Resources: Elmhurst Area Parks 2026

Elmhurst Park District

Updated June 2026 

Garden plots. Roller hockey court. Canoe launch. Poolside cabana rentals. 

You can't help but notice Elmhurst's many well-maintained playgrounds, athletic fields, and trails, but even many of our long-term residents are surprised to discover some of the more unique amenities and features of  Elmhurst's safe, clean, family-friendly parks.

Visit the parks page on the Elmhurst Park District website for a list of each park's location, amenities, and features.

In this guide:

• Field & trail maps (Links to maps of every Elmhurst Park District athletic field and trail.)

• Sports & courts (Listing of which parks have which fields, courts, and more. )

• Water Parks...plus (Listing of parks with swimming pools, spray grounds, fishing, and more.)

• Parks with playground and without (Listing of parks with playgrounds and open space parks.)

• Picnics and parties (Listing of parks with picnic areas and reservable space.)

• Butterflies, chess, dogs & more (Listing of parks with butterfly gardens, chess tables, dog parks, and more.)

Field & Trail Maps

Athletic Fields

QUICK TIP: Bookmark this post for quick access when rushing to find the right field just before kick-off.

Trails

* The Salt Creek Greenway Trail can be accessed through several Elmhurst parks, including Eldridge Park, Pick Park, and Maple Trail Woods. 

Sports & Courts

Water Parks...plus

Whether you want to swim, skate, splash, or fish, Elmhurst has just the water park, of sorts, for you. 

• Canoe launch: Eldridge (with access to Salt Creek Water Trail)

• Fishing: Eldridge 

• Ice skating: Eldridge (check park website for details)

• Sprayground/splash areas: The Hub at Berens Splash Ground and Centennial Park's geyser fountain

• Swimming pools: East End Pool and York Commons

Winter Fun

When winter hits and snow covers the picnic tables and playground equipment, head out for sledding or skating. Eldridge Park Lagoon offers ice skating. 

You can find lighted sledding hills (4pm - 11pm, daily) at Berens Park, Crestview Park, and Eldridge Park. If you're sledding with smaller children, consider the accessible junior sled hill at Ben Allison Park. 

Parks With Playgrounds ... And Without

For a fun adventure with the kids, try out every one of Elmhurst Park District's 20 playgrounds. Not in the mood for the joyful yet chaotic experience of a playground? Elmhurst is also home to many parks without playgrounds: peaceful opportunities to explore our area's many trails, enjoy a picnic, or enjoy a good book outdoors on a park bench. 

Picnics & Parties

Elmhurst parks are perfect for a simple picnic. Just pack up a blanket and a picnic basket and enjoy the beautiful scenery at any Elmhurst park. If you'd prefer a bit more distance from pesky ants, visit one of the many Elmhurst parks with picnic tables. Some even have covered pavilions, including Berens, Centennial, East End, and Plunkett 

Salt Creek and Butterfield.

Some pavilions and picnic areas can be reserved for special events. Check out all the Elmhurst Park District rentals, including renting the swimming pools, splash grounds, and indoor space at Wilder Mansion, Berens, Sugar Creek, and Courts Plus.  

Butterflies, Chess, Dogs & More

Picnic tables. Playgrounds. Soccer fields. You can find these typical park amenities at many of Elmhurst's parks. And you can also find many unique features that you won't find at most parks, including:

Butterfly Gardens

• Eldridge Park

• Kiwanis

• Wilder

Chess Game Tables

• Marjorie Davis

Community Garden Plots

• Marjorie Davis

Conservatory

• Wilder

Dog Park

• Canine Corner

Horseshoe Pits

• Salt Creek Park

Landmarks

• The Depot - Wild Meadows Trace

• Bicentennial Fountain - Wild Meadows Trace

• Wilder Mansion - Wilder Park

Memorials

• 9/11 at Wild Meadows Trace

• Veteran’s Memorial at Wilder Park

Mini-Golf

• The Hub at Berens Park

Safety Town

• Wild Meadows Trace

Story Walk

• Eldridge

Elmhurst park improvements for the Berens Park tennis courts are underway (anticipated reopening July 2026) and the Jaycee Tot Lot are in the planning stages and will take place in 2027. With the Elevate Elmhurst Parks campaign, we cannot wait to see what our park district has planned next. 

Share the info

If you learned about how to have fun outdoors in Elmhurst, be sure to share this blog post with your friends, neighbors, and family. 

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