Discover the Batavia Riverwalk; a jewel of the Batavia Park District. This Riverwalk is home to the Peg Bond Center and beloved Depot pond. Many popular events like, Windmill City Festival, Celebration or Lights and summer concert series, River Rhapsody. The Riverwalk has many amenities including; kayak & paddleboat rentals, bike share, fishing area, playground, picnic area, shelter, parking lot and walking trails.
This park was attained in 2010 and was created as a cooperative effort by the Park District, the City of Batavia and a dedicated group of community members. Using primarily volunteer labor, donated material, and services, the walk was created over a six-year period. Extending from the entry plaza at Houston St. and going north along the Depot Pond, the path features a boardwalk leading to the North Point Pavilion, providing a grand view of the river. Following the path around to the east, walkers will encounter the Batavia dam as well as the Riverwalk wildflower sanctuary. In the buildings across the river, windmills were produced from the mid-1800s until the 1940s. Many examples of these mills can be found along the Riverwalk. The walk winds along the east side of the City of Batavia Government Center. At the south end of the Government Center pedestrians and bicyclists can cross a walking bridge to the east side of the river. Once there, they can access the eastern leg of the Fox River Bike Trail.
This community park is the largest single piece of property in the District system. Aided by a $200,000 grant, approximately half of this site was developed in 2000 and 2001. The site is currently home to full-size basketball courts, a baseball field, and softball field as well as a two-acre fishing pond. The park boasts an approximate 1 3/4 mile walking/jogging path and is used by the Tri-Cities Soccer Association during their spring and fall soccer seasons.
West Main Community Park is also home to the Bark Park, located at the southwest corner of the site. The Bark Park features three acres of fenced-in space for your four-legged friend to run off leash. A small pavilion and agility equipment are also located within the boundaries of the Bark Park. No permit is required to enter the Bark Park, which is open year-round.
This park has been developed with a play area, basketball and tennis courts. The sensory garden includes plantings, textured walks and music panels. Residents interested in reserving the shelter should contact the Batavia Park District office at 630-879-5235. The iconic red barn makes for a scenic backdrop to your park experience at this site.
This site was designed in cooperation with the Batavia School District, Batavia Youth Baseball and the Tri-Cities Soccer Association making it truly a community park. The site features multiple soccer fields, a large playground, skate park equipment, two rentable picnic shelters and BYB's "Max Striedl" field. For information regarding shelter rental, please contact the Park District's main office at 630-879-5235. The playground features slides, accessible swings, musical instruments, climbing structures and the popular "gravity rail."
Once the home of Batavia High School's football field and track, this site was acquired by the district in 1976. As one of the ten community parks in the district, it now provides the space for many varied activities. The park features two baseball fields, one lighted softball field, two lighted doubles size tennis courts, and a large playground. During the fall a soccer field is established in the baseball outfields. Ample parking, as well as restrooms, are provided at the site. Finally, this park has a large picnic shelter that can be reserved by contacting the district office at 630-879-5235.
Laurelwood Park was once part of a much larger private park owned by the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. The railroad operated the original Laurelwood during the early years of the 20th century. Presently, it is home to The Lodge at Laurelwood (formerly the Batavia Boat Club). This facility has a multi-purpose room with a kitchenette as well as restrooms. The Lodge is used by the District for programs as well as by affiliated and not-for-profit groups for their meetings. With its ample parking the site provides a good opportunity to "park and pedal" on the Fox River Bike Trail that runs through the park. Also featured at this site is a boat launch that provides access to the Fox River.
Acquired through a developer donation, this 30-acre property is one of the most biologically diverse parks in our system. Aided by a $300,000 grant, significant development was undertaken on this property. This is the first "program-driven," community-sized park in the District system. This means that this park does not have formal athletic field areas; rather it has been designed to support a wide variety of recreational program areas. The park is home to a playground featuring slides, monkey bars, climbing structures and accessible swings. As with all of our community-size parks, the Hawk's Bluff Park has large picnic shelters available for rent by District residents. Call 630-879-5235 for rental information.
In the early 1860s the Fidler family established their home on this site. From that time they have been the sole owners of this property. In 1995 the land was sold and subdivided for housing. Wanting to preserve some of the rich heritage of the site, the new owners of the land approached the Park District with a unique proposal. They were willing to preserve the farm buildings, which included the original home and barn built by the Fidlers, if the District would be willing to accept them as part of the developer's land donation obligations. The District readily accepted. Not only did the developer's donation include the land and buildings it also included a 23 acre parcel of reconstructed wetland. This area will play an integral part in outdoor education programs. In 2001 a large playground was installed as was a picnic shelter. In 2003 the district renovated the barn to a condition closer to original. Both of these amenities carry forward the "farm" theme of the site. No solid plans have been developed yet for the remainder of the property but the community can rest assured that careful consideration will be given to how this important part of Batavia's history will be developed.
Fidler Farm Park contains a natural wetland and connects to the Prairie Path Trail.
Explore one of Batavia’s favorites; Engstrom Park. In 1984 this park was developed using grant funds from the State of Illinois. The park is one of the ten community parks in the district and was named after the previous owners of the property. Engstrom Park is considered a family favorite because of the park that has something to accommodate all ages and abilities with an accessible swing. The park is also home to a baseball diamond, soccer field, basketball court, shelter, bathroom and a walk/jogging path.
Engstrom Park has the second largest picnic shelter. The picnic shelter is the perfect place to host a birthday party or family gathering. To reserve the shelter call the district office at 630-879-5235.
Clark Island Recreation Area is a unique combination of three islands in the Fox River as well as a large open area on the eastern bank of the river. The bridges that connect the islands join the east and west legs of the Fox River Bike Trail. The site is the home of Woodard Field, a major youth league baseball field located on the largest of the islands, as well as an 11,000-square-foot skate park. There are two parking lots that adjoin the bike trail providing good "Park and Pedal" access. A seasonal rest room facility also is provided at this site. Clark Island Recreation Area was renovated in 2025 in thanks to an Illinois Department of Natural Resources Open Space and Land Development Grant along with a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois.
