Administrative Office hours are:
Administrative Building
1 E. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake
Regular Hours of Operation
Lobby: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5 pm
Drive Thru Hours: M-F 8:30 am-12 pm
Apr-Jul: Sat 9:30 am-12 pm
Sunday, Closed
Phone: 815.459.0680
Fax: 815.477.5005
Program Weather Hotline: To receive text (SMS) and email alerts, log on to rainoutline.com.
The Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office will be closed on the following days in 2023:
- Mon, Jan 2
- Mon, Feb 20
- Mon, May 29
- Tue, Jul 4
- Mon, Sept 4
- Mon, Oct 9
- Thu, Nov 23
- Fri, Nov 24
- Fri, Dec 22
- Mon, Dec 25
- Fri, Dec 29
Visit our registration page for complete details and links for current season.
Online
Log onto crystallakeparks.org and click the REGISTER/LOG IN button in upper right. New users will need to create an account. Established users will be directed to enter name of user and password. NOTE: IF YOU ARE REGISTERING WITH AN IPAD, POP UP WINDOWS MAY NOT PROPERLY DISPLAY.
Walk In
Crystal Lake Park District
1 E. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL 60014
815.459.0680
YEAR ROUND: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am-5 pm
DRIVE THRU: Mon-Fri 8:30 am-12 pm, Sat 9:30 am-12 pm (Apr-Jul)
Sunday, Closed
Mail In
Crystal Lake Park District
1 E. Crystal Lake Avenue
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Please note: include signed registration form
24 Hour Drop Box
Drop box is located on the east side of the Park District Administration Building, next to the drive up window.
Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Apple Pay and American Express. You may also pay by debit card, personal check, or cash. Please do not send cash through the mail. You may use your credit card for fax and online registrations as well.
Typically, the activity guide is mailed to all Crystal Lake residents residing in the 60012 and 60014 zip codes, as well as any other Crystal Lake Park District residents. The activity guide in digital format is also available through the link on the front page of this website. The Crystal Lake Park District produces three guides each year:
Summer: distributed early May (May 5, 2023)
Fall: distributed early August (August 15, 2023)
Winter/Spring: distributed early December (December 11, 2023)
Activity guides are mailed via the Crystal Lake Post Office via postal route saturation. This means that rarely will every resident get his/her brochure at precisely the same time. The guide is available online at 9 am on the first day of scheduled delivery with the post office.
Satisfaction Guarantee Policy: he Crystal Lake Park District guarantees that you will be satisfied with the recreation programs and activities in which you participate. If you are not satisfied for any reason, tell us and we will arrange the best course of action for you. Our goal is to satisfy ALL customers.
How to Request a Refund
Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, 1 E. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake, IL
1. The Crystal Lake Park District reserves the right to cancel any class with insufficient enrollment. When this occurs, an automatic and total refund is issued to each participant in the program.
2. Refund requests must be submitted in writing to the Park District Office in person, by email to the Program Supervisor or via the Contact Form
- Request for refund is due to a satisfaction issue
- Refund is initiated by the Park District
- Doctor's note is submitted with request
- Refund request is made PRIOR to registration deadline (refer to deadline listed in brochure)
4. Refund requests are approved by the Recreation Supervisor. If request is made after the registrations deadline, a $5 administrative service fee will apply and the remaining refund will be prorated.
5. Over payments or refunds of less than $5 will not be issued unless the Crystal Lake Park District has cancelled the program.
6. Participants may transfer money from one program to one other program within the current brochure, minus money retained for classes that may have taken place, or the participant attended. Extended Time, Summer Camp, Extended Time Camp, and Preschool tuition may not be transferred to other programs.
7. Activity/events at The Racket Club, Preschool, Extended Time, Camp and Trips are excluded from this refund policy and have their own separate policy.
8. Refunds will not be given after a program has ended.
If you’re having an issue adding a family members to your online household profile, give our Registration Coordinator a call at 815-459-0680, ext. 1211.
Please call the Park District office at 815.459.0680 to give the staff your new information, or email asandor@crystallakeparks.org. If you have an online account, you can also make any changes to your household by going to Registration pages and following the link to update your household profile.
The Crystal Lake Park District recognizes that there are families in our community who suffer economic setbacks which prevent their children from joining our programs. We offer class scholarships for Crystal Lake Park District residents to help those in need. Please fill out the attached form and submit with required paperwork.
For more information, please call Heidi Stolt, Manager of Recreation Program, 815.459.0680 ext. 1213.
Yes, the Park District offers a gate keys to residents who want to fish at West Park beach before the parks open (10 am). Complete information about purchasing a Boat Key Card is under the About Us/Administrative Services tab.
In order to place your watercraft (i.e. jetskis, kayaks, stand-up paddleboard, inflatables, etc.) on Crystal Lake, from either a public or private launch site, the following criteria must be met:
- You must be a resident of the City of Crystal Lake, the Village of Lakewood, or reside in the Crystal Lake Park District's boundaries.
- The watercraft's registration must reflect the resident's name.
- You must purchase an Annual Lake Usage Decal at Crystal Lake's City Hall.
In order to launch onto Crystal Lake via the Main or West Beach boat launches, please purchase a Boat Gate Key Card at the Crystal Lake Park District Admin. Office. Additional info including fees for boat launch key card, can be found on our on our Beach Information page.
Yes, Crystal Lake Park District's residents only may boat on Crystal Lake. Park District resident boat owners must purchase a new key each year to use the Main or West Park launch ramps. Complete information about purchasing a Watercraft lake Usage Decal and/or Boat Gate Key Fob can be found under the About Us/Administrative Services tab.
The Crystal Lake Park District does not provide insurance coverage for injuries suffered while using park facilities.
The Crystal Lake Park District is committed to conducting its recreation programs in a safe manner and holds the safety of participants in high regard. The Crystal Lake Park District continually strives to reduce such risks and insists that all participants follow safety rules and instructions that are designed to protect the participants' safety. However, participants and parents/guardians of minors registering for this program/activity must recognize that there is an inherent risk of injury when choosing to participate in recreational activities.
You are solely responsible for determining if you or your minor child/ward are physically fit and/or skilled for the activities contemplated by this agreement. It is always advisable, especially if the participant is pregnant, disabled in any way or recently suffered an illness, injury or impairment, to consult a physician before undertaking any physical activity.
Check your tax bill, or call the Park District Office at 815.459.0680.
There is a donation request form that should be filled out for consideration and a staff member will contact you.
The Crystal Lake Park District has installed a THOR GUARD Lightning Prediction System. The base unit is on the roof of the Soccer Federation's soccer house. Satellite units are placed at Lippold Family Golf Center, Main Beach, and West Beach, as these sites are within a two-mile radius of the base unit. This system predicts when conditions indicate the potential for a lightning strike; it will give a warning eight to 20 minutes in advance of a potential strike, so that everyone can take shelter.
When it senses the potential for a lightning strike-THOR GUARD will sound a 15 second siren and the strobe light on top of the unit will go off. The strobe light stays on as long as there is danger of a potential strike. Everyone must seek shelter immediately in a building or non-convertible automobile.
When the potential for lightning has passed- THOR GUARD sounds three (3) blasts of the siren and the strobe light turns off. This may be as soon as 10 minutes after the system has gone off.
When the THOR GUARD sounds the warning siren and the strobe light is on:
- All activities will stop immediately.
- It is recommended that park patrons seek shelter in their cars (with the windows rolled up) or in a building. Patrons should avoid areas that are higher than the surrounding landscape, they should not use a tree for shelter, and they should keep away from metal objects such as bicycles, golf clubs, fences, umbrellas, etc.
- Even if the weather appears not to be threatening, everyone should seek shelter. People have been struck, in the past, by a bolt out of the blue. A bolt out of the blue is one that strikes when the sky is clear.
- Remain in the shelter until the THOR GUARD sounds three blasts of the siren and the strobe light turns off, signaling the all-clear.
CAUTION:
The THOR GUARD System helps assess the conditions. Neither the signal nor the system is intended to guarantee that conditions are safe. If the weather is threatening and no warning signal is heard or seen, use good judgment and take shelter. Do not wait for the warning signal to activate, as the system can malfunction.
As of March 1, 2019 the Crystal Lake Park District no longer sells Illinois licenses through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Patrons can purchase their Illinois licenses on the IDNR website. There is a list of agencies in the area for the purchase of special permits on the IDNR website.
Yes! We would love to see it and possibly use it in upcoming publications. Contact Jenny Leech at 815.459.0680 ext. 1212 or email at jleech@crystallakeparks.org. Submit photos of yourself, your family, or of a general activity taking place within a Crystal Lake Park District program, special event, park or facility. If your photo is selected, we will highlight the photo with a caption giving recognition to the photographer and what the photo represents.
By submitting photos to the Crystal Lake Park District, you are giving your permission for publication. Photos become the property of the Crystal Lake Park District. The Crystal Lake Park District uses pictures of participants to publicize recreation opportunities. If you do not want a picture taken, please tell our photographer. If the picture has already been taken, please contact the Park District at 815.459.0680 ext. 1212.
The Crystal Lake Parks Initiative Foundation supports the work of the Crystal Lake Park District. You can make a donation via the Crystal Lake Park Initiative Foundation website at www.crystallakeparksinitiative.com.
All Crystal Lake Park District parks are open every day from SUNRISE-SUNDOWN with the exception of Main Beach (9 am) and West Beach (10 am).
An interactive map can be found in the Facilities/Parks tab of the website. The Crystal Lake Park District brochure includes a map with all the parks and facility locations.
Rental rates vary according to event size, amenities rented and type of event. Please visit https://www.crystallakeparks.org/facility-rentals for more information. For rate and date availability, contact Antony Mores at amores@crystallakeparks.org.
If the problem involves the maintenance of the park, please call or email Erik Jakubowski at 815.477.5007. If the problem involves safety or vandalism, the Crystal Lake Park District's full-time, year-round park police department works closely with the Crystal Lake and Village of Lakewood police to keep parks and facilities safe. If at any time you see suspicious activities, please call 815.459.0680. After business hours, please call the SEECOM Dispatch 815.356.1114 to report any problems. Our officer will receive a radio message and will handle the situation.
Reservations are required to have exclusive use of a park picnic shelter. For more information visit crystallakeparks.org/picnic-reservations.
Hound Town is a three-acre park located in the heart of the Lippold Park Sport Complex. It is a place where dogs can socialize and run off leash-dogs love it! The park is entirely fenced and is open year-round, dawn to dusk. A drinking fountain is available for both humans and dogs. A porta-pottie is available onsite. There are two shade canopies and several picnic tables within the fenced area.
No, the Crystal Lake Park District doesn’t have an indoor track. For outdoor hiking trail maps, please visit the ‘Maps’ section of our website https://www.crystallakeparks.org/Maps.
No, at the present time, the Crystal Lake Park District does not have a dedicated gym space. For programs requiring gyms, the Park Districts works cooperatively with D47 and D155 schools
to host athletic leagues in school gymnasiums. The Racket Club, a Crystal Lake Park District indoor tennis facility, periodically offers drop in tennis times or family nights. Visit the racketclub.org for more information.
With the exception of Main and West Beaches, dogs on leash are allowed at all Crystal Lake Park District parks and natural areas.
Use of charcoal grills is encouraged and use of charcoal receptacles in picnic shelter areas is encouraged. Gas grills are prohibited at Main Beach.
Park District ordinance prohibits snowmobiles on trails.
Ordinance 11.06 MOTORIZED VEHICLES AND BICYCLES $50/$75
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any type of vehicle using 2, 3, 4, or more wheels, including snowmobiles, on or across any Park District property
Visit our seasonal fun page for information: https://www.crystallakeparks.org/seasonal-fun. Sled hill and skate rink conditions are also available on rainoutline https://rainoutline.com/search/extension/8154104475/16
The Park District staff inspect ice rinks daily. At each skating rink, ice thickness is averaged from measurements taken from six locations. A minimum of 6 inches is required to allow public skating, 8" to clear the ice with a sweeper.
In the event that your class is cancelled, you will receive a phone call from the program instructor or sign up for our alert system at rainoutline.com and follow the prompts.
Listed with every class is an age and/or grade designation that notifies interested participants the age demographics for each class or program. This designation is necessary for several reasons. First, the class or activity is specifically designed for a certain age group. Second, we have found that participants enjoy and get more out of an activity when interacting with peer groups of similar ages. Third, generally people feel more comfortable around people their own age and will enjoy the activity in opportunities that provide this outlet. Last, concerns of safety and fair playing become issues when mixing age groups especially in youth. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter and hope you enjoy your recreational opportunities here at the Crystal Lake Park District.
Drop-In Activities will take place without a registration commitment. Any programs listed as drop-in or without a registration program code are expected to take place. Sometimes weather or other factors may cause a drop-in program/event to be cancelled. When in doubt regarding weather or other concerns, check with the program facility hosting the event, rainoutline or the front page of the website.
The fitness grid schedule at https://www.crystallakeparks.org/fitness-and-yoga is the most up to date way to view the current season fitness and yoga class daily schedule. Cancelled or class changes are noted in red. Classes that are Fitness Punch Pass eligible are denoted by 'FPP'.
This is dependent on the trip itself as well as transportation arrangements. For questions regarding adult trips, contact Jennifer Peterson at 815-459-0680, ext. 1219 or jpeterson@crystallakeparks.org.
The Crystal Lake Park District is continually searching for talented individuals to instruct classes in all areas. You may either call the Park District at 815-459-0680 and ask to speak to the supervisor in charge of your area of interest, or email the supervisor. Click the About Us/Staff Directory tab.
The Crystal Lake Park District is the largest employer of students on a seasonal basis and during the summer in the Crystal Lake area. During the summer, the Park District needs youth sports coaches, day camp counselors, specialized recreational leaders, lifeguards, concession and park maintenance employees. Employment applications can be submitted online only. For more information, please call Tina Becke at 815.459.0680 ext. 1206.
Volunteers play an important role in every public agency, and a park district is no exception. The Park District uses volunteers for its many special events and activities. Contact the Crystal Lake Park District at 815.459.0680 ext. 1202.
It depends on the individual job. The age requirements are listed in the job postings if there is a mandatory minimum age requirement.
The ET program often fills with a wait list. The 2021-2022 school year had a wait list at all locations.
Mornings are 6:15a-9:00a
Afternoons are 3:30p-6:15p
Only guardians on the child’s household can register a child for extended time.
No There is no D47 discount for camp.
If there is room in the class for D47, the free hours are 8-8:30 am and Early Release days 2-4 pm.
No.
Your site supervisor will have you sign up at dismissal.
Yes, it is included.
1:6 Peewee, 1:8 Junior, 1:10 Senior & Teen.
The teen camp trips are more expensive.
A variety of cereal, yogurt, fruit, string cheese and milk.
No because we offer the Fourth of July parade on Sunday July 2nd. The older group also has a coach bus trip to a Cubs game in Milwaukee.
There is a chart on the website for traffic control. You will get color coded car signs and we all drop off at Main Beach.
In April you will get the invite. It is all your emergency and medical information.
You will need to go in and approve each section so we know it is up to date.