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.
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.
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.
Named Batavia Park Districts 2025 Park Madness winner, Big Woods is a fan favorite. With a baseball diamond, basketball court, bicycle path, parking lot, picnic area, playground, restrooms, soccer fields, softball fields, tennis courts, walking/jogging path and the largest rentable picnic shelter that the district owns. The shelter has access to water, electricity and grills. If interested in reserving the shelter, contact the district office at (630) 879-5235.
Big Woods Park has a large parking lot and is within walking/biking distance from Prairie Path Park. There are three entrances to the park; one off Raddant Rd., one off Tierney Ln., and one off Burnham Ln.
