One of the special gems of the Park District, this historic church has been home to hundreds of wedding ceremonies, receptions, anniversaries, birthdays and so much more.
This historic church has been converted to the perfect space for your next occasion. Shannon Hall is a special gem in the community that has been home to hundreds of wedding ceremonies, receptions, anniversaries and other celebrations. Stained glass windows add an elegant touch to your special event. The space features a raised stage, and renters will have access to a full kitchen. Schedule a tour and see for yourself why this building’s interior and exterior is truly love at first sight.
Please visit the Shannon Hall Rentals page for more information.Â
Kemp Hall, situated next to the Eastside Community Center and Shannon Hall, is a perfect and private "get-ready" room for weddings or events hosted in Shannon Hall. Kemp Hall Features a large room with mirrors along the entire eastern wall, making it an ideal space to prep a wedding party or quinceañera group for the festivities. The space also includes restrooms. The facility has a capacity of 25 and can also be used for small meetings.
The Lodge at Laurelwood is a cozy, historic facility nestled within beautiful Laurelwood Park along the Fox River and Fox River Trail. The park is a popular spot for fishing and relaxing, and The Lodge can be rented for events and meetings for up to 50 people. The Lodge has a patio overlooking the river, and features a kitchenette and indoor bathrooms.
This scenic facility is nestled right alongside the Fox River. It is an ideal setting for birthday parties, showers, company gatherings and more. Large windows invite in plenty of sunlight and offer beautiful views of the river, Batavia Depot Museum and the Batavia Riverwalk. A decorative fireplace adds extra ambiance, and a beautiful pavilion allows for a scenic backdrop in the warmer months. The outdoor stage is included with the rental.
The community center features rooms for rent downstairs and upstairs for groups of 40 in a full room rental and 24 in a half room rental. The downstairs River Room and the upstairs Sky Loft have windows along the northern wall, giving guests a breathtaking view of the Batavia Riverwalk and Depot pond, plus the Depot Museum and Peg Bond Center. These rooms feature state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, plus a sink and mini-fridge. Tables and chairs are also available. Staff will be onsite during rentals.
The Eastside Community Center is home to the Park District's New Horizons Preschool, plus rental space consisting of the large event venue Shannon Hall, a commercial kitchen, gymnasium and multipurpose room that can be added to gym rental.
The Park District's Civic Center is situated in the downtown Batavia and is an ideal space to host an event. It boasts two rooms available for rental: The Jim Eby Gymnasium and the multipurpose Bartholomew Room. Rentals include use of restrooms, ample parking and onsite staff to assist with questions. A kitchenette and tables and chairs are included with the Bartholomew Room rental.
Craig Foltos had a dream some twenty years ago to place 12' "PEACE ON EARTH" letters on the bicycle-pedestrian bridge in downtown Batavia, IL. That dream came true through his efforts alongside volunteers, who donated resources and time to build the letters. In partnership with the Batavia Park District, the message of hope has been proudly hung annually on the "Peace Bridge" during the Christmas season. The Batavia Parks Foundation teamed up with Foltos, who had already raised $4,000 through donations and merchandise sales toward the permanent art. The Batavia Parks Foundation launched a community campaign in May of 2022, securing letter sponsors, selling "Play it Forward" raffle tickets, accepting donations, and selling merchandise that all added up to $50,000 on December 21, 2022. Any funds raised above the actual final costs of the project will be placed in a Batavia Parks Foundation dedicated fund to pay for future maintenance expenses for the artwork and lighting.
After community fundraising wrapped up, construction planning for the permanent PEACE ON EARTH artwork was underway. A familiar name to the Batavia community project, Dennis Kintop, was the volunteer construction manager. Dennis is worked with the Batavia Park District, Batavia Parks Foundation, and community volunteers to get the metal letters fabricated, install permanent electricity and lighting, and leverage in-kind donations wherever possible. Kluber Architects + Engineers' in-kind donation of structural and electrical plans for the permanent artwork is already underway. Project installation was completed in November 2023.
Thank you to all the donors big and small for your support. Contributing to the "Peace on Earth" campaign were the following generous major donors:
Anonymous
Barco Products
Batavia Rotary Club
Batavia Woman's Club
Boyce Body Werks, Inc.
In Memory of Dan Brace
Drendel & Jansons Law Group
Dunham Foundation
Earthmover Credit Union
Foltos & Friends
Richard & Joanne Hansen
Rob & Karen Hollis
Kluber Architects + Engineers
Alice Bonifas Lee
Marconi Family in Memory of Joseph Marconi
Steven & Britta McKenna
The Matt Novak Family
Lezlee S. Nuesca
Maureen O'Brien
Stan & Carolyn Oke
Premium Waterproofing
The Matt Rowe Foundation
Weaver Partners, Inc.
Sarah J. Ryerson
Steve Hopkins & Associates.
The home of local history since 1975, the Batavia Depot Museum is your bridge to the rich stories of Batavia's past. Our research, exhibits and programs connect visitors to the people of this place: hunters of 10,000 B.C., 16-year-old-teachers, industrial magnates, freedom seekers, rocket scientists and, most importantly, each other.
