Name Your Park Contest

Aug 19, 2024 Update:

Voting has ended and voting results will go to the Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners for review at the Th, Sept 5, 2024 Park District Board of Commissioners Committee of the Whole meeting. Announcement of decision will be made the week of September 9-13.

Aug 8, 2024 Update:

We are excited to announce that after review of over 200 park name submission entries, the Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners has selected 4 names to go on to the public vote stage of the contest. The voting portal will be open for voting Th, Aug 8 at 5 pm-Fri, Aug 16 at 5 pm. Voting is limited to 1 vote per IP address.

Th, August 8 at 5 pm: Public online voting begins

Fri, August 16 at 5 pm: Public online voting ends

The winner with the top number of votes will be announced on Fri, September 6, 2024 after Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners review.

Top 4 Finalists-click on the vote link to view the reason behind the name suggestion

Buttonwood Park-submitted by John F.

Haligus Park-submitted by Far S. and Rusty A.

Lakewood Meadows-submitted by Diane A.

Lakewood Park-submitted by Maryanne T.

Park Information

Site Historical Context

Site Plan

Park Description

Park Features-Playground & Splash Pad

Park District Park & Facility Naming Policy

Name Your Park Contest Submission Guideline

Haligus Road Park Info on Project Update Page

SITE AERIAL VIEW

SITE HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The Haligus Road Park site is an historic Frontier to Post-War (1862-present) era farmstead site situated on dissected outwash plain in Grafton Township. The land is poorly drained, so the site was most likely used for raising stock for dairying. Dairying was a large industry in the township by 1866 as evidenced by local creameries and the construction of a cheese factory which was producing 600,000 lbs of cheese a year and 100,000 lbs of butter by 1877.

Additional Site Historical Info

SITE PLAN

PARK DESCRIPTION

Haligus Road Park is the development of a new park at Haligus Road. The 10-acre park site is located south of the Lakewood Village Wastewater Treatment Facility, north and west by the north branch of the Kishwaukee River, west of the Village of Lakewood property and east along Haligus Road. The Crystal Lake Park District is developing the site into a community park that offers many exciting park amenities with parking to the area. Haligus Road Park shall offer people of all ages and abilities, individually and in groups, the opportunity to enjoy outdoor recreation, community, and nature through a range of engaging spaces. Phase 1 is funded in part through the 2023-awarded IDNR OSLAD Grant.

Phase 1 includes the following park amenities:

•    Playground with accessible poured-In-place rubber surfacing
•    Paved quarter-mile loop trail
•    Permanent ping pong table
•   Two chessboard picnic tables
•    Baggo court
•    Non-traditional Splash Pad
•    Educational garden with native plantings and interpretive signage
•    Parking Lot with a bay of permeable paving stalls and ADA Spaces
•    Landscape Improvements and native plantings

The Crystal Lake Park District Board approved funding to complete both Phase I and II of Haligus Road Park, so in addition to Phase I features, Phase II amenities include:
•   Additional parking with minimal lighting for safety
•   An outer loop trail that runs along the northeast borders of the park
•   A scenic overlook seating area
•   An additional chessboard picnic table and baggo court
•   Six fence-enclosed pickleball courts
•   One basketball court
•   Two U-8 size soccer fields
•   A large park shelter with two unisex bathrooms and water fountain
•   A shade shelter between the basketball court and the pickleball courts
•   A shade shelter adjacent to the splash pad
•   Additional play equipment including a 5-12 playground, additional swings, a zipline and more
•   A council ring gathering area
•   A garden trellis structure
•   Two bike racks

Future additions shall include:
•   EV vehicle charging stations
•   Additional landscape plantings of trees and shrubs
•   A hammock area
•   An informal seating area for small group gatherings

A fun-filled day at Haligus Road Park starts with a walk around the park enjoying the pollinator garden filled with prairie grasses and flowering plants while strolling under the trellis structures. Pause a moment and enjoy the views while sitting at the overlook watching the water sparkle in the morning sun off the Kishwaukee River. Get active through the many different opportunities for sports and play - through pickleball or basketball played with friends to climbing on the play equipment or splashing at the splash pad. As hunger sets in, lunch and/or dinner can be enjoyed at the various shade shelters sitting with others at the picnic tables. After recharging, additional fun and games can be enjoyed at the baggo courts, chess/checker, and ping pong tables while children enjoy climbing, sliding, spinning, and swinging in the playground. Haligus Road Park offers a broad range of outdoor recreational and play experiences - what a great way to enjoy fresh air and sunshine!

PARK FEATURES

PARK DISTRICT PARK AND FACILITY NAMING POLICY

Names submitted for consideration should provide some form of individual identity in relation to the following:

The geographic location of the park or facility. This includes descriptive name.
An outstanding feature of the park or facility.
An adjoining subdivision, street, school or natural feature.
A commonly recognized historical event, group, organization or individual (living or deceased)
An individual or organization that contributed significantly to the acquisition of development of the facility to be named. This can include either a deed or substantial monetary contribution, or contribution toward acquisition and/or development of the park or facility (typically not less than 50 percent of the value of the property or park improvement)

Name Your Park Contest Submission Guidelines

Submissions must be by a Crystal Lake Park District resident
Submission must be received by July 15 at 5 pm
No vulgar, crude, religious, or political submissions will be considered
Winner receives a $100 Crystal Lake Park District gift card
Crystal Lake Park District board and staff will select 5 entries to on to the public voting portion of the contest
The winning park name will be placed on all park signs and used in all material related to the park.
Submissions need to fall within the guidelines of the Park District Park and Facility Naming Policy
The Crystal Lake Park District Board of Commissioners reserves the right to not select a winner
In the event that multiple people submit the same name, everyone submitting that same name will be credited for the submission. Should the name with multiple submissions be asked to move onto the voting portion of the contest, all name authors will be recognized in the voting portion of the contest.

Enter Name Your Park Contest

Online

Click for Online Entry Form

Print Entry Form Location

Print entry forms and drop boxes are available at the following locations (beginning June 18)

Crystal Lake Park District Administrative Office, 1 E. Crystal Lake Avenue, Crystal Lake

Lakewood Village Hall, 2500 Lake Avenue, Lakewood

City of Crystal Lake, 100 W. Woodstock St, Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake Public Library, 126 W. Paddock St, Crystal Lake

Grand Oaks Active Adult Center, 1401 W. Route 176, Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake Main Beach Office, 300 Lake Shore Dr, Crystal Lake

Crystal Lake Park District Nature Center, 330 N. Main St, Crystal Lake