The Spring 2026 Brochure is out!

Spring 2026 is going to be a blast!

FAMILY SWEETHEART SOCIAL

Our family invites yours to our Third Annual Family Sweetheart Social Friday, February 13 at the Frontier Fieldhouse!  Join us for a fun evening of dining, dancing, and entertainment!  A giant balloon drop completes this magical evening.  Families will receive a souvenir to remember this fantastic annual event!  $10R / $15NR.

BEAR DOWN FAMILY NIGHT

Bear Down Family Night is here February 6!  Celebrate your love of the Bears and the NFL with trivia games, fan crafts, mini challenges, a Super Bowl commercial watch zone, and tailgate-style snacks.  From face painting to pom-poms for the kids, to trivia and games for teens and adults, this family-friendly fan fest has something for every age-grab your jerseys and join the fun! $10R / $15NR.

BREAKFAST WITH THE BEAR

Start your day with a warm hug from the Hundred Acre Wood! March 21 families are invited to a cozy breakfast with Winnie the Pooh and Piglet, featuring gentle games, storytime, and honey-themed crafts.  Kids will toss honey pots, make bee headbands, and sing along with their favorite friends.  Enjoy mini pancakes, fruit, and "Tigger's Tasty Tea" while you create sweet memories.  Each child receives a "Friend of the Hundred Acre Wood" certificate to take home.  $10R $15NR.

EGG-A-PALOOZA

Let’s get “hoppy” about Easter!  Join us at Frontier Fieldhouse from 10:00am-12:00pm on Saturday, March 28 for a fun morning indoors with the Easter Bunny!  Enjoy a visit with the Easter Bunny, get your photo taken, enjoy collecting eggs in our indoor egg garden, try out a craft, and see what’s new at the Park District this summer!  FREE EVENT.

PIZZA PARTY WITH THE PATROL:  A TURTLE TEAM DINNER

Cowabunga!  Join the Turtle Team for a pizza-packed evening of ninja fun April 10.  Families will enjoy themed crafts, obstacle courses, and a visit from the heroes in a half shell.  Kids can test their ninja skills and create their own turtle masks while enjoying a pizza dinner. $10R / $15NR.

SOLARBRATION SAVE ENERGY / SAVE ELECTRICITY

Celebrate the power of the sun with games, crafts, and solar science fun for the whole family April 25!  This eco-friendly event shines a light on renewable energy through interactive activities, art projects, and educational exhibits.  Families can enjoy hands-on play, and discover ways to make everyday life a little greener. FREE EVENT.

Posted by Gayle Uncategorized

Check out our Spring 2025 Brochure!

Spring 2025 has the best events!

FAMILY SWEETHEART SOCIAL

Our family invites yours to our Second Annual Family Sweetheart Social Friday, February 14 at the Frontier Fieldhouse!  Join us for a fun evening of dining, dancing, and entertainment!  A giant balloon drop completes this magical evening.  Families will receive a souvenir to remember this fantastic annual event!  Family of 4 $30R / $50NR, additional $10R / $15NR.

BIG ISLAND VIBES

Come and let winter stay outside!  Saturday, February 22 at the Freedom Activity Center the band Mr. Myers will be on hand to bring in the summer island vibes as we leave winter outside tonight! We have the island band, the island “mock-tails”, and the island snacks waiting inside for this fun concert.  Come and listen to some island music, enjoy some snacks, and there’s even a few things for the kids to do! FREE EVENT.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY FAMILY BINGO EVENT

Join us for this fun night of bingo Friday, March 7.  Instead of numbers, we’ll have photos of various things on each card.  When your card has a bingo, yell out to win fun prizes.  This fun edition is great for entire families!   Everyone will create a fun cookie at our cookie bar! Freedom Activity Center.  FREE EVENT.

XTREME MUSIC BINGO

This bingo event is like no others!  Cards have song titles such as “The SpongeBob Theme Song” and “Thriftshop”.  Listen to the songs, mark your cards, and get ready to yell bingo!  Prizes will be awarded for each game and patterned games have bigger prizes! Snacks and drinks will be provided as well!  This fun event will have you singing along to songs you know and love!  Friday, March 21 at Freedom Activity Center. $8R / $12NR.

PRINCESSES AND PANCAKES

What will be sweeter, the delicious pancake bar or the memories of this fantastic morning? Join Princesses Moana and Belle Saturday, March 29 at Freedom Activity Center as they delight guests with a meet and greet and photo opportunities.  Breakfast includes a pancake bar with toppings, fruit, juice, coffee, and water.  Each guest princess will receive a souvenir! All children 2 and over must pay.  Those UNDER 2 are free, but must register.  All children must be accompanied by an adult. $10R / $15NR.

EGG-A-PALOOZA

Let’s get “hoppy” about Easter!  Join us at Frontier Fieldhouse from 10:00am-12:00pm on Saturday, April 12 for a fun morning indoors with the Easter Bunny!  Enjoy a visit with the Easter Bunny, get your photo taken, enjoy collecting eggs in our indoor egg garden, try out a craft, and see what’s new at the Park District this summer!  FREE EVENT

SOLARBRATION AND KITE FLY EVENT

Join us as we celebrate the sun!  Chicago Kite will once again be on hand at Freedom Park Saturday, April 26 for kite flying demonstrations. Bring your own kite or purchase one at the event.  Areas for public flying will be set up!  Music and fun solar-based activities will be on hand for kids as well! FREE EVENT

Posted by Gayle Trips and Events

Our Fall/Winter 2024 Brochure is posted!

We're bringing the fun this fall and winter!

PUMPKIN SMASH

Bring your carved and painted pumpkins out for 3rd Annual Pumpkin Smash!  What is more fun than taking a bat and hitting a jack-o-lantern?  The best part is that all pumpkins make their way to a composting site instead of a landfill.  Pumpkins must be carved and hollow.

NO SCHOOL-THANKSGIVING BREAK

In this two-day program at the Frontier Fieldhouse we will spend the morning playing games like giant kickball, Craters and Volcanoes, and more.  We will make our own pizzas for lunch.  We will also create things like 'screaming balloons', secret codes, slime, and other fun things!  Then we will make our own desserts!  Register early!  Ages 5-12 years. $50R/$55NR.

HOLIDAY HOUSE DECORATING CONTEST

Call the Frontier Fieldhouse 708-423-3959 December 2-December 13 and register your house in our Holiday House Decorating Contest! Voting will take place on our website December 16-December 19. The winner will be announced on December 20.

HOLIDAY LIGHTS GIVEAWAY

Chicago Ridge residents can come to the Frontier Fieldhouse and pick up their free set of Christmas lights starting December 2! One set of lights per household, while supplies last.

LETTERS TO SANTA

December 2-December 16 residents are invited to bring a letter to the Frontier Fieldhouse to send to Santa! Santa will answer your letter and send it to you in the mail. Please include a return address (must be in Chicago Ridge).

PIZZA WITH THE GRINCH

You and your family are invited to come have Pizza with the Grinch December 6 6pm-7:30pm at the Freedom Activity Center. $10R/$15NR. Register at the Frontier Fieldhouse or online on our website.

CHRISTMAS AT BALL FORE

We transformed Ball Fore Miniature Golf Course into a winter wonderland with 30,000 lights and over 20 inflatables, and we want you to see it! December 14 and December 21 from 4pm-8pm see live reindeer, visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and stop by Mrs. Claus Snack Shop for some goodies! This is a FREE event.

HOLLY JOLLY TROLLEY

Join us on our Holly Jolly Trolley as we cruise around Chicago Ridge to check out the wonderfully decorated houses! Choose one of three boarding times, 5pm/6pm/7pm on December 14 or December 21. We board at Ball Fore during our Christmas events, so get there early to check out the live reindeer and miniature golf course! Family of 4 $30R/$45NR. Additional person $8R/$12NR.

SANTA EXPRESS

We're taking the Santa Express (Metra) to the North Pole (Union Station) to hang out with Santa December 20! Entertainment and goody bags are included on the trip! The train leaves Chicago Ridge Station 10:34am and will return at 2:17pm. Riders will have approximately two hours to visit Union Station and the Great Hall before heading back.  $10R/$15NR. Eight tickets maximum per address.

Posted by Gayle Uncategorized

Chicago Ridge Park District is going solar!

Rob Pratl, President of the Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Ridge Park District, announced that the Park District will be adding two roof Solar PV Systems – one at Frontier Park Fieldhouse and one at Freedom Activity Center.  The systems will offset nearly 40% of the facilities’ annual electricity usage in year one.  The expected 1st year energy production of 221,085 kWh combined is enough to power 25 homes on clean, renewable, locally produced electricity.  The system will produce enough clean energy to prevent over 132 tons of carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere annually, while reducing the District’s energy consumption and environmental footprint.

The system will have 471 solar panels that will be installed by Windfree Solar, a commercial and residential solar installer who has been changing the world over the past 10 years and has completed over 400 installations in Chicagoland.

Park District Director, Kevin King, stated that the Park District is taking a big step in fulfilling their stewardship of reducing pollution and scaling down their carbon footprint.  Upon completion of the project the Park District and Windfree Solar will host a “solarbration” open house for the community, detailing the project’s specifications and benefits, thereby educating everyone on the benefits of solar power.

The project will be financed through a PPA agreement provided by Sustainable Capital Finance, a solar finance company specializing in public sector/non-profit financing at no cost to the Park District.  This agreement will lock in an electricity rate below the District’s current rate with no escalator for 25 years enabling the Park District to save tax payer dollars while helping the environment.

 

Posted by Gayle Facilities and Parks Facility Improvement Latest News Our Blog

S&P Global Rating Raised for Chicago Ridge Park District!

The Chicago Ridge Park District is proud to announce its Standard & Poor’s rating has been raised from ‘A’ to ‘A+’! In an article published On Thursday, April 25, 2019, The Reporter Newspaper quoted S&P Global Ratings credit analyst, Blake Yocom as stating, “The upgrade reflects consistent positive performance and maintenance of very strong cash reserves while all other credit characteristics have also improved…The stable outlook reflects our expectation that the district will maintain mostly balanced operations and very strong cash reserves across its general and recreation funds.”  Way to go CRPD!

Posted by Gayle Latest News Our Blog Uncategorized