Tag: Hopkins Park

Easter Egg Hunts This Saturday Abound

Mar. 27 no comments

easteregghuntThe Easter Bunny will be busy hopping all over DeKalb County this weekend in 2013!  Sycamore, Kirkland, Genoa, Waterman, Sandwich, Somonauk and DeKalb are all having Easter events for the kids this year. Just in case you want to hop along with him, we’ve provided links to the locations of each below. Enjoy!

Sycamore Breakfast With the Bunny
Welcome the Bunny to Sycamore and commemorate the event with breakfast, pictures and art projects this Saturday, March 30. Due to the popularity of this event, breakfast is now offered at two times. The event will be held at the Sycamore Park District Golf Course Clubhouse, 940 East State St..  Click here to learn more about the breakfast.  The breakfast will be finished in time for the Egg Hunt sponsored by the Sycamore Police Department, held at the Good Tymes Shelter at 10:00 a.m. Visit the Sycamore Park District website.

25th Annual Sycamore Police Dept. Easter Egg Hunt
Please bring your own baskets this Saturday at 10am for the Sycamore Police Department Easter Egg Hunt. See the Easter Bunny and Meet McGruff!! There will be three age levels with prizes in each level. For kids 10 years old and under. In case of bad weather listen to WLBK 1360AM radio on the morning of March 30th for any changes. Meet near the Good Tymes Shelter, on the East side of the Sycamore Park off Airport Rd..

Kirkland Easter Egg Hunt
The Kirkland Lions Club will hold it’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, March 30th at 1pm at the football field behind the Hiawatha High School, weather permitting. In case of bad weather, the event will be moved to the High School gym.

9th Annual Genoa Park District Easter Egg Hunt
Kids grab your basket and fill it with eggs and candy and maybe find a special prize egg. Children will be separated by age groups for more fun. The Easter Bunny will be out also so bring your camera. The egg hunt will go fast so don’t be late. This is a free event. The event will be this Saturday, March 30th at 10:00 am for ages 4 and Under and 10:30 for ages 5 and above. It will be held at Chamberlain Park on W. 2nd. Street, in Genoa.

The Annual Waterman Lion’s Club Easter Egg Hunt
All Waterman Elementary and Preschool children are invited to attend this Easter Egg Hunt in Waterman at the Indian Creek Middle School (south gym). Children will search for eggs, win prizes, and visit with the Easter Bunny. The Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2013 starting at 11:00 a.m..

Annual Sandwich Spring Egg Hunt
Mr. Bunny will visit the Sandwich Sprint Egg Hunt this Saturday March 30th, starting at 9:30am sharp. Bring your camera for a wonderful opportunity to take a keepsake photo. The Egg Hunt will take place at James Knights Park, 1001 N. Latham Street in Sandwich. Children will separate into groups for ages 3 years and under, ages 4 – 5 and ages 6 – 9. This is a FREE event with no pre-registration required.

Somonauk Easter Egg Hunt
Community Park will be the site of a Saturday, March 30, egg hunt, sponsored by the Junior Women’s Club. Games, prizes and cookie decorating will be featured, with activities beginning at 11:30 a.m. Community Park is located on S. Gage St. in Somonauk.

DeKalb Easter Egg Hunt at Hopkins Park
Join in the fun and the hunt as children discover those colorful eggs filled with treats that have been hidden around Hopkins Park by the elusive Easter Bunny. Please come dressed for the weather and bring a bag or basket for gathering eggs. Participants can turn in their plastic eggs for treats. For Toddlers thru 4th grade. Free to attend. In the event of a major weather concern the event will be moved to Haish Gym for egg scrambles. Please call the Haish Gym at 815.756.8560 the day of the event no earlier than 9am to confirm change of venue. Saturday March 30th at 10am at the Hopkins Park Shelter, 1403 Sycamore Road, in DeKalb.

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Meetings for Public Input on the New Aquatic Facility this week

Feb. 28 no comments

hopkinspoolThe DeKalb Park District Board will be hosting two Open House Meetings for the purpose of gathering public input in the planning process for a new aquatic facility.  The first will be held tonight, Thursday, February 28th, 2013 at 6:30pm and Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 9:00am. Both meetings will be held at the Hopkins Park Community Center, on the second floor.

In 2010, the DeKalb Park District asked the community to support a fifteen million dollar referendum to replace the existing Hopkins Pool with a new aquatic center in a new location in Hopkins Park. The proposed facility included expanded amenities such as a lazy river, group areas, and additional parking but more importantly it called for the replacement of the 35 year old main Hopkins Pool. Although the referendum failed, the sentiment of the community relayed to the District was received… Address the aging pool, but do so without a property tax increase.

The Park District is now prepared to move forward with the much needed replacement of Hopkins Pool without an increase in taxes. Funding for the project will come from the sale of bonds which will be financed through the District’s Capital Improvement Program. Over the course of the past year,
the Board and staff have evaluated all capital improvements and expenditures for projects. Vehicle and equipment replacement programs, the utilization of grants to fund park improvement programs, and maximizing all resources in order to provide funding for the pool replacement without significantly impacting other capital projects were considered. The projected six million dollar project budget provides an opportunity to remodel the locker rooms, replace the existing pool, provide new mechanical systems as well as relocate the entrance so that the pool and Terrace Room access can be separate functions. The anticipated timeline is to close the existing facility at the end of the 2014 summer season, and re-open with a new facility for the summer of 2015.

The two public meetings will be held to review architects’ schematic plans, learn about the Aquatic Center project, and give the public an opportunity to provide input in the planning process. The meetings should last approximately two hours. An evening meeting and a weekend meeting are scheduled in order to provide flexibility and encourage participation. If you are unable to attend a meeting but wish to provide input, please feel free to email comments to ccapek@dekalbparkdistrict.com or call 815 -758-6663 x124. The Hopkins Park Community Center is located at 1403 Sycamore Rd.,  in DeKalb, IL.

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Walk to End Alzheimers Sunday

Sep. 21 no comments

The 2012 Walk to End Alzheimer’s is this Sunday, September 23, 2012 10am at Hopkins Park in DeKalb. The Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the nation’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide, this inspiring event calls on participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. Together, we can end Alzheimer’s disease, the nation’s sixth-leading cause of death.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s unites the entire community — family, friends, co-workers, social and religious groups and more — in a display of combined strength and dedication in the fight against this devastating disease. While there is no fee to register, each participant is expected to fundraise in order to contribute to the cause and raise awareness. The Alzheimer’s Association provides free, easy-to-use tools and staff support to help each participant reach their fundraising goal.

The Walk to End Alzheimer’s by the DeKalb Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Illinois Chapter will be this Sunday, September 23rd at Hopkins Park, 1403 Sycamore Road in DeKalb, IL. Check In and Registration are from 8:00-10:00am and the Walk begins 10:00am. For more information about this event please contact Doug Adolph, Director, Combined Events at 815.484.1300 or gicwalk@alz.org. More information at their website.

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Greek Fest

Jun. 19 no comments

Greek Fest 2012 dates this year are this Saturday, June 23rd  and Sunday, June 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will once again be held at Hopkins Park in DeKalb. The two day festival features authentic Greek food, lively Greek and American music, dance performances by the Chicago based Ellas Dance Troupe which will be performing on Saturday at 1:00, 3:00 and 6:00 for your entertainment pleasure. They will perform dances popular from the different islands of Greece and made famous by the motion picture movie Zorba the Greek. There will be a bounce house and games for the kids, a Greek grocery store and commercial vendor booths and arts & crafts for shopping.

Most of the food is prepared by the areas Greek owned restaurants using recipes brought over from Greece that have been passed down through generations. This is an affordable family event for the whole community that is free and open to the public. It is hosted by the St. George Greek Orthodox Church.  In the event of inclement weather all food and pastries will be available for drive up pick up at the shelter house. Hopkins Park is located at 1403 Sycamore Road in DeKalb.

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DeKalb’s Municipal Band Concerts Start Tonight

Jun. 12 1 comment

The first DeKalb Municipal Band Concert of the summer is tonight. The DeKalb Municipal Band will start its 158th season with a Dee Palmer Tribute Night. The community will surely miss Dee Palmer as he was the band’s conductor and head cheerleader, giving DeKalb a show every Tuesday night through the summer for 63 years.

Palmer spent his entire life bringing joy to other people through music. He gave up the life of a professional musician in 1948 and returned to his hometown of DeKalb to become director of the community band. The DeKalb Municipal Band was ‘in his blood’ as his grandfather was director of the band from about 1880 to 1890, and his father played in and managed the band for many years as well. Dee played trumpet professionally with such greats as Perry Como, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Earl “Fatha” Hines and Jack Teagarden.

DeKalb had a band two years before the city was even founded. Municipal Bands have come and gone in many towns across America but DeKalb has maintained one continuously since that time. In the 1920s, DeKalb voters approved a municipal band tax, which is how the band has been supported ever since.

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Recreational Loop, Bike Path and Parking Lot Updates Planned

Jun. 01 no comments

From the City of DeKalb Newsletter:

DeKalb Public Works engineers are planning to add bike route signs and shared use markings (sharrows) for an on-street bike trail to complete a loop with existing paved paths along the Kishwaukee River. The street route will extend south from the Sycamore Road underpass at Hopkins Park and meanders to streets south to Huntley Middle School to South 1st Street to Taylor Street to the Kishwaukee path near Lions Park and north to NIU and returning to Hopkins Park. The loop is approximately 9 miles.

A new Fairview Drive bikepath of approximately ½ mile will be built this spring between South 4th Street and Heritage Drive with connecting crosswalks to adjacent neighborhoods. The new path will connect with sidewalk along South 4th Street leading to the DeKalb Recreation Center and Huntley Middle School.

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Where’s the Fireworks Around Here?

Jul. 03 2 comments

Sandwich Freedom Days

At 4pm Sunday the downtown fun at Sandwich Freedom Days comes to an end and at 5:30pm the activities resume at the Sandwich Fairgrounds. Watch a vintage baseball game, food, DJ and more. Fireworks end the festivities tonight and begin at dark. There will be a $5/car donation to get into the Fairgrounds. For a complete schedule of events click here.

Kirkland’s 4th of July Weekend

Kirkland’s 4th of July Weekend continues tonight, Sunday July 3rd with Cooter Brown live  on stage from 6-10pm, vendors, food, bingo and carnival rides. Activities go on all day Monday, July 4th and conclude with Fireworks Monday night at dusk. Click here to read more about Kirkland’s 4th of July Weekend.

Shabbona’s Hometown Festival

Shabbona’s Hometown Festival continues and kicks off on Monday, July 4th with the Shabbona Fire Department’s pancake breakfast from 7am through 11am. The Lions Club pork chop dinner will be serving from 4:30-7pm. The Shabbona fireworks display begins at dusk at Shabbona Lake State Park Monday night. For more information about the Shabbona Hometown Festival click here.

DeKalb Hopkins Park

Come see how DeKalb celebrates the Fourth of July with vendors, food, crafts, live music, and fireworks at Hopkins Park on Monday, July 4th. Bring chairs, blankets, games, and appetites for an afternoon and evening with family and friends. Food booths from many favorite local caterers, grills, and vendors will be on sight starting at 2pm. The DeKalb Municipal Band (Dee Palmer, Director) will perform in the bandshell before and during the fireworks. Fireworks at dusk are co-sponsored by the DeKalb Park District and City of DeKalb.

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DeKalb Park District Celebrates 75 Years

Jul. 04 no comments

This July 4th – 10th, the DeKalb Park District is celebrating 25 years in operation. Before there was a DeKalb Park District, the park system in DeKalb was owned and operated by the City of DeKalb. In 1935 the city owned four parks: Annies Woods, named after Annie Glidden, the niece of barb wire inventor Joseph Glidden; Huntley Park, named after the first settlers of DeKalb, and designed to be the town square; Liberty Park, the site of the second bandstand and located on the near north side of DeKalb; and Hopkins Park, named in honor of Judge Hopkins, who donated this 32 acre tract of land which became the crown jewel of the system.

In the early 1930′s, the League of Women Voters came up with the idea that DeKalb should have its own park district, just as neighboring Sycamore had had since 1923. According to historical accounts of the time, the advantages of the park district system were apparent to the League, with one of them being the ability that an elected park board could pursue its own goals, unimpeded by the goals of the city. Another advantage was that the park board could create board action bonds that could sustain needed capital improvements.

Thus, in 1935, the DeKalb Park District was born, with the first significant improvement project opened that summer being the new community swimming pool in Hopkins Park, and many other improvements to follow.

On July 4th, are the July 4th Celebrations & Fireworks at Hopkins Park. On Monday, July 5th: Come enjoy Hopkins Pool for only $2 admission all day. July 6th, join the DeKalb Park District in a Family Bike Parade. Register from 4:30-5:30pm, Parade begins at 5:30pm. The parade will consist of a one mile loop starting at Hopkins Shelter. A $25 gift certificates for park district programs will be awarded for the best decorated bike in three age categories (under 8 years, 8-12 years, 13 and above). Birthday cake will be served upon completion of the parade.

On Wednesday, July 7th, Golf at Buena Vista and River Heights for $5. Last round to be completed by 5PM due to leagues. Thursday July 8th brings 50 cent hot dogs at ball field concession stands. The celebration rounds up with free popcorn at Movie in the Park Night, Friday, July 9th. Slide show prior to movie will feature photo contest entries.

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