Lords Park - Elgin, Illinois

Stephanie (“The Chicago Mom”)

Right next to the Elgin public museum ( FYI, it’s not free but cheep and has AC) and little free zoo and water park ( kinda pricy ) but it’s in view so I mention to grown ups of lil to beware, cause we didn’t bring our suits that day, “good times” … lots of space to run and play sprawling grounds. Also a security guard was present on the ground in the parking lot area or have been every time I’ve been which was comforting the time we seemed to be one of the few people there that day as it’s quite a large area and butts right up to area homes. Great park could use better or more clearly marked facilities , restrooms and water fountains.

Also on an interesting side note… they had some folks kinda off by the zoo entrance which butts up to the park and courts area who were there “peddling” their faith in the parking lot. I’m not downing or demonizing religions, this world needs something, peoples are hurting and we all desperately needs peace, but not too many religions practice what they preach. So I choose to turn the other cheek, no harm to me, but just speak to let you know. As they were non-confrontational folks we saw didn’t overtly attempt to speak to us ( just two quiet ladies standing by their kart ) but seen them there twice now with a rack of brochures about Jesus I believe. I have my faith ( I’m all good) just thought to share as I’ve not come across this often.

Nick Lariviere

Great park for a walk and plenty of playground spaces. The farm zoo isn't huge, but the kids had a load of fun with the scavenger hunt there and seeing the animals up close.

shesangs2

I love this park! The groundskeepers are so kind and I can see why! So quaint and picturesque. I don't think the people who live around the park know how blessed they are. Take the kids to the petting zoo, have a picnic, beautiful landscape to take photos. I visited every day to walk the 2.0+ miles around the park. Look at the photos! Love it ?

Matt Johnson

Lovely park with a fun Zoo to walk through or around to see some majestic beasts, only issue is the parking is a bit congested and sometimes the lots aren’t well kept, slid out n lost control on a patch of dead leaves in the road leg is still healing from that but over all fun and great over 4 tennis courts and a basketball court(full)

B P

Beautiful place to take pictures at! A little bridge to enjoy the geese and ducks swimming under. Also, a gated area where deer are roaming around.

Jeremy Lindsey

This is one of the jewels of Elgin. The oak groves preserved by both this east-side park, and its sister on the west side (Wing Park), are simply gorgeous.

There are two playgrounds in the more natural side of the park, two tennis court areas, and one basketball court. The distinct surprise is the small animal pens that include several bison (that was a shock when I found that in college). There is also a more cultivated side of the park that has a duck pond fronting a rental-able assembly building - all very picturesque.

But we keep coming back for the trees and the rolling landscape, and the fact that my kids run with their cross country club here (the Elgin Sharks); for this it is perfection. We recently hosted a cross country meet here and it could not have been more stunning. Picture evidence included.

Am both thankful and proud of how well the City of Elgin has preserved there oak grove areas on the east and the west. Albeit at different scales, these parks are on par with Central Park and the like.

isabella

Tons of geese and ducks here, the ducks are a little shy the geese are the opposite but only if you have food. DO NOT FEED THEM BREAD ITS BAD FOR THEM, and their poop will be liquid. A better alternative is uncooked oats you can get from the nearby Aldi.

Tanya Hernandez

Love this gem on the East Side. The zoo has been our favorite park for years. The new playgrounds are amazing, love the new astroturf under the playground. No pesky sand or woodships to worry about.