep blue body of water... if I didn't know better, I'd think I was looking at a snapshot of Miami Beach in the 1960s! What we actually see here is the mid-century modern clubhouse at Lake Park, circa the 1960s, serving the 18-hole, par 3 golf course and marina. Earlier: Down by the water at Lake Opeka and Lake Park. From these early days, Lake Park has grown into a mature park. While there weren't even any trees when this picture was taken, today Lake Park includes the beautifully landscaped Lake Opeka, walking paths, a gazebo, fishing pier, volleyball courts, playgrounds and a band shell, providing year-round recreation. Connect on Facebook.

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Des Plaines Snapshots: Parks

Local landmarks photo gallery.

Patch photographer Philip Downie documented Des Plaines landmarks. Then, local historian Brian Wolf wrote captions for the images. We’ll publish the four photo galleries they created, one a week. This is the third of the four. Click here to view all the Des Plaines Snapshots photo galleries. Earlier: Des Plaines Snapshots: Schools. Connect on Facebook.

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Christopher Brinckerhoff

9:54 am on Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanks for the comment John O'Donnell.   more ›